Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Monday briefing – How to balance packaging innovation, regulation and commercial goals

This week: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Hanna Halmari introduce the upcoming sustainable packaging innovation forum, taking place in Amsterdam on 6th-7th May 2025. They discuss the key conference themes and highlight recently confirmed participants from Nestlé, Berry Global, Heineken, Diageo, TerraCycle and many more.

 

Plus: reflections from the recent US packaging forum with Cheryl Baldwin from Pure Strategies. In conversation with Ian Welsh, she talks about the role of R&D in sustainable packaging development.

Weekly podcast – Rethinking land use: collaboration to drive progress on climate resilience

This week: Tropical Forest Alliance's executive director Jack Hurd and Gustavo Idigoras, president of the Argentinian Edible Oils Association, talk with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the importance of measuring land-use footprints. They explore best practices for setting realistic corporate climate targets that drive tangible emission reductions and promote collaboration toward sustainable supply chains. With a focus on the soy sector in Argentina, they explore how industries are adapting to regulatory requirements and address deforestation risks.

Plus: quick fire insights from Kevin Rabinovitch at Mars recorded at the scope 3 innovation forum in Washington DC. In conversation with Ian Welsh, he discusses embedding climate goals into strategies and how to balance ambitious climate targets with actionable strategies.

And, the European Union Deforestation Regulation delay continues to spark mixed reactions; Christmas shopping consumption habits shift towards pre-loved items in the UK; the fifth round of negotiations for the global plastics treaty ends without agreement; and, Italy mandates climate risk insurance for companies starting 2025, in the news digest.

Host: Ellen Atiyah

Deforestation regulation decoded: how to stay ahead of the curve

Alison Kopf, CEO of TRACT, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh at the recent sustainable commodities and land use event, sharing some reflections on the discussions. They discuss the challenges companies face in meeting due diligence requirements amidst (potential) regulatory delays, emphasising the need for proactive investment in risk assessment, technology testing, and collaboration. They also delve into the opportunities of the delay in being able to refine processes, foster inclusivity among smaller producers, and aligning broader sustainability goals.

Please note: this interview was recorded before the European Union Deforestation Regulation was officially postponed. 

Monday briefing – Transforming apparel supply chains, and tackling Scope 3 emissions

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell introduces the upcoming 2025 sustainable apparel and textiles USA conference, taking place in New York on 24-25 June. She highlights the focus of the conference and recently confirmed speakers from apparel brands, such as Coach, New Balance, Forever 21, Eileen Fisher and many more.

Plus: hear Alison Ward and Ian Welsh speaking from 2024's sustainable apparel and textiles conference about driving climate resilience in cotton supply chains. They discuss adaptation needed on-the-ground to catalyse this transformation and the importance of a localised approach in delivering each project.

And, Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne shares final updates and what to expect at this week’s scope 3 innovation forum in Washington D.C. She shares agenda highlights and greater networking opportunities across the two days at this year's conference.

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Transformative timelines: the evolution of corporate deforestation policies

This week: Scott Poynton, CEO and founder of A Different Way, and founder and former CEO of the Tropical Forest Trust, now known as Earthworm, talks with Ian Welsh about the history of the development of corporate no-deforestation commitments and policies. In the first of a two-part interview, they highlight landmark moments from Nestlé's pledge in 2010 to pivotal role of Wilmar in reshaping the palm oil industry.

 

Plus: discussions of cutting plastic production at INC-5 for the global plastics treaty; collaboration between fashion rental service and food delivery company to deliver clothing to customers; the European Council adopts a ban on forced labour-linked products; and, the European Commission shares plans to streamline ESG regulation, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

A deep dive into the potential of transition metals

Jon Copley, professor of ocean exploration and science communication at the University of Southampton, talks with Innovation Forum’s Toby Webb about the urgent demand for essential metals such as copper, lithium and cobalt. They highlight the implications of sourcing these materials, specifically its potential ecological impacts, and the innovative technologies being developed to minimise harm.

Monday briefing – Tackling scope 3 emissions across supply chains, and final COPwatch from Baku

This week: Innovation Forum’s Natasha Bodnar introduces the 2025 scope 3 innovation forum, returning to Amsterdam on 11th-12th June. She highlights agenda themes and latest confirmed speakers, click here for information on how to get involved.

 

Plus: speaking following attendance at COP29, Owen Bethell from Nestlé, gives final reflections on the discussions at the meetings. In conversation with Ian Welsh, he highlights disappointment over the climate finance agreement, while acknowledging the importance of maintaining multilateral discussions.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Understanding the opportunities from ethical trade practices

This week: Giles Bolton, executive director of the Ethical Trading Initiative, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the shifting ethical trading and business and human rights risks and challenges. They discuss why they are getting the board room attention now that has perhaps been lacking in the past.

 

Plus: the European Council pushes back on the “no-risk” amendment to the European Union Deforestation Regulation; US apparently backtracking on limiting plastic production as the INC-5 global treaty talks in Busan loom; the Welsh government to not take part in the UK’s deposit return scheme; and, a concerns raised at the number of industrial agriculture lobbyists present at COP29, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

The financial frontier of climate transition: building agricultural resilience in Brazil

Niamh McCarthy from Orbitas, a Climate Advisers initiative, explores with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh the financial implications of climate transitions, focusing on forest, land use and agriculture sectors. They discuss key findings from the latest report by Orbitas and discuss how companies and investors can mitigate risks, leverage climate-smart innovations and seize emerging opportunities while contributing to global climate goals.

EUDR unpacked #1: a deep dive into the current landscape and implications of the regulation

In this three-part webinar series, we’ll cut through the noise and tackle these pressing questions. Join us to hear from key experts representing brands, traders, farmers, NGOs and on-the-ground communities.

With the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) deadline now likely to be extended by 12 months, businesses will gain extra time to prepare — but does this delay offer an advantage or merely prolong the uncertainty? Who really benefits from the extra time, and which organisations will suffer losses for trying to get ahead? Will this extension ease the burden, or does it simply push the challenge further down the road?

For the first in the series, this webinar explored the implications of the amended timeline, which now sets the application date for December 30, 2025, for large operators, and June 30, 2026, for micro- and small enterprises. Join industry experts to understand the regulatory landscape, the steps needed to ensure compliance and the implications of the delay.

Hear from: 

• Dr Julian Oram, policy director, Mighty Earth
• Anastasiya Timoshyna, director of the European programme office, TRAFFIC
• Issifu Issaka, cocoa farmer, national president of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Association
• Niels Wielaard, founder and CEO, Satelligence
  
  

Moderated by: Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum