Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum
Episodes
Why supply chain risks are now a C-suite challenge
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Olivia Dobson, director, climate and resilience at Verisk Maplecroft, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about why managing data effectively is...
Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility: Strategies for local compliance and global consistency
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To date, 7 US states have passed packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, with more exploring this pathway. EPR schemes have been emerg...
Reimagining circularity for critical minerals: from mine sites to end-of-life materials
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We sat down down with Christian Spano, director of circularity at Vale Base Metals to explore practical strategies to implement circular principles ac...
Weekly podcast – Recyclable, but not recycled: why labels don't equal action
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Julien Tremblin, European general manager at TerraCycle, talks with Ian Welsh about the hidden economic challenges behind sustainable packa...
The real ROI of sustainability, and the blind spots holding you back
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlotte de Degot, CEO of CO2 AI talks with Ian Welsh about how leading companies are generating real ROI from sustainability – up to 7% of sales o...
Monday briefing – Why circular packaging still struggles to compete
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau and Ian Welsh talk about where packaging innovation is heading, from concentrated refill formats to algae-...
Fashion’s future: How collaboration is shaping a circular economy
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Innovation Forum’s Tanya Richard talks with Danielle Holly, executive lead for North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, about the...
Scaling circular packaging beyond the buzz
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Diageo's global sustainability and innovation director Dave Lütkenhaus, talks with Ian Welsh about moving sustainable packaging from pilots to practi...
Weekly podcast – A reality check on AI: how to get it right for your business
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ian Welsh speaks with Charlotte Degot, CEO of CO2 AI, about how companies can unlock the business value hidden in their sustainability stra...
EUDR state of play: are companies ready?
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Evan Harvey is a leader in sustainability (and an audit and assurance managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP), focusing on services related to...
Monday briefing – What will it take to scale circular fashion?
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about some of themes that may emerge at the sustainable apparel and textiles confere...
Deforestation-free supply chains: Addressing 2025 target dates and future trajectories (webinar recording)
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With 2025 deforestation targets looming, this webinar — now available to watch on demand — explores how companies can close gaps, show progress, a...
Weekly podcast – Rethinking organic cotton: engaging consumers with transparency
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Sarah Rosenkranz and Bettina Fafengut, from the product specialist team at testing and certifiers the Hohenstein Group, talk with Ian Welsh...
Forest 500: leaders and laggards in global deforestation action
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Thomson, Forest 500 and tracking lead at Global Canopy, talks with Ian Welsh about the latest Forest 500 report. With only 3% of companies qualif...
Monday briefing – A temperature check on corporate 2025 deforestation-free targets
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Jeff Milder, director of the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFi) talks with Ian Welsh about what meaningful action on deforestation l...
Integrating sustainability and finance: Lindex’s CSRD journey
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anna-Karin Dahlberg, chief sustainability officer at Lindex talks with Ian Welsh about how the Swedish fashion retailer is adapting to CSRD and double...
Weekly podcast – Seeing the unseen: data, disruption and supply chain strategy
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Olivia Dobson, director of climate and resilience at Verisk Maplecroft, joins Ian Welsh to explore interconnected supply chain risks, the s...
Weekly podcast – Why regenerative agriculture needs a farmer-centric reboot
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Simon Haldrup, co-founder and CEO of agri-tech company Agreena talks with Ian Welsh about how scaling regenerative agriculture hinges on fa...
The global plastics treaty: are we getting warmer?
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead of packaging and sustainability at Nestlé and co-chair of the Business Coalition for the Global Plastics T...
Weekly briefing – What beverage giants, beauty brands and chemical companies have in common
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar and Ian Welsh discuss the importance of a cross-industry insights in building partnerships, candid insigh...
Weekly podcast – Inside the sustainable packaging strategy of a beverage giant
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Dave Lütkenhaus, global sustainability and innovation director at Diageo, talks with Ian Welsh about the company’s approach to circular ...
What digital product passports roll-out really means for apparel brands
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tara St James, senior director of sustainability at Moose Knuckles talks with Ian Welsh at the recent sustainable apparel and textiles conferences. Th...
From data gaps to compliance: the role of Geospatial AI in sustainability (webinar recording)
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sustainability claims are facing increasing scrutiny, with rising costs, data uncertainty and growing pressure on businesses to provide verifiable pro...
Balancing the critical minerals equation: emissions reduction meets supply security
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The race to secure critical minerals is accelerating—but so is the urgency to reduce their carbon footprint. Mining, refining, and processing are en...
