Innovation Forum Podcast

Procurement departments are driven and incentivised by a range of KPIs. Unfortunately, social issues haven’t traditionally topped that list. But engaging procurement departments in modern slavery risk is key to tackling an issue prevalent in company supply chains. In this webinar, hear how two industry leaders have achieved genuine engagement with procurement officers. They assess what’s worked, what hasn’t and the common pushbacks that occur. Panellists: Tony Roy, head of governance and sustainability, BT Christophe Sassolas, director global procurement, Total SA Hosted and moderated by Toby Webb, founder, Innovation Forum

Cargill's Marie Lavialle-Piot, PepsiCo's Natasha Schwarzbach and Proforest's Sophie Higman discuss with Ian Welsh the benefits of a landscape-level approach to palm oil supply, with collaboration between companies, local government and NGOs on-the-ground. Detailing a case study project in Sumatra, Indonesia, they outline the complex challenges inherent in moving from mapping where problems are to action to tackle them and dealing with restoration and other interventions to protect forests and local livelihoods.

This week: Jason Glaser, founder of La Isla Network, on how simple measures to allow farm workers access to water, rest and shade can save lives, and real estate services provider JLL’s global chief corporate responsibility officer Richard Batten on how to talk to your suppliers’ suppliers about modern slavery. Plus: Ikea’s drive towards circularity, latest research from CDP, more problems in H+M and Next’s apparel supply chains in Bangladesh, and why British chips are getting smaller, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

In this webinar hear expert discussion on how companies can blend different data streams to proactively identify, quantify and mitigate a wide range of supplier risks across complex global supply chains, and build a coherent picture of where they need to take action or adjust their strategy. They discuss why access to data is no longer the challenge to business that it was, and how data can best be integrated and analysed to guide companies in mapping their supply chain risks. Panel: Jamie Barsimantov, COO and co-founder, SupplyShift, Stefan Sabo-Walsh, head of value chains, Verisk Maplecroft Erin McVeigh, head of products and strategic alliance, Verisk Maplecroft Steven Wuerth, associate director, procurement, Gilead Sciences Hosted by Ian Welsh

Kate Clancy, sustainability manager, cocoa, at Cargill, talks with Ian Welsh about how companies can work with their supply chains to help ensure the viability of their smallholder farmer suppliers. They discuss the challenges in particular around working with farmers to develop better resilience to disease, and to market price fluctuations, while exploring how to enhance all potential sources of income for the farmers and their families.

This week: Louise Nicholls, head of human rights, food sustainability and food packaging at Marks & Spencer, on how to engage consumers on plastic, changing modern slavery brand risks and what food supply chains of the future will look like. Plus: circular economy and AI innovation for food supply at Davos, investors call for environmental impact transparency, and Tommy Hilfiger’s 100% recycled jeans, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

Ramon Arratia, sustainability director, Ball Beverage Packaging Europe, discusses with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh the potential for aluminium cans in the beverage sector. Arratia outlines how the sector is growing, including the shift for craft beers away from bottles into cans and other developing soft drinks categories. He argues the case for incentive and tax systems for packaging that are eco-modulated to take account of the recyclability of the materials used. And they discuss the pros and cons of traditional life-cycle analysis systems, and what they don’t always take fully into account.

Michael Guindon, palm oil technical adviser with ZSL, talks with Ian Welsh about how the most recent SPOTT tool analysis, assessing palm oil, has provided evidence of positive progress in the sector on the one hand, while also highlighting that many companies still have a lot to do. For example: only half of companies that have no deforestation commitments are transparent on how they are monitoring their progress against them. Guindon also argues that while many palm oil companies have been focused on producing solid policies on deforestation, there are significant implementation gaps in the way of achieving 2020 commitments, but that the revised RSPO principles and criteria will help. And while it is tempting for retailers to ban palm oil, Guindon puts the case for why this is counterproductive.

This week: Sarah Middlemiss from Ecometrica on the potential of satellite data analysis for commodity sourcing monitoring. And, Ethical Trade Initiative’s Cindy Berman, Coca-Cola’s Brent Wilton and Walmart’s Doug Nystrom debate how to identify and remediate recruitment modern slavery risks. Plus Nestlé cuts plastic, this year’s letter from Blackrock’s Larry Fink, what future diets will need to look like, and new consumer product traceability technology, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

Eric Hespenheide, chair of the Global Reporting Initiative, discusses with Ian Welsh how the globally-agreed language of the Sustainable Development Goals can help companies assess their impacts and how to communicate these, while improving corporate practices more generally. They debate how companies can report in a way that is engaging – clear metrics and reporting standards can help – and the importance of knowing your audience and tailoring messages accordingly. Hespenheide also outlines how the various reporting standards and guidelines that have developed are moving towards greater collaboration.

