Innovation Forum Podcast

Tiffany Rogers, director of fair compensation and member engagement at the Fair Labor Association, talks with Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari about the impacts of corporate living wage commitments to improve worker rights in the supply chain. They discuss the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in scaling living wage initiatives, improving corporate expertise and communicating with workers on the ground.   Listen to the webinar on implementing living wage policies with Wendy Savage and Alex Katz from Patagonia.

This week: Innovation Forum's Bea Stevenson talks with Ahrum Pak, CEO and co-founder of WNWN Food Labs about the launch of first cocoa-free “chocolate” made from cereals and legumes. They discuss how the product has been developed and the potential implications for the chocolate industry of such alternative innovations. Plus: ClientEarth activists sue Shell’s directors over climate strategy; plastic recycling rates still eclipsed by virgin plastic production says Minderoo Foundation research; and, new WWF biodiversity risk filter for corporate risk assessment, in the news digest. And, Innovation Forum's Catie Ball gives an update on the Sustainable Apparel Textiles USA conference on 21st-22nd June in New York City. Host: Ian Welsh

Michelle Grogg, vice president for corporate responsibility and sustainable development at Cargill, talks with Ian Welsh about managing current disruptors to the food supply chain and delivering long-term food resilience. They discuss the importance of having farmers at the centre of collaboration efforts, and what food companies can do to provide support through livelihoods development, technology programmes and market integration.

This week: Andrew Wallis, CEO of anti-slavery NGO Unseen, talks about the ongoing challenges for migrant worker protection for business in the UK and beyond. He discusses the importance of good human rights legislations to establish the right level playing field, and shares some examples of what good collaboration looks like. Plus: a new Conservation International and We Mean Business Coalition survey shows strong corporate dedication to meet climate targets, including using carbon offsets, despite on-going debate over their certification; why the planet is on the brink of critical climate thresholds according to Stanford and Colorado State Universities; more detail of the UK's nature-positive payments for farmers scheme; and Shopify highlights sustainability-conscious consumer choices despite current economic climate, in the news digest. And, further information on the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum taking place in London on 29th-30th March in London from Innovation Forum's Emily Heslop. Host:

Phil Bloomer, executive director of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, reflects with Ian Welsh on global collective efforts and collaboration on business, human rights and the environment – as highlighted by the international collaboration to help Ukraine, for example. They talk about the implementation of regulation, the role of technology, responsible investors and companies, and what human rights integration in the just transition should look like.

This week: Tiffany Rogers, director of fair compensation and member engagement at the Fair Labor Association talks with Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari about how apparel business can make living income commitments, as part of a new “state of apparel” content series. They discuss the challenges in implementing living wage programmes and guidance on corporate responsible purchasing practices. Plus: CDP's non-disclosure campaign encouraging companies to make commitments more than ever before; incoming plastics and aluminium containers deposit return scheme in the UK; avoiding the risk of smallholder palm oil farmer marginalisation from EU's new due diligence regulations; and, KPMG UK's research finds potential employer's ESG decision making and corporate commitments being a determining factor in job search, in the news digest. And, Innovation Forum's Emily Heslop provides updates on the upcoming future of food USA conference taking place in Minneapolis on 30th May-1st June. Host: Ian Welsh

Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, WWF senior forest policy officer, UN policy office, talks with Innovation Forum’s Bea Stevenson about the EU's new deforestation-linked products ban. They discuss what the legislation will look like for business once entered into force with customs controls and heightened infringement prosecution, and the significance of due diligence risk assessments for EU imports and exports.

