Innovation Forum Podcast

This week: Sebastian Munden, chair of environmental NGO WRAP, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential of circular plastics and how innovative design can significantly reduce plastic waste. They share insight about the role of regulatory frameworks in shaping sustainable packaging strategies and the need for a radical shift in consumer behaviour to truly drive change. Plus: UK faces surge in plastic bag waste; historic drought threatens global food security; US farmers suffer $20 billion in losses; US funding cuts threaten global conservation efforts; and, Dutch NGO sues ING over climate inaction, in the news digest. Host: Ellen Atiyah

Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business, talks with Ian Welsh about the evolving landscape of sustainable packaging. They discuss how major brands and retailers can transition to environmentally sustainable packaging solutions that are also financially viable. Willemijn emphasises the importance of a mindset shift towards circular approaches and the role of legislation in driving change.

This week: Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau and Ian Welsh highlight the growing integration of research and development commercial value within the packaging sector, driven by legislation such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Schemes. They discuss exciting innovations in flexible packaging, particularly from the likes of Unilever, which are focusing on reducing material complexity while enhancing functionality.   Plus: Dieuwertje Nelissen, chief program officer at Enviu, talks with Lia about the Mission Reuse Coalition’s efforts to transition from a disposable economy to a circular one, emphasising the importance of reusable and refillable packaging solutions. They highlight latest progress, including new legislation and successful pilot projects, plus factors needed for broader adoption.   Host: Ian Welsh

At the recent Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum in London, industry experts joined Ian Welsh to share key takeaways from the conference. They discussed supply chain frameworks for human rights remediation, the current regulatory landscape, and progress on worker protection and responsible recruitment.     Hear from: 00:59 – Duncan Warner, senior responsible sourcing and human rights manager, ASDA 05:22 – Lise Smit, business and human rights adviser, Norton Rose Fulbright 12:46 – Andrey Sawchenko, regional vice president forced labor programs, Asia Pacific, International Justice Mission 17:21 – James Sinclair, director of human rights, Verisk Maplecroft

In this webinar recording, experts discuss the emerging supply shortages, investment trends, and the impact of geopolitics on the future of transition metals crucial to the climate agenda. As demand for critical minerals surges due to accelerating clean energy initiatives, the landscape is becoming increasingly complex. Current and looming supply gaps are emerging alongside shifting political dynamics that are pivotal to the climate transition. In this webinar, the panel explored supply gaps, the projected investment trends, and how geopolitical factors are shaping the future of critical minerals. Hear insights from: Anna Fleming, consulting project manager, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Caroline Avan, head of just transition and natural resources, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre Jonathan Horrell, group head of sustainability, The Weir Group To continue the conversation, secure your place at the inaugural critical minerals innovation forum (London, 5-6 November). Click here for information on h

This week: Colin Browne, CEO of Cascale, talks with Ian Welsh, exploring the state of sustainability in the apparel and textile sector. They discuss the challenges of decarbonisation, impact of emerging legislation and share insight on how companies can navigate trade disruptions and prepare for the future of sustainable supply chains. Plus: companies drop “ESG” term but sustain green efforts; US farmers struggle as USDA funding freeze hits; companies raise climate targets but struggle with scope 3; and, nutri-score gains support despite EU rejection, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah. Host: Ian Welsh

Sajeev Mohankumar, senior climate and biodiversity specialist at the FAIRR Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about key findings from the initiative’s latest report on climate and nature-based interventions in agriculture. They discuss the importance of investors in driving change by assessing material risks and transitioning to net-zero solutions. They highlight the benefits of nature-based interventions over tech-based ones, particularly in livestock production, while addressing the barriers to funding and adoption of these solutions.

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about key themes shaping the apparel sector in 2025. They discuss the shifting legislation, greenwashing crackdowns, supply chain resilience and innovations in next-gen materials. Plus: at the 2024 apparel conference, CottonConnect’s Alison Ward and Ian explored how to deliver climate resilience in cotton farming. They discussed sustainable practices, the role of technology, local adaptation, and government influence in shaping a more resilient and regenerative cotton supply chain. Host: Ian Welsh Alison, Niamh and Ian will be at this year’s sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam on 29-30 April. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Rob Nicholls from Musim Mas, Livelihoods Venture's Sébastien de Royer and Rizki Pandu Parma at NGO SNV, talk with Ian Welsh about the transformative efforts in regenerative agriculture within the palm oil sector. They explore how multi-stakeholder collaborations are reshaping traditional practices and empowering smallholder farmers in Sumatra. They discuss the challenges of soil degradation, the importance of sustainable farming techniques, and the innovative financial solutions being developed to support farmers through replanting phases.