Michelle Bramley, global head of knowledge, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, talks with Ian Welsh about evolving legislative requirements on modern slavery – and human rights more generally – across jurisdictions. The direction of travel, Bramley argues, is very much away from a voluntary reporting approach towards a mandatory duty to act. They discuss the evolving risks for business, and why even though companies may not individually have sufficient leverage to budge entrenched interests in their supply chain, they still must take all reasonable steps to identify and mitigate human rights abuses.

Thomas Duroux, CEO and winemaker Chateau Palmer, an organic winery in the Bordeaux region of France, talks with Innovation Forum founder Toby Webb about how he is developing more-sustainable wines. Doroux explains how creating a balanced vineyard is a key to fighting pests and diseases without resorting to high chemical use that many others require. Taking a long-term approach is essential to develop the processes and different approaches that allow a naturally biodynamic vineyard to flourish.

This week: Geoff Mackay, sustainability director at BASF, on how innovation in precision agriculture techniques can boost yields and cut the sector’s impacts. And Nathan Shuler, sustainability solutions architect at Schneider Electric, explains what science-based targets can do for business efficiency and strategy. Plus analysis of Tyson Foods’ focus on land stewardship, why palm oil buyers still won’t pay for sustainable crop, tougher European rules on investor disclosure, and apparel sector worker conflicts in Bangladesh, in the news digest. Hosted by Ian Welsh

David Tulauskas, director of sustainability at General Motors, talks with Ian Welsh about how GM plans to achieve its "zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion" goals. They debate the rise in consumer demand for ride-sharing and how this is disrupting traditional personal transportation models. Tulauskas outlines why he thinks “the future is electric”, and why this raises new supply chain risks for the automotive sector as it sources more conflict minerals. He also explains how the industry is learning from other commodities as it develops more-sustainable rubber value chains. Listeners please note that David Tulauskas moved on from his role at General Motors at the end of December 2018.

Andrew Wallis, CEO, Unseen, discusses with Ian Welsh how slavery and forced labour risks are evolving. Wallis and his colleagues work with survivors of modern slavery, and use this frontline knowledge to inform their work with companies and other organisations to really engage on critical human rights risks. He argues the case for business to take a more proactive approach to eliminate modern slavery risks from operations and supply chains, most importantly through empowering individuals to recognise where and when slavery festers.

This week: insight from Cargill, PepsiCo and Proforest on how brands and suppliers can work together effectively in the palm oil sector. And Goodera’s Richa Bajpai on how business can track sustainability projects in real time. Plus: the costs of climate change, peatland rehabilitation in Indonesia, bioacoustics and conservation, and Thailand’s seafood sector’s work on modern slavery, in the news roundup. Hosted by Ian Welsh

Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, talks with Ian Welsh about why developing better life skills in smallholder farmer communities, combined with farm-level supply chain traceability, develops real resilience and security of supply for brands. Working with trusted local partners in India, Ward explains how CottonConnect has helped Primark engage directly with its suppliers and create more-sustainable product lines on the shelves, through focusing on gender empowerment and introducing more-efficient agricultural techniques and practices.

Suzanne Westlake, head of corporate responsibility and corporate affairs at Ocado, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the care required to avoid the unintended consequences of removing plastic from packaging. They discuss why plastics have become demonised, and why the prevention of food waste must be a key concern for retailers. Westlake outlines how Ocado, as a delivery-only retailer, can engage its customers to help boost recycling rates, and demystify some of the complexities involved.

This week: Ruth Thomas, director of the Global Agribusiness Alliance, reflects on her favourite innovations in sustainable landscapes from 2018, and what she wants to see in 2019. And Global Reporting Initiative chairman Eric Hespenheide explains why corporate transparency leads to greater business value. Plus: COP24 progress, ExxonMobil targeted by investors, tightened plastic waste regulation, Wilmar reaffirms its commitments, and Brazil’s Cerrado clearance rates slow, in the news roundup. Hosted by Ian Welsh And don't forget the exclusive 10% discount for podcast listeners this month on passes to any 2019 Innovation Forum event using code IFPOD10.

Anna Chilton, from agricultural producer, Camellia, owner of the Linton Park winery in South Africa, talks with Innovation Forum’s Toby Webb about what sustainability means for the wine industry, soil health and better practices, and what other businesses, particularly in the agriculture sector, might learn from wine sustainability studies and practices. They discuss polyculture and the need for clarity and transparency for consumers, and the role of certification to consolidation of sustainability standards.