This week: Cargill's vice-president for corporate responsibility and sustainable development, Michelle Grogg, talks about the necessary action points that can deliver global food resilience amid disruptions such as extreme weather events and the war in Ukraine. She discusses the importance, for the long-term, of future-proofing farmers and engaging in smarter collaborations across organisations and sectors. Plus: climate change failures tops 10-year risks in World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report; Danone to reduce 30% absolute methane emissions by 2030; and, world’s economy becoming less circular according to new Circularity Gap report, in the news digest. And, an update on the future of food conference to be held in Amsterdam on 3rd-4th May from Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar. Host: Ian Welsh

Supply chain sustainability is a key corporate goal. In a fast-changing environment, much business discussion has centred around the need to adapt and strive towards sustainability throughout the value chain. In this webinar, we discussed useful insights on sustainable supply chains collected in our recent survey and hear from expert panellists in an engaging conversation analysing key trends for 2023. The panel: • Dr Simon Lord, expert adviser, Independent • Dr Emily Goetsch, head of research — UK, Acre This webinar was moderated by Ian Welsh, director of publishing at Innovation Forum.

Bara Robyn, partnerships and development lead at Earthworm Indonesia, talks with Ian Welsh about Earthworm Foundation's project with a palm oil business, Laot Bangko, to drive sustainability within the palm oil sector in Indonesia. They discuss the challenges of deforestation, land tenure and labour issues with Laot Bangko’s section head of the sustainability and smallholder scheme, Wahyudi Putro Widodo, and present their progress in sustainability policy development, conflict mapping and resolution, and progress on no deforestation, peat or exploitation (NDPE) palm oil production.

This week: Phil Bloomer, executive director of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, talks about some reasons for optimism for business and human rights this year. He discusses the positive changes in public perception that are helping to drive corporate action, and why there is greater willingness from governments to cooperate on commitments such as the just transition and the outcomes from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Plus: further proof of land conversion impacts from corporate zero-deforestation commitments from University of York; backlash from human rights groups on the continued lack of a UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner; Know the Chain's new benchmark shows continuing ICT sector’s supply chain labour rights failures; and, new UN report predicts recovery of the ozone layer hole by 2040, in the news digest. And, insight on the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles conference held in Amsterdam on 25th-26th April from Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari. Host: Ian Welsh Join the conversat

John Morrison, CEO of the Institute for Human Rights and Business, talks with Ian Welsh about a moment of opportunity for human rights and forced labour issues following the recent Fifa World Cup in Qatar. They discuss human rights risks and opportunities for businesses with increasing traceability, and requirements from trade and investment communities, and the growing prospects for companies engaging on human rights agenda as conversations on the just transition and green economy develop.

This week: Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, senior forest policy officer at WWF in Brussels, talked with Bea Stevenson about the incoming EU regulations banning imports of products linked to deforestation. They discussed the paradigm shift within the agricultural sector that this will drive, the impacts of a due diligence approach and the limitations of the new regulation. Plus: Shell to pay €15m to Nigerian communities impacted by oil pipeline leaks in 2004; the World Bank's evolution roadmap showing lending commitment to address climate change; technology’s potential to cut 40% of costs in delivering the SDGs, according to Force for Good initiative; and, Mercedes-Benz Energy partners with Lohum to supply second-life batteries, in the news digest. And, updates from Innovation Forum’s Emily Heslop about the upcoming responsible sourcing and ethical trade conference to be held on 29th-30th March in London. Host: Ian Welsh

Environmental Investigation Agency's ocean campaign leader Christina Dixon talked with Innovation Forum's Bea Stevenson about the priorities for the United Nations global pact on plastic pollution, in the lead up to the first negotiation session which took place in late 2022. They discussed the shared urgency to tackle plastic pollution and the importance of having a legally binding instrument for transparent plastic production reporting, agreement on definitions and financing.

This week: Another chance to hear the two most popular podcast interviews of 2022. At Innovation Forum's future of climate action conference, Rob Cameron, vice-president and global head of public affairs and ESG engagement at Nestlé, spoke about why companies need to continue to focus on carbon, take immediate action at scale, and the potential benefits from regenerative agriculture. He argued that there will be no transition to a low carbon economy unless it is a “just transition”, and put the case for always following the science in corporate action on climate change.  And, Josh Tosteson, president of Everland, spoke about the new Forest Plan to tackle deforestation at scale through rapidly developing new REDD+ forest projects in threatened landscapes around the world, and accessing the unprecedented levels of climate finance via the voluntary carbon markets. He also addressed the main criticisms of REDD+ projects; how to prevent deforestation from simply leaking outside the project boundary, and how to est

