
Innovation Forum hosts a weekly podcast along with regular interviews with business leaders in sustainability. Each week, we summarise the latest sustainability news and announcements, and get the views of leading experts on business critical issues. Widely regarded as one of the best sustainability podcasts around, stay tuned for regular insights, debate and analysis.
Episodes

7 days ago
7 days ago
This week: Ellen McCormack, head of Europe at Watershed, talks with Ian Welsh about how major companies are integrating sustainability into finance and operations. They discuss the shifting narrative from climate goals to ROI, challenges in renewable energy infrastructure, and trends in carbon removal and investor demand.
Plus: vegetable oil prices surge amid instability; rare earths weaponised in US-China trade war; global shipping strikes weak emissions deal; and, leaked PR campaign sparked diet backlash, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.
Host: Ian Welsh

7 days ago
7 days ago

Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
In this webinar, experts from Agreena, Mars, Nespresso, and Gentle Farming explored how verified data is driving real impact in sustainable food production — and what it takes to scale regenerative practices that work.
- Thomas Gent, regenerative farmer, Gentle Farming
- Reineke Van Riemsdijk, sustainability lead and technical quality manager, Nespresso
- Claire Petit, climate lead for pet nutrition Europe, Mars
- Simon Haldrup, co.founder and CEO, Agreena

Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday briefing – What’s key in achieving sustainable food systems?
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh highlight key emerging themes in the food and beverage industry, specifically in North America. They discuss the growing importance of resilience in food security, highlighting innovations like blockchain for supply chain transparency and AI-driven technologies in agriculture that enhance sustainability and efficiency.
Plus: insights from Arohi Sharma at the Natural Resources Defence Council. In conversation with Ian at the Future of Food and Beverage USA forum in 2024, she talks about the critical need for agricultural policy reform to address climate change and promote sustainable farming practices in the US.
To learn more about food innovations, join us at the future of food and beverage forum USA (Minneapolis, 28-29 May) . Click here.

Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Weekly podcast – Why traditional climate accounting risks falling short
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
This week: Kiff Gallagher, executive director of the Global Heat Reduction Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about how to improve traditional climate accounting models to take account of pollutants beyond carbon dioxide that can have significantly greater impact.
Plus: why tariffs may hinder Brazil's climate finance efforts; UK food execs warn of looming crisis; expert warns against blanket bans on all PFAS; and, new EU and UK packaging laws shift recycling costs to producers, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.
Host: Ian Welsh

Thursday Apr 10, 2025
How to address the farm finance equity gap in the US
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Thursday Apr 10, 2025
Seanicaa Edwards Herron, executive director at NGO Freedmen Heirs Foundation, talks with Innovation Forum’s Diana Kim about the financial challenges faced by minority farmers in the US and how they can be tackled. They discuss barriers such as lack of collateral and complex application processes that hinder access to financing and land ownership. Seanicaa shares insights on innovative funding mechanisms and how consumers can support equitable farming practices.

Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday briefing – Latest progress in delivering just food systems
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
This week: Innovation Forum's Diana Kim and Hannah Oborne discuss latest trends within the food and beverage industry in delivering sustainable food systems. They highlight key barriers to success and share successful case studies which will be discussed further at the future of food and beverage forum in Amsterdam in May.
Plus: insights from the 2024 food forum with Dorothy Shaver at Unilever. In conservation with Ian Welsh, they talk about the importance of innovative product development, regenerative agriculture practices, and supporting farmers for long-term food security.
Host: Diana Kim

Friday Apr 04, 2025
Friday Apr 04, 2025
This week: Sebastian Munden, chair of environmental NGO WRAP, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential of circular plastics and how innovative design can significantly reduce plastic waste. They share insight about the role of regulatory frameworks in shaping sustainable packaging strategies and the need for a radical shift in consumer behaviour to truly drive change.
Plus: UK faces surge in plastic bag waste; historic drought threatens global food security; US farmers suffer $20 billion in losses; US funding cuts threaten global conservation efforts; and, Dutch NGO sues ING over climate inaction, in the news digest.
Host: Ellen Atiyah

Thursday Apr 03, 2025
How collaboration is driving progress and delivering circular packaging models
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business, talks with Ian Welsh about the evolving landscape of sustainable packaging. They discuss how major brands and retailers can transition to environmentally sustainable packaging solutions that are also financially viable. Willemijn emphasises the importance of a mindset shift towards circular approaches and the role of legislation in driving change.

Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
This week: Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau and Ian Welsh highlight the growing integration of research and development commercial value within the packaging sector, driven by legislation such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Schemes. They discuss exciting innovations in flexible packaging, particularly from the likes of Unilever, which are focusing on reducing material complexity while enhancing functionality.
Plus: Dieuwertje Nelissen, chief program officer at Enviu, talks with Lia about the Mission Reuse Coalition’s efforts to transition from a disposable economy to a circular one, emphasising the importance of reusable and refillable packaging solutions. They highlight latest progress, including new legislation and successful pilot projects, plus factors needed for broader adoption.
Host: Ian Welsh