Innovation Forum podcast

Monday briefing – Navigating responsible sourcing and ethical trade

Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar and Ian Welsh talk about the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, coming up in London this week. Key topics include the importance of survivor voices in modern slavery discussions and the collaboration between responsible sourcing professionals and procurement teams.

And, another chance to hear Peter McAllister, Ethical Trade Initiative, and Sam Ludlow-Taylor from John Lewis Partnership reflecting on key discussions at the 2024 conference. In conversation with Ian Welsh, among the topics they explore include the effectiveness of social audits in manufacturing versus agriculture, highlighting the unique challenges each sector faces.

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – From waste to worth: circular solutions for sustainable packaging

This week: Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business talks with Ian Welsh about what a sustainable approach to packaging looks like. They discuss how businesses can transition to circular systems by prioritising design for reuse and recycling while considering existing infrastructures.

Plus: Brazil's highway sparks outrage before COP30; Ghana's cocoa crisis fuels illegal gold mining; rising biodiesel demand threatens palm oil supply; and, California revises plastic rules amid cost concerns, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Continue the conversation with Willemijn at the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum in Amsterdam (6-7 May) to explore practical solutions and innovations in sustainable packaging. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Unseen struggles: business responsibility in modern slavery

Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen talks with Ian Welsh about the critical role businesses play in addressing modern slavery. Andrew discusses the importance of transparency, effective governance and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure human rights are upheld in supply chains. They highlight the need for stronger legislation and proactive corporate responsibility as essential steps toward eradicating forced labour.

Monday briefing – Foundations for the future of carbon markets

This week: Ian Welsh speaks with David Antonioli, former CEO of Verra and founder of Transition Finance about the state of play in the carbon markets. They discuss the foundational work being done to improve market integrity, greenwashing concerns and long-term decarbonization strategies. 

Plus, Ian discusses Scope 3 supply chains emissions with Natasha Bodnar. Key challenges include financing decarbonization and improving emissions data transparency. Initiatives such as green supply chain financing and AI-driven lifecycle assessments are emerging to help companies tackle these challenges.

 

For more insights on Scope 3 and supply chain decarbonization, join Innovation Forum’s Scope 3 Innovation Forum in Amsterdam on June 3-4.

Host: Ian Welsh

To read the report mentioned in this episode, click here: https://tranfin.com/home/resources 

Stay up-to-date on our podcasts by following us on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Reducing plastic use: the material innovations to look out for

Aidan Maguire, coalition program manager at the Plastic Pollution Coalition, talks with Ian Welsh about some examples of innovative new materials that can replace plastic at scale. They also discuss the outcomes from the INC-5 meetings and share insights on the need for ambitious treaties to address plastic production and harmful chemical use.

Weekly podcast – Finance: why nature-based food production solutions make sense

This week: Sajeev Mohankumar, from investor group the FAIRR initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about his research into on-farm interventions for livestock climate and nature risks. In particular, he compares the effectiveness of nature-based and tech-based interventions.

Plus: major migrant worker abuse issues in food supply chains; the European Commission goes cold on nutri-score food labelling; EU omnibus regulation; successful reusable cup trial in California; and, how greenhushing is going mainstream, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

Sajeev Mohankimar will be at the Future of Food and Beverage USA in Minneapolis on 28-29 May. To continue the conversation, secure your spot here.

To discover further analysis from the FAIRR initiative, view the full report here.

Monday briefing – Transforming food and beverage amid regulatory challenges

This week: Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne and Ian Welsh highlight latest trends in the food and beverage industry. They discuss the implications of the EU’s omnibus regulation and share key examples of innovations and collaborations from organisations such as Unilever and TechnoServe.

Plus: Agreena’s CEO and co-founder Simon Haldrup talks with Ellen Atiyah about how technology is revolutionising approaches to climate-smart agriculture and the importance of verified data.

And, a preview of the recording of Innovation Forum’s recent next-gen packaging materials webinar. Hear from ex-Just Eat Takeaway.com Robin Clark, talking about how their partnership with Notpla has developed.

Host: Ian Welsh

To join the conversation on the latest food innovations and partnership, secure your place at the future of food and beverage forum in Amsterdam on 13-14 May. Click here for full registration details.

Click here to join a complimentary webinar with Agreena, discussing how technology can power data-driven sustainability in food systems. Register here.

Weekly podcast – Complexity to clarity: how the AFi guides ethical supply chain practices

This week: Jeff Milder from the Accountability Framework initiative and Louise Nakagawa from Brazilian NGO Imaflora talk with Ian Welsh about the AFi’s public consultation to refine guidance for responsible supply chains. They discuss the challenges of aligning sustainability standards, improving traceability, and supporting smallholder inclusion in ethical commodity production.

Plus: Kresse Wesling from Elvis and Kresse speaking at the 2024 sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam about upcycling and driving sustainability in fashion, and the urgent need for better industry practices and regulation.

And, the EU sets new food and textile waste targets; the US nears mineral deal with Ukraine; the European Commission shifts agri-food policy away from strict environmental goals; UN biodiversity talks kick off in Rome; and climate change worsens bird flu outbreaks, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

From data to impact: the potential of product environmental footprints

French sporting goods brand Decathlon’s head of environmental evaluation, Quentin Badenelle, shares his experiences implementing the requirements of the EU’s product environmental footprint. In conversation with Ian Welsh, he explores how PEF metrics can transform product design, supply chain transparency and consumer trust in sustainability claims.

The social impact of circularity: How circular fashion can deliver for people, planet, and profit (webinar recording)

Circularity has the potential to reshape industries, reduce waste, and regenerate nature. But when it comes to the social side, is it advancing a just transition, or does it risk deepening global inequalities? This webinar discussion took a holistic approach to circularity to explore how circular systems can empower workers, foster economic resilience, and drive sustainable growth for the triple bottom line—people, planet, and profit.

Hear insights from:

• Carmen Gama, director of circularity, Eileen Fisher
• Dr Hakan Karaosman, associate professor at Cardiff University and co-founder of FReSCH
• Paul Kerssens, COO and co-founder, United Repair Centre