Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast – The true cost of your cup of coffee

This week: Etelle Higgonnet, founder of CoffeeWatch talks with Ian Welsh about the environmental and human costs behind global coffee production. From deforestation and biodiversity loss to pesticide overuse and child labour, they explore how agroforestry, living wages and responsible corporate practices can transform the industry.

 

Plus: UK supermarket Asda launches sustainable supply chain finance; WHO, WMO warn extreme heat threatens workers; and, Nestlé unveils full-pod cocoa processing innovation, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

 

To continue the conversation and dive deeper, join us for the Sustainable Commodities and Landscapes Forum, taking place in Amsterdam on 21-22 October. This leading business conference brings together 250+ supply chain and sustainability professionals to address the greatest risks - and opportunities - in commodity supply chains. Industry leaders and experts will further explore these vital themes and drive nature-resilience throughout the entire supply chain. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Are farmers finally getting a seat at the table?

Farmers Jocelyn Schlichting and Carla Schultz share their perspectives on the risks and realities of implementing regenerative practices in the US agriculture sector. In conversation with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh, they discuss why partnerships with food manufacturers and genuine farmer voices are essential to making sustainability work on the ground.

Weekly podcast – How can apparel build real resilience in the face of climate risk?

This week: Beth Jensen, chief impact officer at Textile Exchange talks with Innovation Forum's Tanya Richard about key conversations and takeaways from the recent sustainable apparel and textiles conference in New York. They discuss nature-positive strategies and how brands can better align with farmers and growers.

Plus: global plastics treaty talks collapse again; fashion emissions rise despite brand progress; water insecurity flagged as a major financial risk; and, US makes moves to secure critical minerals, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Diana Kim

To register your interest for the 2026 sustainable apparel and textiles conference series:

• Amsterdam (April)
• New York City (June)

Reality check: securing cocoa supply through innovation

At the recent scope 3 innovation forum in Amsterdam, Tilmann Silber, head of net zero at Barry Callebaut talks with Ian Welsh about the current challenges in tropical supply chains. They discuss insights on supply chain resilience, on-farm adaptation strategies and the evolving role of KPIs in proving impact. They explore how brands and suppliers can collaborate to manage risk and co-invest in solutions.

We’ll be continuing the conversation at the Scope 3 Innovation Forum USA, taking place in Washington DC on 3-4 December 2025. Join the likes of Ulta Beauty, Colgate-Palmolive, KFC, Mars, BIC, eBay, Volvo Group, IKEA, Verra, United Airlines and many more. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Monday briefing – Decarbonising critical minerals: tackling energy, access and market volatility

In this briefing, a snippet from the recent critical minerals webinar with World Resources Institute (WRI), Harmony Gold Mining Company, The Weir Group and Eramet. Reza Rahmaditio, critical minerals project lead at WRI Indonesia, outlines the biggest challenges in decarbonising nickel and other minerals. He discusses energy intensity, remote locations and market pressures – and how companies are beginning to respond with efficiency, new technologies and green premiums.

Host: Diana Kim

To continue the conversation and dive deeper, join us for the Critical Minerals Innovation Forum, taking place in London on 5th-6th November This two-day business conference connects the full critical mineral value chain from mining, processing and refining to automotive, electronics and renewables. Industry leaders and experts will further explore these vital themes and drive forward the transition to a low-carbon minerals sector. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Circular fashion: decoupling growth from new garment production

At the recent sustainable apparel and textiles conference in New York, Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Danielle Holly spoke with Innovation Forum’s Tanya Richard about how brands can make money without producing more clothes. They share lessons from the foundation’s Fashion ReModel project and examples from H&M and Coach that are proving the business case for circularity.

Weekly podcast – Dissolving the problem: zero-waste solutions for flexible packaging

This week: Vidhu Nagpal, director for flexible packaging, and Alex Abbott, chief revenue officer at SmartSolve Industries, talk with Ian Welsh about why recycling rates for flexible packaging remain stubbornly low and how a zero-waste solution could change the game.

 

And, French bottled water brands face “natural”| label controversy; UK supermarket chain partners with food waste apps for real-time discount alerts; and, researchers update open-source framework to spot greenwashing, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

 

To continue the conversation, SmartSolve Industries will be attending the upcoming sustainable packaging innovation forum in Chicago on 28-29 October. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Weekly briefing – The packaging and packaging waste directive: what it means for your business

This week: Davide Braghiroli, director for packaging sustainability solutions at Tetra Pak, talks with Ian Welsh about the impact of the European Union’s packaging and packaging waste directive. They highlight how the regulation will change material choices, supply chain transparency and potential opportunities.

 

And, Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau share latest updates in sustainable packaging, from the global plastics treaty to corporate innovation toward packaging circularity.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

 

We’ll be continuing the conversation at the sustainable packaging innovation forum, taking place in Chicago on 28-29 October. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Weekly podcast – Why healthy soils mean greater crop yields

This week: Alex Udermann and Mark Gutierrez, farmers from the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, talk with Ian Welsh about how working on improving soil health improves productivity and farm profitability. They share insights on how healthier soils build resilience and cut inputs.

 

And, carbon markets expert and former CEO of Verra, David Antonioli reflects on the evolving role of the markets at the 2024 scope 3 innovation forum USA.

 

Plus: Barclays next bank to quit net-zero alliance; Barry Callebaut develops lab-grown cocoa; no safe level of processed meat, major study warns; and, global plastic crisis fuels major health risks, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

How EUDR compliance can create business value

In the second episode of Innovation Forum’s podcast series on corporate readiness for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), in collaboration with Deloitte & Touche LLP, we explore how companies can go further than ticking compliance boxes and instead use EUDR as a springboard for long-term business strategy.

Ian Welsh is joined by John O’Brien, managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP, to discuss how EUDR requirements can unlock new value. From building trust with consumers and de-risking supply chains to accessing new markets and premium pricing opportunities, they explore how aligning compliance efforts with broader sustainability goals can deliver competitive advantage.

Key themes include:

• Why EUDR is more than a regulatory requirement
• The role of traceability and reliable data in understanding supply chain resilience
• How nature-related risks are evolving, and why businesses should prepare now
• What companies at different stages of readiness should prioritize next

Whether you’re just getting started with EUDR or are looking to build on existing systems, this episode offers strategic insights for transforming compliance into impact.