As the world’s greatest carbon sink, the ocean and its coastal ecosystems are an essential part of the solution to the climate emergency. Blue carbon projects protect and restore marine ecosystems, such as tidal marshes, seagrasses and mangroves – which can sequester up to ten times as much carbon as a land-based forest. Companies have a vital role to play in blue carbon. By investing in projects, business can scale the supply of high-quality blue carbon credits and simultaneously meet their own net-zero and nature positive commitments. In this webinar, we discussed: • Why coastal ecosystems of mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes are imperative to reaching 1.5°C targets • How blue carbon projects can provide income, subsistence resources, and additional co-benefits for local communities • How will carbon accounting in blue carbon work in practice? And what is the role of business in scaling the voluntary blue carbon market? The panel: • Dr. Whitney Johnston, director of ocean sustainability, Salesforce

This week: Partnerships and development lead at Earthworm Indonesia, Bara Robyn, talks with Ian Welsh about the importance of working closely with local stakeholders and highlighting their capability in driving sustainability within the palm oil sector in Indonesia. They are joined by Wahyudi Putro Widodo, section head of the sustainability and smallholder scheme at palm oil business Laot Bangko, an Earthworm partner, and they discuss conflict mapping and resolution, NDPE scoping and monitoring forest cover. Plus: EU's new carbon tariffs on imports for decarbonisation; science-based target setting commitments from the apparel sector with Sustainable Apparel Coalition's new decarbonisation initiative; ongoing disagreement over appointing biodiversity protection funding donors and recipients at nature COP15 in Montreal, in the news digest. And, information about the upcoming future of food USA conference to be held on 31st May-1st June in Minneapolis with an exclusive discount code for podcast listeners. Host:

Some on-the-spot reflections at the recent sustainable landscapes and commodities forum in Amsterdam from Tesco's Anna Turrell, Anita Neville from Golden Agri-Resources, Craig Tribolet from APRIL, Glenn Hurowitz from Mighty Earth, Josh Tosteson from Everland, Patrick Houdry from Airbus, Michiel Hendriksz from FarmStrong Foundation, Eloisa Menguzzo from PGGM and Innovation Forum senior associate Peter Stanbury, talking with Ian Welsh. They highlight the use of science-based targets and satellite monitoring, the need for transparency and sustainable sourcing, and opportunities for voluntary carbon markets and balancing between regulation and incentives to end commodity-driven deforestation.  

This week: John Morrison, CEO of the Institute of Human Rights and Business, talks with Ian Welsh about the prospects for a higher profile for human rights and forced labour issues following the Fifa World Cup in Qatar and the COP27 conference in Egypt. They discuss the importance of ensuring a just transition as the world economy decarbonises and some reasons for optimism in 2023, including the increase in consumer-driven business ethics. Plus: EU's new regulation banning all products linked to deforestation revealed; more corporate biodiversity commitments and actions needed, says CDP; World Benchmarking Alliance’s Nature Benchmark shows looking beyond corporate climate goals is imperative; and, biodegradable packaging startup Notpla wins £1m grant from the Earthshot Prize, in the news digest. And, Innovation Forum's Emily Heslop introduces the responsible sourcing and ethical trade conference coming up in March 2023 in London, and reveals an exclusive discount for podcast listeners. Host: Ian Welsh

In a warming world, farmers remain among the most vulnerable to the increasing environmental hazards brought on by climate change. To mitigate these impacts, business must collaborate with farmers to build their capacity to adapt and adopt climate-smart practices for more resilient livelihoods. In this webinar, our panel discussed: How can business enable income diversification for smallholder farmers? What are the leading strategies, tools, and technologies to help farmers transition to climate-smart agriculture? What role does regenerative agriculture play in helping to increase climate resilience? The panel included: John Steel, CEO, Cafédirect Hardeep Desai, head of farm operations, CottonConnect South Asia This webinar was moderated by Tanya Richard, head of research and stakeholder engagement at Innovation Forum, and hosted in partnership with CottonConnect.