Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Cotton Connect on how gender empowerment strengthens supply chains

Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, talks with Ian Welsh about why developing better life skills in smallholder farmer communities, combined with farm-level supply chain traceability, develops real resilience and security of supply for brands.

Working with trusted local partners in India, Ward explains how CottonConnect has helped Primark engage directly with its suppliers and create more-sustainable product lines on the shelves, through focusing on gender empowerment and introducing more-efficient agricultural techniques and practices.

Ocado on how to evolve plastic packaging business models

Suzanne Westlake, head of corporate responsibility and corporate affairs at Ocado, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the care required to avoid the unintended consequences of removing plastic from packaging.

They discuss why plastics have become demonised, and why the prevention of food waste must be a key concern for retailers. Westlake outlines how Ocado, as a delivery-only retailer, can engage its customers to help boost recycling rates, and demystify some of the complexities involved.

Weekly podcast: GRI on value from transparency and Global Agribusiness Alliance on what’s been positive in 2018

This week: Ruth Thomas, director of the Global Agribusiness Alliance, reflects on her favourite innovations in sustainable landscapes from 2018, and what she wants to see in 2019. And Global Reporting Initiative chairman Eric Hespenheide explains why corporate transparency leads to greater business value.

Plus: COP24 progress, ExxonMobil targeted by investors, tightened plastic waste regulation, Wilmar reaffirms its commitments, and Brazil’s Cerrado clearance rates slow, in the news roundup.

Hosted by Ian Welsh

And don't forget the exclusive 10% discount for podcast listeners this month on passes to any 2019 Innovation Forum event using code IFPOD10.

The importance of soil health for sustainable wine production

Anna Chilton, from agricultural producer, Camellia, owner of the Linton Park winery in South Africa, talks with Innovation Forum’s Toby Webb about what sustainability means for the wine industry, soil health and better practices, and what other businesses, particularly in the agriculture sector, might learn from wine sustainability studies and practices.

They discuss polyculture and the need for clarity and transparency for consumers, and the role of certification to consolidation of sustainability standards.

 

Business-led behaviour change on plastic packaging

Andy Napthine, group marketing controller at UK food producer Cranswick, and Nick Green from Veris Strategies talk with Ian Welsh about how to develop collaborative relationships with suppliers and customers on cutting use of plastic.

Napthine and Green argue that such are the complexities of the plastics-use debate that only an industry wide movement enable the shifts in behaviours necessary. In the food sector at least, there is now strong company-led desire to see real change, they say.

Weekly podcast: Cargill on more-sustainable smallholder suppliers, and Freshfields on evolving modern slavery legal risks

This week: Kate Clancy, sustainability manager, cocoa and chocolate, at Cargill discusses what business can do to strengthen smallholder farmers’ business models. And Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Michelle Bramley gives some insight into the impacts of changing modern slavery legislation.

Plus: analysis of Maersk’s climate-neutral future, a new carbon report from Hermes Investment Management, why Mighty Earth says cocoa still has deforestation questions to answer, and McDonald’s pledges to cut antibiotics in beef supply chains, in the news roundup.

And an exclusive special discount for podcast listeners this month for any Innovation Forum event using code IFPOD10.

Hosted by Ian Welsh

Do companies even want to know what’s material to them?

Joe Arvai, professor of social enterprise and director of the Erb Institute, and Ian Welsh debate some of the challenges for business around how they measure their impact. Arvai argues that there is a degree of information overload for companies that isn’t helping them not to confuse impact and outcomes.

They also discuss the growth in companies asking more about their organisational purpose beyond profitability, and why companies sometimes don’t seem to want to tackle their really material issues.

IJM: developing capacity for justice systems around the world

David Westlake, CEO, International Justice Mission, talks with Innovation Forum founder Toby Webb about the IJM’s work helping deliver justice for the most vulnerable in societies around the world.

They discuss in particular IJM’s work in Thailand where, Westlake argues, there is perfectly adequate legislation but a significant lack of enforcement. The mission has worked with Walmart to counter modern slavery risks in its Thai shrimp supply chains. IJM’s efforts helping police and prosecutors are now leading to convictions of slavery perpetrators and rescue of victims.

Weekly podcast: General Motors’ zero-emissions future, and insight from modern slavery’s front-line

This week: GM’s director of sustainability David Tulauskas on the customer-driven future for personal transportation, including full electrification, and anti-slavery charity Unseen’s CEO Andrew Wallis on how business risks on human rights and modern slavery are evolving.

Plus: Shell links executive pay to climate change targets, analysis of the latest Know the Chain labour rights benchmark into the apparel and footwear sector, and Australia’s modern slavery bill becomes law (at last).

And news of an exclusive special offer for podcast listeners (code: IFPOD10).

Hosted by Ian Welsh

GAR on how to develop smallholder communities that thrive

Gotz Martin, head of sustainability implementation, Golden Agri-Resources, talks with Ian Welsh about what future sustainable smallholder farmer communities will look like, and the challenges for business in helping create them.

Martin argues that a critical step is greater investment in education to increase capacity and create a local economic platform that is attractive and self-sustaining. And only through making existing farms viable, through better planting and techniques, and through more crop diversity, will the temptation to encroach into currently forested lands subside. They also debate the pros and cons of the landscape approach.