This week: Seanicaa Edwards-Herron, executive director at NGO Freedmen Heirs Foundation, talks with Innovation Forum’s Diana Kim about the challenges minority farmers face in securing financing and land ownership. They explore innovative funding models, the role of agtech, and how consumers and companies can support equitable and resilient food systems. Plus: at the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum in London this week, Lise Smit from Norton Rose Fulbright talks with Ian Welsh about the EU’s evolving regulatory landscape. They discuss the omnibus regulation proposal and its implications for corporate due diligence and supply chain responsibilities. Host: Ian Welsh

Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar and Ian Welsh talk about the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, coming up in London this week. Key topics include the importance of survivor voices in modern slavery discussions and the collaboration between responsible sourcing professionals and procurement teams. And, another chance to hear Peter McAllister, Ethical Trade Initiative, and Sam Ludlow-Taylor from John Lewis Partnership reflecting on key discussions at the 2024 conference. In conversation with Ian Welsh, among the topics they explore include the effectiveness of social audits in manufacturing versus agriculture, highlighting the unique challenges each sector faces. Host: Ian Welsh

This week: Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business talks with Ian Welsh about what a sustainable approach to packaging looks like. They discuss how businesses can transition to circular systems by prioritising design for reuse and recycling while considering existing infrastructures. Plus: Brazil's highway sparks outrage before COP30; Ghana's cocoa crisis fuels illegal gold mining; rising biodiesel demand threatens palm oil supply; and, California revises plastic rules amid cost concerns, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah. Continue the conversation with Willemijn at the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum in Amsterdam (6-7 May) to explore practical solutions and innovations in sustainable packaging. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen talks with Ian Welsh about the critical role businesses play in addressing modern slavery. Andrew discusses the importance of transparency, effective governance and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure human rights are upheld in supply chains. They highlight the need for stronger legislation and proactive corporate responsibility as essential steps toward eradicating forced labour.

This week: Ian Welsh speaks with David Antonioli, former CEO of Verra and founder of Transition Finance about the state of play in the carbon markets. They discuss the foundational work being done to improve market integrity, greenwashing concerns and long-term decarbonization strategies.  Plus, Ian discusses Scope 3 supply chains emissions with Natasha Bodnar. Key challenges include financing decarbonization and improving emissions data transparency. Initiatives such as green supply chain financing and AI-driven lifecycle assessments are emerging to help companies tackle these challenges.   For more insights on Scope 3 and supply chain decarbonization, join Innovation Forum’s Scope 3 Innovation Forum in Amsterdam on June 3-4. Host: Ian Welsh To read the report mentioned in this episode, click here: https://tranfin.com/home/resources  Stay up-to-date on our podcasts by following us on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Aidan Maguire, coalition program manager at the Plastic Pollution Coalition, talks with Ian Welsh about some examples of innovative new materials that can replace plastic at scale. They also discuss the outcomes from the INC-5 meetings and share insights on the need for ambitious treaties to address plastic production and harmful chemical use.

This week: Sajeev Mohankumar, from investor group the FAIRR initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about his research into on-farm interventions for livestock climate and nature risks. In particular, he compares the effectiveness of nature-based and tech-based interventions. Plus: major migrant worker abuse issues in food supply chains; the European Commission goes cold on nutri-score food labelling; EU omnibus regulation; successful reusable cup trial in California; and, how greenhushing is going mainstream, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah. Host: Ian Welsh Sajeev Mohankimar will be at the Future of Food and Beverage USA in Minneapolis on 28-29 May. To continue the conversation, secure your spot here. To discover further analysis from the FAIRR initiative, view the full report here.

This week: Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne and Ian Welsh highlight latest trends in the food and beverage industry. They discuss the implications of the EU’s omnibus regulation and share key examples of innovations and collaborations from organisations such as Unilever and TechnoServe. Plus: Agreena’s CEO and co-founder Simon Haldrup talks with Ellen Atiyah about how technology is revolutionising approaches to climate-smart agriculture and the importance of verified data. And, a preview of the recording of Innovation Forum’s recent next-gen packaging materials webinar. Hear from ex-Just Eat Takeaway.com Robin Clark, talking about how their partnership with Notpla has developed. Host: Ian Welsh To join the conversation on the latest food innovations and partnership, secure your place at the future of food and beverage forum in Amsterdam on 13-14 May. Click here for full registration details. Click here to join a complimentary webinar with Agreena, discussing how technology can power data-driven sustainability

This week: Jeff Milder from the Accountability Framework initiative and Louise Nakagawa from Brazilian NGO Imaflora talk with Ian Welsh about the AFi’s public consultation to refine guidance for responsible supply chains. They discuss the challenges of aligning sustainability standards, improving traceability, and supporting smallholder inclusion in ethical commodity production. Plus: Kresse Wesling from Elvis and Kresse speaking at the 2024 sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam about upcycling and driving sustainability in fashion, and the urgent need for better industry practices and regulation. And, the EU sets new food and textile waste targets; the US nears mineral deal with Ukraine; the European Commission shifts agri-food policy away from strict environmental goals; UN biodiversity talks kick off in Rome; and climate change worsens bird flu outbreaks, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

French sporting goods brand Decathlon’s head of environmental evaluation, Quentin Badenelle, shares his experiences implementing the requirements of the EU’s product environmental footprint. In conversation with Ian Welsh, he explores how PEF metrics can transform product design, supply chain transparency and consumer trust in sustainability claims.

Circularity has the potential to reshape industries, reduce waste, and regenerate nature. But when it comes to the social side, is it advancing a just transition, or does it risk deepening global inequalities? This webinar discussion took a holistic approach to circularity to explore how circular systems can empower workers, foster economic resilience, and drive sustainable growth for the triple bottom line—people, planet, and profit. Hear insights from: Carmen Gama, director of circularity, Eileen Fisher Dr Hakan Karaosman, associate professor at Cardiff University and co-founder of FReSCH Paul Kerssens, COO and co-founder, United Repair Centre