Weekly podcast – Inside the Forest 500: who’s failing – and who’s leading – on deforestation?
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Emma Thompson, Forest 500 and tracking lead at Global Canopy, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the newly released 2025 Fores...
What it takes to build resilient, sustainable food systems in the US
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of this year’s future of food and beverage forum in Minneapolis, Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag talks with some of the participants. She i...
Monday briefing – Tackling packaging systems and commodity supply chain shocks
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh talk about how companies are tackling supply chain volatility and advancing supply chai...
Weekly podcast – On-farm opportunities, and inside apparel industry’s CSRD transition
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Thomas Gent, farmer at Gentle Farming talks with Innovation Forum’s Hanna Halmari about the challenges and opportunities facing regenerat...
Soil, sustainability and stability: the future of US farming
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Burkum at US Farmers and Ranchers in Action, and South Dakota dairy farmer Michael Crinion, talk with Ian Welsh about how regenerative practices...
Monday briefing – Fashion’s circular future and verifying claims with geo AI
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about some trends and hot topics in the apparel sector. From major tariff changes r...
Weekly podcast – Treaty or stalemate? The race to curb plastic pollution
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: As negotiations for the global plastics treaty continue, Nestlé’s global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability Jodie Ro...
Why leading businesses are treating sustainability as a financial strategy
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen McCormack, head of Europe at Watershed talks with Ian Welsh about how sustainability is moving closer to core business functions, the evolving c...
Weekly podcast – How apparel brands can prepare for digital product passport compliance
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Tara St James from Moose Knuckles and Ian Welsh unpack how digital product passports are reshaping supply chain transparency and compliance...
Climate accounting’s blind spot: why super pollutants demand a new metric
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Global Heat Reduction Initiative's Kiff Gallagher talks with Ian Welsh about 'Total Climate Accounting', a framework created by GHR to address cri...
Monday briefing – Lessons learned and what's next for sustainable apparel
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum's Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about what to expect at this year's sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Ams...
Weekly podcast – Voices from the field: how US farmers are shaping sustainable farming
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Kevin Burkum, CEO of US Farmers and Ranchers in Action, and Michael Crinion, a South Dakota-based farmer and chair of USFRA, talk with Ian ...
System change: the state of sustainable plastics and packaging
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sebastian Munden, chair of the environmental NGO WRAP, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential for transforming packaging systems. They highlight inn...
Weekly podcast – Unlock business value via carbon measurement and decarbonisation strategy
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ellen McCormack, head of Europe at Watershed, talks with Ian Welsh about how major companies are integrating sustainability into finance an...
The ripple effects of challenges and tariffs for the apparel sector
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Colin Brown, CEO of Cascale, talks with Ian Welsh about challenges and opportunities within the consumer goods industry, particularly in apparel and t...
Climate-smart agriculture: how technology can power data-driven sustainability in food systems (webinar recording)
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this webinar, experts from Agreena, Mars, Nespresso, and Gentle Farming explored how verified data is driving real impact in sustainable food produ...
Monday briefing – What’s key in achieving sustainable food systems?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh highlight key emerging themes in the food and beverage industry, specifically in North Ame...
Weekly podcast – Why traditional climate accounting risks falling short
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Kiff Gallagher, executive director of the Global Heat Reduction Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about how to improve traditional climate a...
How to address the farm finance equity gap in the US
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seanicaa Edwards Herron, executive director at NGO Freedmen Heirs Foundation, talks with Innovation Forum’s Diana Kim about the financial challenges...
Monday briefing – Latest progress in delivering just food systems
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum's Diana Kim and Hannah Oborne discuss latest trends within the food and beverage industry in delivering sustainable food s...
Weekly podcast – Recalibrating circular strategies for plastic waste management
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Sebastian Munden, chair of environmental NGO WRAP, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential of circular plastics and how innovative design ...
How collaboration is driving progress and delivering circular packaging models
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business, talks with Ian Welsh about the evolving landscape of sustainable packaging. They discuss how ...
Monday briefing – Circular conversations: the latest innovations and progress in sustainable packaging
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau and Ian Welsh highlight the growing integration of research and development commercial value within the pa...
Reality check: the role business plays in driving responsible sourcing and ethical trade
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the recent Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum in London, industry experts joined Ian Welsh to share key takeaways from the conference. Th...
Supply gaps in transition metals: The investments required to deliver a clean energy transition
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this webinar recording, experts discuss the emerging supply shortages, investment trends, and the impact of geopolitics on the future of transition...
