Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Monday briefing – Lessons learned and what's next for sustainable apparel

This week: Innovation Forum's Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about what to expect at this year's sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam. From exciting new sessions on textile waste solutions and Dragon's Den-style material innovation pitches to important debates on greenwashing, Niamh highlights what's new at this year's conference.

Plus: reflections from last year's apparel conference with Amy Nguyen from Sustainable & Social and Christine Goulay from Sustainabelle. In conversation with Ian, they share their key takeaways, such as the evolution of circular business models, scope 3 challenges, and the growing importance of better data and regulation.

Weekly podcast – Voices from the field: how US farmers are shaping sustainable farming

This week: Kevin Burkum, CEO of US Farmers and Ranchers in Action, and Michael Crinion, a South Dakota-based farmer and chair of USFRA, talk with Ian Welsh about the evolving challenges facing US agriculture. They explore how climate volatility, trade policies and supply chain pressures are reshaping farming, and why resilience, community and innovation are key to long-term success.

Plus: Apple slashes emissions and boosts recycling; EU deforestation law sparks enforcement fears; new Suntory water spinoff to tackle groundwater loss; and, the Guardian gives silent climate majority a voice, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

To continue the conversation, USFRA will be at the future of food and beverage forum in Minneapolis on 28-29 May. Click here for information on how to get involved.

System change: the state of sustainable plastics and packaging

Sebastian Munden, chair of the environmental NGO WRAP, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential for transforming packaging systems. They highlight innovative strategies that can reduce plastic pollution and promote responsible use, ultimately paving the way for more sustainable and circular plastic systems.

To continue the conversation, Sebastian will be at the sustainable packaging innovation forum (Amsterdam, 6-7 May). Click here for information on how to get involved.

Weekly podcast – Unlock business value via carbon measurement and decarbonisation strategy

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

The ripple effects of challenges and tariffs for the apparel sector

Colin Brown, CEO of Cascale, talks with Ian Welsh about challenges and opportunities within the consumer goods industry, particularly in apparel and textiles. They discuss the need for collective action to reduce environmental impact and improve social justice, emphasising the importance of collaboration among brands, manufacturers and retailers to weather the potential tariff storm. 

Climate-smart agriculture: how technology can power data-driven sustainability in food systems (webinar recording)

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.

As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, the challenge lies in scaling practices that restore soil health, reduce emissions, and enhance food production sustainability.

 

In partnership with Agreena, a Verra-registered climate solutions company, this webinar explored how robust, verified data is transforming RegenAg programs, how companies are using data to make food production more sustainable, and if farmers are reaping the benefits. 

Our panel of experts: 

• 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

The conversation was moderated by Tanya Richard, chief operating officer and head of stakeholder engagement, Innovation Forum. 

Monday briefing – What’s key in achieving sustainable food systems?

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.

Weekly podcast – Why traditional climate accounting risks falling short

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

How to address the farm finance equity gap in the US

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 briefing – Latest progress in delivering just food systems

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