Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

What does good packaging R&D actually look like?

Caroline Elms, director, global packaging procurement at snack brands business Pladis Global, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how companies can bring business functions together to deliver better packaging, why cost remains a core challenge and how this can best be addressed.

Weekly podcast – Make America healthy again: rhetoric versus reality

This week: Anupama Joshi, vice president of programs at the Center for Science and the Public Interest, talks with Innovation Forum's Anamya Anurag about the gap between the Make America Healthy Again movement's goals and its policy actions.

Plus: Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Hannah Oborne talk about emerging themes in the food sector, including how sustainability is being reframed around resilience and long-term value.

And, Nike's chemical recycling breakthrough for World Cup kits; chemical recycling versus mechanical methods for elite sportswear; and, debate over whether leather should remain in scope of EUDR, in the news digest.

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Engaging on EU waste regulation? It’s all about the data

Leontien Hasselman-Plugge, CEO of ImpactBuying, talks with Ian Welsh about how companies are preparing for EU plastics waste regulation and why the challenges always seem to be about getting the right data.

 

And, Ian talks with Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau about emerging packaging sector trends and best practices more generally. 

 

Plus: why electrical infrastructure shortfalls may impede data centre development and growth of EVs, and cocoa sector price volatility continues, in the news digest. 

 

Host: Ian Welsh 

Regenerative sourcing: Building resilient supply chains through system-level thinking (webinar recording)

Regenerative agriculture practices are proving their potential – delivering healthier soils, stronger farming communities, and more resilient supply chains – but regenerative agriculture isn’t just about improving sustainability scores; it’s about reshaping how supply chains create long-term value.

It’s a system-level approach that builds resilience from farm to brand and helps future-proof raw material sourcing.

This webinar, held in partnership with COTTON USA™, will explore how organisations are building on regenerative standards and frameworks (such as the U.S Cotton Trust Protocol) to embed regenerative sourcing into their core business strategy.

Drawing on insights from leaders working across regenerative materials, we’ll examine the practical challenges and opportunities of scaling these textiles. From climate resilience and social impact to supply chain stability, we’ll discuss how brands can move beyond initial pilot programs, and what must shift in purchasing practices, supplier relationships, and aligning incentives across the value chain.

What we discussed…

• System thinking in action: How regenerative sourcing influences soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience, and farmer livelihoods, while supporting business strategy
• Evolution of the supply chain: Moving beyond material sourcing to align farming practices, partnerships, and internal operations for long-term impact.
• Shared incentives & financing: Exploring incentive structures and financing mechanisms that support farmer transitions.

We heard from:

• Filippa Blomander, raw materials lead, Inter IKEA Group
• Liz Hershfield, executive director of COTTON USA™ and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol​​​​​​
• Katherine O’Hare, vice president, sustainability, J. Crew Group 
• Larkin Martin, president, Turnrow Farm Services

The discussion was moderated by Ian Welsh, co-founder and chair, Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast – How to scale next generation apparel materials

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell speaks with Femke Jonkmans, senior innovation associate at Fashion for Good, about some barriers impacting the development of new materials in the apparel sector. 

Niamh also speaks with Ian Welsh about natural fibre use and innovation on water impacts in the apparel sector. 

And, Nestlé's 410,000 KitKats heist; why language on climate change and business sustainability is ever more important; and, why environment and ethical choices are becoming mainstream for consumers, in the news digest. 

Host: Ian Welsh

Is zero textile waste to landfill really achievable?

Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell talks with Esme Chiverton and Fiona Bretherton from Untouched World about how collaboration can make zero waste ambitions a reality for the apparel sector.

Why due diligence means embedding worker empowerment

This week: Thomas Radal, global worker engagement expert at Ulula, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about how worker empowerment programmes can really deliver at scale. Moving beyond traditional audits, they explore how companies can gather direct feedback from workers using accessible technologies.

Plus: Innovation Forum's Ellen Atiyah chats with Liz Hershfield, executive director of COTTON USA™ and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, ahead of an upcoming webinar on regenerative sourcing.

And, Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar takes a look at how companies are moving from scope 3 commitments to real-world action, and how decarbonisation is increasingly linked to energy security and supply chain resilience.

Why flexible packaging recycling isn’t scaling (yet)

Dana Mosora, senior consultant at CEFLEX, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the push to make flexible packaging circular in Europe. They explore the key barriers to scaling recycling, from low collection rates and inconsistent quality to weak market demand, and the critical role of policy, particularly the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

Weekly podcast – How food brands can win today’s consumers

This week: highlights summary from a recent food webinar on how consumer expectations are reshaping the food sector. Moderated by Innovation Forum’s Ellen Atiyah, Dorothy Shaver from Unilever, Caroline Reid from Oatly and Griffith Foods’ Alex Skidmore explore how health, price and sustainability priorities differ across generations.

Plus: at the recent sustainable packaging innovation forum, Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh spoke with Caroline Elms from Pladis Global about how collaboration, innovation and clearer priorities can unlock scalable sustainable packaging solutions.

And, Innovation Forum’s Hanna Halmari talks with Ian about how sustainability in food and beverage is ever more a core driver of resilience and business value.

Host: Ian Welsh

Can commodity shipping overcome the green premium challenge?

Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill's ocean transport business, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the challenge of decarbonising global shipping. They discuss the role of alternative fuels and why scaling change depends on solving the "green premium" and clearer regulation from the International Maritime Organisation.