Weekly podcast – What it takes to align apparel brands, manufacturers and retailers
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Colin Browne, CEO of Cascale, talks with Ian Welsh, exploring the state of sustainability in the apparel and textile sector. They discuss t...
Through the ag investor lens: the shift towards nature-based solutions
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sajeev Mohankumar, senior climate and biodiversity specialist at the FAIRR Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about key findings from the initiative’s...
Monday briefing – Unravelling fashion, sustainability and supply chains
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about key themes shaping the apparel sector in 2025. They discuss the shifting legis...
Palm oil progress: addressing challenges and breakthroughs in sustainable agriculture
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Weekly podcast – Bridging the gap: the equity challenge in farming in the US
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Seanicaa Edwards-Herron, executive director at NGO Freedmen Heirs Foundation, talks with Innovation Forum’s Diana Kim about the challenge...
Monday briefing – Navigating responsible sourcing and ethical trade
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar and Ian Welsh talk about the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, coming up in London this week. Key topi...
Weekly podcast – From waste to worth: circular solutions for sustainable packaging
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business talks with Ian Welsh about what a sustainable approach to packaging looks like. The...
Unseen struggles: business responsibility in modern slavery
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen talks with Ian Welsh about the critical role businesses play in addressing modern slavery. Andrew discusses the importanc...
Monday briefing – Foundations for the future of carbon markets
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Reducing plastic use: the material innovations to look out for
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aidan Maguire, coalition program manager at the Plastic Pollution Coalition, talks with Ian Welsh about some examples of innovative new materials that...
Weekly podcast – Finance: why nature-based food production solutions make sense
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Sajeev Mohankumar, from investor group the FAIRR initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about his research into on-farm interventions for livest...
Monday briefing – Transforming food and beverage amid regulatory challenges
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne and Ian Welsh highlight latest trends in the food and beverage industry. They discuss the implications o...
Weekly podcast – Complexity to clarity: how the AFi guides ethical supply chain practices
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Jeff Milder from the Accountability Framework initiative and Louise Nakagawa from Brazilian NGO Imaflora talk with Ian Welsh about th...
From data to impact: the potential of product environmental footprints
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
French sporting goods brand Decathlon’s head of environmental evaluation, Quentin Badenelle, shares his experiences implementing the requirements of...
The social impact of circularity: How circular fashion can deliver for people, planet, and profit (webinar recording)
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Monday briefing – Making fashion fair: tackling uncertainties with innovation
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ian Welsh and Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell talk about the tension between regulatory uncertainty and the need for innovation within ...
What are the human rights risks in critical mineral supply chains in 2025? (webinar audio recording)
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A wide variety of companies face significant risks related to human rights in sourcing minerals critical to the energy transition. Join us to explore ...
Weekly podcast – Regen agri partnerships: putting palm oil famers first
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Rob Nicholls from Musim Mas, Livelihoods Venture’s Sébastien de Royer and Rizki Pandu Parma at NGO SNV talk with Ian Welsh about a regen...
Can US agriculture be carbon negative?
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marty Matlock from the University of Arkansas talks with Ian Welsh about how US agriculture can become a climate solution, transitioning to be a net-n...
Monday briefing – Latest food trends and how to empower farmers
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ian Welsh and Anamya Anurag explores emerging food trends in North America, including farmer inclusion specifically for underrepresented fa...
Weekly podcast – What ethical sourcing means for businesses today
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Andrew Wallis, CEO of business and human rights NGO Unseen, talks with Ian Welsh about what good practice looks like when companies are eng...
Best practice: How to find the opportunity from regulation
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wayne Jordash, managing partner at Beyond Human Rights Compliance, talks with Ian Welsh about how companies are engaging with evolving business and ...
Monday briefing – The business case for responsible sourcing and ethical trade
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ian Welsh and Natasha Bodnar explores the critical link between climate change and human rights. They discuss innovative initiatives from ...
Weekly podcast – Could bio-based alternatives replace plastic packaging?
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Aidan Maguire, coalition programme manager at the Plastics Pollution Coalition, talks with Ian Welsh about latest innovative material solut...
Enhancing soil health from the ground up
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marina Ettl and Simon Pogson from fertiliser business Yara International talk with Ian Welsh about how to maintain healthy soil. They discuss what bes...
Weekly briefing – Sustainable packaging innovations and achieving EUDR compliance
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ellen Atiyah and Ian Welsh reflect on the outcomes from the recent European Union Deforestation Regulation webinar series, which discussed...
Weekly podcast – Can agriculture become a greenhouse gas-negative industry?
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Marty Matlock, professor at the University of Arkansas, talks with Ian Welsh about latest research on soil sequestration, nitrogen use effi...
