Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Monday briefing: innovative solutions at World Water Week

In this week's briefing, Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Bea Stevenson talk about what to look out for from World Water Week. This year's focus is to develop innovative water solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty. They also discuss Brazil's upcoming carbon market legislation with emissions caps for high-emitting companies. The legislation is designed to protect indigenous communities, farming and forests, and is part of President Lula da Silva’s “green transition” plans.

 

Plus, Innovation Forum's Tanya Richard highlights some evolving corporate and stakeholder engagement trends, and the value of fostering genuine collaboration. Click here for more information on Innovation Forum's stakeholder engagement services.

Weekly podcast – Climate action: collaboration that delivers apparel supply chain decarbonisation

This week: At this year's sustainable apparel and textiles conference in New York City, Innovation Forum's Toby Webb talked with Krishna Manda, vice-president for sustainability at Lenzing, about the key discussion points from the supply chain decarbonisation panel session. They discuss the need for collaborative action and the rise of blended finance approaches in agriculture to drive resilience in sourcing practices.

 

Plus: why plant photosynthesis may not help mitigate climate change impacts after all; SBTi's new name-and-shame policy to drive better commitments from companies; and, global trend of legal challenges towards government and corporate inactivity noted in new UNEP report, in the news digest.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Extending digital traceability beyond apparel supply chains

Barbara Dunin, director of ESG, marketing and communications at Beontag, talks with Ian Welsh about the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for product traceability in supply chains across the apparel sector and beyond. They discuss how tags can help build recycling and circular models and how business can benefit from the technology, for example through carbon footprint measurement and tackling overproduction.

Monday briefing: what US Inflation Reduction Act progress one year on?

In this week's briefing, Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Bea Stevenson reflect on a year of the US Inflation Reduction Act, which has directed almost $400bn in federal funding in the US to reduce carbon emissions and reach climate targets. They discuss the success in greater clean energy provision, solar power supply and EV sales, but also discuss where there has been less progress, in areas such as hydrogen and carbon capture technology.

 

Plus, Innovation Forum's Emily Heslop shares further insight on what to expect at the future of climate action conference in Washington DC from 8th-9th November. Register here for a $300 early-bird discount – the offer expires this Friday, 18th August.

 

For Schroders’ insights about the Inflation Reduction Act, click here.

Weekly podcast – How to overcome food value chain sustainability hurdles

This week: after joining the future of food conference in Minneapolis, JoDee Haala, director of public affairs at pork farmers Christensen Farms, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about what is hindering development for more sustainable practices within food value chains, and how we can overcome them.

 

Plus: quick fire insights from Innovation Forum's Toby Webb and Bank & Vogue's Steven Bethell speaking at the recent sustainable apparel and textiles conference in New York. 

 

And, Gabon moves forward with Africa's first debt-for-nature swap; eight Amazon countries make progress, but no new deforestation commitment; and, California's law to reduce emissions from finished foods, in the news digest with Innovation Forum's Bea Stevenson.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

On trend: apparel sector traceability and transparency

On-the-spot reflections from Innovation Forum's Toby Webb and Olam Agri's Jordan Lea talking at Innovation Forum's sustainable apparel and textiles conference in New York in June. They discuss the increasing interest in building sustainable apparel supply chains from business and consumers, and the emerging trends of regenerative farming, traceability and transparency and more sustainable sourcing practices in general.

Monday briefing: empowering the green generation for change

In this week's preview of what's coming up, Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Bea Stevenson talk about the role of International Day of Indigenous Peoples on 9th August in raising awareness on indigenous peoples' right to self-determination, and role in climate action, with particular focus on indigenous youth this year. The topic of youth continues on the 12th with International Youth Day; Ian and Bea discuss the importance of fostering green skills in young people, for the green transition.

 

Plus, Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari shares some information on what to expect from the Sustainable Commodities and Landscapes Forum in Amsterdam from 31st October-1st November. Register here for a €300 early-bird discount – the offer expires this Friday, 11th August.

Weekly podcast – Regenerative agriculture’s growing potential

This week: Rejane Souza, senior vice-president for global innovation, at Norway-based fertiliser company Yara International, talks with Ian Welsh about how to get to grips with regenerative agriculture. They discuss the value chain that can enable technology and innovation, and the importance of taking a farmer-centric approach.

 

Plus: Incoming sustainability reporting standards for EU businesses; new study suggests the realistic potential of soil carbon sequestration practices; UK government to grant new licences for oil and gas exploration; and, climate change causing more cholera outbreaks, in the news digest.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Cracking the carbon code: why saving forests is a good investment

During his recent trip to Cambodia, Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh spoke with Charles Bedford, chief impact officer at Carbon Growth Partners about the characteristics of a good carbon project and what buyers should look for in REDD+ forest projects. They discuss the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration with active engagement and ownership from all parties, particularly from local communities, to deliver success.

Monday briefing: Earth Overshoot Day continuously creeps up the calendar

In this week's preview of what's coming up, Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Bea Stevenson talk about Earth Overshoot Day – this year on 2nd August – when human's annual natural resource use exceeds Earth's ability to regenerate. They also discuss the first African Women and Children Conference in Ghana this week, which will consider the impact of climate change on women and children, acting as a precursor to the African Climate Summit later in the year.

Plus, Innovation Forum's Catie Ball provides further information on what to expect from the Future of Plastics and Packaging Conference in Amsterdam from 3rd-4th October. Register for the conference for a €400 early-bird discount – the offer expires this Friday, 4th August.