Innovation Forum podcast

Bridging compliance and real progress in sustainable commodities

Innovation Forum’s Catie Ball, Diana Kim and Emily Heslop talk about the evolving landscape of sustainable commodity regulations and the impact of policies including the European Union Deforestation Regulation, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. They discuss how these regulations are reshaping supply chain expectations, particularly for commodity producers, and highlight the potential risks to smallholder farmers and challenges for companies in meeting these new standards. The discussion covers global compliance trends, strategies for companies to build resilience, and the balance between genuine sustainability efforts and the risk of greenwashing.

Monday briefing – Practical steps to deliver sustainability targets with KFC

This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh talk about what’s coming up at the just-launched 2025 future of food and beverage USA forum in Minneapolis on May 28^th and 29^th.  

And, speaking at the 2024 conference, KFC’s Nivera Wallanni, chief development officer, and Nira Johri, chief sustainability officer, talk with Ian about how the brand has developed sustainability strategy in lock-step with other business development strategy.

Weekly podcast – Navigating compliance challenges amid potential EUDR delays

This week: at the recent sustainable commodities and land use forum, CEO of TRACT, Allison Kopf, spoke with Ian Welsh about how companies are updating their compliance and due diligence procedures. They also talk about the impacts of potential European Union deforestation regulation delay.

 

Plus: quick fire insights from Kresse Wesling, co-founder of Elvis and Kresse, at the 2024 sustainable apparel and textiles conference. She discusses what good sustainability practices look like and how companies can respond to incoming regulation.

 

And, biodiversity COP16 fails to resolve conservation funding, targets unmet; study suggests natural regeneration outperforms tree planting for biodiversity; and, Swiss consumers favour paying extra for dairy with better animal welfare, in the news digest.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

 

Registrations for the 2025 sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam is now open. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Out of the bottle: redefining beverage sector sustainability

Andy Griffiths, global head of sustainable procurement at Diageo, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the company’s efforts to integrate regenerative agriculture into its global supply chains. They explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing regenerative agriculture, from sourcing raw materials including barley and agave, to rethinking packaging for environmental impact.

Monday briefing – What does the future of apparel look like?

This week: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Niamh Campbell talks about what’s new at the sustainable apparel and textiles conference, taking place in Amsterdam on 29^th-30^th April 2025. They outline the agenda featuring diverse speakers, interactive sessions and the many ways attendees can engage deeply with critical issues.

 

Plus: insights from the previous conference with Christine Goulay and Amy Nguyen about latest industry trends and the importance of circularity and transparency in the supply chain.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Risk, return, resilience: How climate trends are reshaping agriculture

This week: Niamh McCarthy from Orbitas, a Climate Advisers initiative, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about new research into climate transitions in the land economy, focusing on agriculture and forestry in particular, and market, reputational and technology trends. 

 

Plus: at the sustainable packaging innovation forum in Philadelphia this week, Ian spoke with David Clark, chief sustainability officer at packaging manufacturer Amcor, about how industry and regulatory actions can transform packaging to reduce waste and foster environmental responsibility.

 

And, Oxfam urges taxes on wealthy to reduce carbon emissions; WRAP and Primark launch initiative to boost textile circularity and reduce waste; Kering, GSK and Holcim set first-ever science-based targets for freshwater and land conservation; and, Mighty Earth links UK chicken supply chains to South American deforestation concerns, in the news digest.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

 

Click here for more information on Orbitas’ climate transitions research.

Scaling back or moving forward? The future of sustainable business

In the first installment of a new series on sustainability, business expert and Robertsbridge founder Brendan May joins Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh to explore the current turning point for sustainable business practices and the reasons behind some companies’ reduced ambitions. They delve into the political factors influencing sustainability efforts, the burdens of extensive reporting demands, and how the roles of NGOs are evolving.

Monday briefing – Prioritising responsible sourcing for resilient supply chains

This week: Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Natasha Bodnar introduces the upcoming responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum in London (19-20 March 2025). They discuss details on latest confirmed speakers and 2025 conference themes. Registrations are now open, click here for more information

Plus: Ian Welsh also speaks with Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari about what to expect at this week's sustainable packaging innovation forum in Philadelphia (29-30 October). Click here for information on how to get involved, registrations are closing soon.

Host: Ian Welsh

How nature-based solutions can deliver corporate sustainability commitments: webinar audio recording

Nature-based solutions (NBS) play a pivotal role in delivering tangible impact and addressing corporate sustainability commitments.

To achieve progress around nature protection, restoration and emissions mitigation at scale, collaboration between industry actors is also key. 

In this webinar, we explored the real-life applications of NBS through the eyes of various stakeholders, to understand how companies can deliver large-scale, long-term solutions that fulfil their sustainability objectives, while also benefitting biodiversity and improving people’s livelihoods.

Our panel of experts included:

• Martin Huxtable, global sustainable sourcing director, Unilever.
• Emily Kunen, senior director, positive agriculture capabilities & forest risk, PepsiCo.
• Michal Zrust, founder and CEO, Lestari Capital.
• Andika Putraditama, director, Rimba Collective.

The discussion was moderated by Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum.

Weekly podcast – Empowering smallholders amid global compliance demands

This week: Innovation Forum's associate Catie Ball, talks with Diana Kim and Emily Heslop about the opportunities and risks the European Union Deforestation Regulation, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive pose. In particular, they discuss potential impacts on smallholder farmers and suppliers in less-developed nations, and the unintended consequences from these regulations.

 

Plus: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Tanya Richard share some reflections from this week’s sustainable commodities and land use forum in Amsterdam. They discuss the challenges and potential benefits from a delay in EUDR’s full implementation, and the importance of aligning value chain sustainability efforts with biodiversity and long-term incentives.

 

Host: Ian Welsh