How did we get here? The no deforestation supply chain story
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Poynton, CEO and founder of A Different Way, and founder and former CEO of the Earthworm Foundation, talks with Ian Welsh about the past, curren...
Weekly briefing – Agriculture’s carbon challenge: scope 3 emissions and supply chain innovation
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: a preview of upcoming interview with Marty Matlock from the University of Arkansas discussing how the US agricultural sector can be better ...
Weekly podcast – Understanding product environmental footprinting for the apparel sector
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: French sportswear brand Decathlon’s Quentin Badonnel talks with Ian Welsh about the intricacies of product environmental footprinting. Th...
Recalibrating business sustainability: from ESG fatigue to meaningful action
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second episode of the state of sustainable business series, Brendan May from Robertsbridge reflects with Ian Welsh on the polarisation within s...
Monday briefing – Creating sustainable apparel supply chains: collaboration, circularity, accountability
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh highlight the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles conference (Amsterdam, 29th-30t...
Weekly podcast – Enhance soil health, feed the planet and protect the environment
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Marina Ettl and Simon Pogson, from fertiliser business Yara International, talk with Ian Welsh about the role of the careful use of fertili...
Circular solutions: navigating legislation and innovation for sustainable packaging
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, talks with Ian Welsh and discusses the company’s work in global waste management and the circular economy. Tom discuss...
Monday briefing – Collaboration to drive sustainable food and beverage amid climate challenges
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh highlight some new themes and features at this year’s future of food and beverage US fo...
Weekly podcast – How to stay ahead of the legislative curve for responsible sourcing this decade
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Ian Welsh talks with Scott Poynton, CEO and founder of A Different Way and founder and former CEO of the Earthworm Foundation. They discuss...
Transforming agricultural practices towards sustainable land use
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tropical Forest Alliance executive director Jack Hurd and Gustavo Idigoras, president of the Argentinian Edible Oils Association, join Innovation Foru...
Weekly briefing – Tackling 2025’s emerging responsible sourcing challenges
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Natasha Bodnar share some updates about the upcoming responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, takin...
EUDR unpacked #3: palm and soy plantations under the lens (webinar audio recording)
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the third webinar in the 'EUDR unpacked' series, we addressed critical questions surrounding the regulation. This session focused specifically on t...
Weekly podcast – What to expect in 2025 for sustainable business
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week: In the latest state-of-sustainable-business series conversation, Brendan May, business expert and founder of Robertsbridge, talks with ...
Monday briefing: What does best-in-class procurement strategy look like?
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Monday briefing: What does best-in-class procurement strategy look like? This week, Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne and Ian Welsh reflect on some o...
EUDR unpacked #2: coffee and cocoa supply chains under the lens (webinar recording)
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The postponement of the EUDR deadline offers coffee and cocoa supply chains more time to comply, but what do smallholder farmers think of this delay? ...
INC-5: what's next for the plastic treaty? (webinar audio recording)
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The rapidly escalating problem of plastic pollution poses a significant global challenge, adversely affecting environmental, social economic and healt...
Weekly podcast – The role of reuse and recycling in packaging strategy
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Tom Szaky, CEO of recycling innovators Terracycle, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the current trend towards use of fibre-b...
How legislation is shaping the future of human rights in business
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Giles Bolton, executive director of the Ethical Trading Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about the importance of addressing human rights challenges wi...
Monday briefing – How to balance packaging innovation, regulation and commercial goals
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Hanna Halmari introduce the upcoming sustainable packaging innovation forum, taking place in Amsterdam o...
Weekly podcast – Rethinking land use: collaboration to drive progress on climate resilience
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Tropical Forest Alliance's executive director Jack Hurd and Gustavo Idigoras, president of the Argentinian Edible Oils Association, ...
Deforestation regulation decoded: how to stay ahead of the curve
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alison Kopf, CEO of TRACT, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh at the recent sustainable commodities and land use event, sharing some reflections ...
Monday briefing – Transforming apparel supply chains, and tackling Scope 3 emissions
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell introduces the upcoming 2025 sustainable apparel and textiles USA conference, taking place in New York ...
Weekly podcast – Transformative timelines: the evolution of corporate deforestation policies
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Scott Poynton, CEO and founder of A Different Way, and founder and former CEO of the Tropical Forest Trust, now known as Earthworm, talks w...
A deep dive into the potential of transition metals
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Copley, professor of ocean exploration and science communication at the University of Southampton, talks with Innovation Forum’s Toby Webb about...