Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast – On the road to responsible sourcing and ethical trade

This week: During Innovation Forum’s responsible sourcing and ethical trade event in London, some of the expert participants spoke with Ian Welsh, reflecting on conversations from the conference. They discussed the continued need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, conducting deep-dive research on suppliers and ensure due diligence is not just a box-ticking exercise. Hear from Rae Lindsay from Clifford Chance, Bakkavor’s Fiona Wheatley and Phil Bloomer from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.

Plus: Climate groups call on 30 insurance companies to stop underwriting fossil fuels immediately; UN fact-finding mission finds EU complicit in Libya migrant abuses; Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures releases its final draft framework; EU to go ahead on phase-out of internal combustion cars and vans by 2035, after deal with Germany, in the news digest with Innovation Forum’s Bea Stevenson.

Will climate denial conspiracy theories become a thing of the past?

Brendan May, sustainable business commentator and chair of Robertsbridge, talks with Ian Welsh about the key sustainable business trends from corporate net-zero models and evolution of how companies tackle climate change and other pressing challenges. They discuss the need for deforestation to be flagged in multilateral trade deals, the unintended consequences of regulatory tightening, why banning palm oil would be a disaster and regenerative agriculture’s potential.

Closing the loop: The role of recycled and recyclable materials in a circular economy

We know that upcycling, recycling, and the use of recycled materials are pillars of a circular apparel industry. However, challenges to scale remain around the downgrading of recycled materials, powerful vested interests in virgin fibre production, and rapid growth in fashion consumption. Apparel brands must play a significant role in tackling these issues to limit the use of virgin fibres, and re-shape the industry. We discussed:

• What are the barriers and challenges in using and re-using recycled materials for apparel, and how can brands overcome these?
• The role of business in helping to build and scale textile recycling infrastructure
• How brands can effectively engage with consumers in circular fashion
• The tools and models available for measuring the impact of using recycled fabrics

The panel:
• Nienke Steen, global lead apparel, textiles and footwear, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
• Anna-Karin Dahlberg, director of sustainability, Lindex
• Steven Bethell, founder, Bank & Vogue

This webinar was moderated by Tanya Richard, head of research and stakeholder engagement at Innovation Forum.

Monday briefing: Will the revised UK net-zero strategy deliver?

In a preview of what's coming up this week, Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Bea Stevenson talk about what to look out for in the UK government's refreshed net-zero strategy, and contrast it with other approaches in in the US and EU. They also discuss the first international zero waste day to be held on 30th March to raise awareness of zero waste initiatives.

And, Catie Ball provides further information on some of the discussion points coming up at the sustainable apparel and textiles conference USA on 21st-22nd June in New York City. Plus Emily Heslop talks about what to expect at the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum in London this week.

Weekly podcast – Why ten years of progress on deforestation is at risk

This week: Olivier Tichit, director of sustainability at Musim Mas, talks with Ian Welsh about some unintended consequences of EU’s new regulation banning the import of deforestation-linked products into the bloc. They discuss how the development of “verified deforestation-free” programmes, with third party verification, might be a solution that keeps markets open for imports from higher risk growing regions.

Plus: the high risk of missing 1.5C or 2C warming pathways, concludes IPCC's new synthesis report; CDP's new research shows insufficient environmental impact reporting and disclosure; oyster mushrooms to consume cigarette butts in Australian trial, in the news digest.

And, a preview of what to expect from key panel sessions, and who will be taking part, at the future of climate action virtual conference in June, from Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar.

Host: Ian Welsh

How due diligence regulation levels the playing field

Bayer’s head of ethics and social impact, Janina Lukas, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how business can adapt and engage in changing legislation on ethics and social impact. They talk about the continued need for companies to go beyond compliance, and how regulation can create a level playing field. However, they also discuss the flaws in a “one size fits all” approach.

Monday briefing: IPCC’s latest assessments and a watershed moment for the UN?

In a new preview of what’s coming up, Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Bea Stevenson talk about what to look out for in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report summing up its recent conclusions in what should be a crucial policy document. They also discuss the upcoming UN water conference in New York where the Water Action Agenda will be launched.

And Hanna Halmari provides insights into some of the panels coming up at the sustainable apparel and textiles conference on 25^th and 26^th April in Amsterdam.

Weekly podcast – Sea change: what to expect from the UN oceans treaty

This week: Senior policy advisor for ocean and conservation finance at The Nature Conservancy, Andreas Hansen, talks with Innovation Forum’s Bea Stevenson about the new UN draft agreement to protect offshore marine biodiversity. They talk about the new framework on environmental impact assessment in the high seas and its business impacts.

Plus: CDP investors now request corporate plastics pollution disclosure; why microplastics pollution is even more of a problem than feared; and, bottle and can deposit return scheme controversy in Scotland, in the news digest.

And, some details on conference sessions coming up at the future of food USA conference in Minneapolis on 31st May-1st June from Innovation Forum’s Emily Heslop.

Host: Ian Welsh

Can business deliver on the ‘how’ of decarbonisation?

Tom Thackray, director of decarbonisation at the Confederation of British Industry, talks with Ian Welsh about the role of UK business in driving forwards on net zero commitments, and the inevitable challenges the necessary transition will throw up. They discuss the opportunities for greater energy efficiency and affordability from low-carbon technologies, the need for increasing accessibility for all business to such technology, and the importance of action that brings benefits now.

Reality check: how is business tackling the big sustainability challenges?

This week: Brendan May, sustainable business commentator and chair of Robertsbridge, reflects with Ian Welsh on the key sustainable business global trends and challenges, and how companies should engage on them. They discuss the dangers of complacency when tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, and how greenwashing-derived sensitivity has led to greater corporate transparency.

Plus: deforestation inflicting local rainfall loss for farmers, according to Nature; Brazilian wine sector’s modern slavery challenges; UK's first fully recyclable savoury snacks flexible packaging from PepsiCo; and EU set to tighten ESG rules for pension funds, in the news digest.

And, insights on what’s coming up at some of the panel discussion sessions at the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum in London on 29th-30th March from Innovation Forum's Emily Heslop.

Host: Ian Welsh