Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum
Regular podcasts on sustainable business issues from Innovation Forum.
Episodes
Apparel sector net zero: no shortage of ambition
This week: While in New York for this year’s Sustainable Apparel and Textiles USA, Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell spoke with Jimmy Summers, vice-president for EHS and sustainability at Elevate Textiles. They talked about net zero ambitions in the apparel sector and why it’s necessary to get away from the race-to-the-bottom approach that has become the norm.
Plus: World Cup emissions set to so
The myth that's holding frozen food back
Lauren Woodley, head of nutrition and sensory science at Nomad Foods, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about how Europe's largest frozen food company balances consumer demand for health, taste and affordability. They discuss from tackling persistent myths about frozen food to navigating the trade-offs in reformulation and segmenting products by their role in the diet.
Innovation beyond compliance: The commercial case for sustainable packaging
Packaging is gaining increasing boardroom attention, driven by extended producer responsibility fees, legal exposure around environmental claims, and rising material costs from recycled content requirements. This webinar explored how these regulatory pressures interact with consumer demand to influence packaging strategy. We looked at how to build a business case that connects sustainable packagin
Weekly podcast – Grid revolution: powering the future
This week: Tanja Lischka, senior director for government affairs at Siemens Energy, talks with Ian Welsh about the power grid evolution required as electrification continues to be rolled out, and the challenges and opportunities this represents.
And, Ian also speaks with Ginny Maceda senior manager for mission and stability at Danone about regenerative agriculture and climate strategy.
Plus: how
The business case for AI in fashion: hit rates, waste and profit
Daniel Di Benedetto, geo lead for northern Europe at Centric Software, talks with Ian Welsh about how predictive intelligence can help the apparel sector reduce waste and improve margins. They discuss from AI-driven trend forecasting and shorter decision cycles to repurposing surplus materials before they reach landfill.
How tariffs impact supply chain decisions
This week: Oritain’s chief product and technology officer Paul Bentham talks with Ian Welsh about some new apparel supply chain intelligence that highlights visibility gaps, and why risk management best practice is evolving from assurance to an evidence-based approach.
Plus: EUDR simplification measures explained, evidence that forests do promote well-being and Indonesia’s tighter state control
Soil as a tool for building climate-resilient supply chains (webinar recording)
Today, soil rarely appears on a balance sheet, a boardroom agenda, or even a climate strategy.
This webinar explored why that needs to change. Drawing on perspectives from leading food companies, we explored how regenerative agriculture is being put into practice, how soil health can become a credible part of climate and brand strategy, and what farmers want from these boardroom discussions.
We di
Weekly podcast – How regenerative agriculture is taking root in US cotton
This week: Ian Welsh speaks with Liz Hershfield, executive director of Cotton USA and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, and Sledge Taylor, a cotton farmer from Mississippi, about the real-world benefits and challenges of regenerative agriculture in the US cotton sector.
And, global carbon pricing revenues top $107 billion; why circular economy interventions could transform the EU's environmental imp
Why your label choice is a sustainability decision
Monica Gross, ecosystem engagement manager at Avery Dennison, talks with Ian Welsh about the multiple functions of packaging and why labelling is central to all of them – from brand identity and operational efficiency to recyclability and regulatory compliance under PPWR and EPR frameworks. They also discuss connected packaging and the shift from paper to filmic labels.
Weekly podcast – Why perfect is the enemy of good in food reformulation
This week: Lauren Woodley, head of nutrition and sensory science at Nomad Foods, talks with Ian Welsh about how Europe's largest frozen food company balances consumer demand for health, taste and affordability. They discuss from tackling persistent myths about frozen food to navigating the trade-offs in reformulation and segmenting products by their role in the diet.
And, Ian talks with Aidan Davy
Design, waste and scale: breaking the circularity cycle
Eduardo Alvarez, associate director for packaging EMEA at Dow, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about what packaging circularity really means – from designing for recyclability and developing waste-to-feedstock pathways to the challenge of scaling monomaterial solutions. They discuss why collaboration and a willingness to take risk are as important as regulation in accelerating the transiti
Culture as a catalyst: Todd Corley on embedding people-first thinking into Carhartt's sustainability strategy
As sustainability conversations increasingly center on regulation, compliance deadlines and investment in new data systems, something risks getting lost: the need to invest in people who drive the change.
Todd Corley's perspective emphasizes the importance of inspiring and developing individuals across all levels of an organization. Rooted in a career shaping social, philanthropic, sustainability
Weekly podcast – Less waste, better margins: the case for AI in sustainable apparel
Daniel Di Benedetto, geo lead for northern Europe at Centric Software, talks with Ian Welsh about how predictive intelligence can help the apparel sector reduce waste and improve margins.
And, Ian talks with Innovation Forum's Niamh Campbell about the key themes from the Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference in Amsterdam, including the desire for regulatory certainty, the push for inclusive
The science, the policy and the US food system
Anupama Joshi, vice president of programs at the Center for Science and the Public Interest, talks with Anamya Anurag about the realities on the ground, in comparison to the Make America Healthy Again programme and its policy actions. They uncover contradictions in guidelines, federal inaction and what business can do amid budget cuts.
Weekly podcast – Why hasn’t packaging circularity scaled?
This week: Eduardo Alvarez, a plastics and packaging expert at Dow, talks with Ian Welsh about waste-to-value challenges and the need to move at speed now to stay ahead of upcoming regulation. Cost is clearly a significant barrier, but there are potential solutions to the material problems.
And, at the 2025 Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum USA Ian spoke about extended producer responsibility
PPWR: why it always comes back to data
Leontien Hasselman-Plugge, CEO of Impact Buying, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about how companies are preparing for the EU's packaging and packaging waste regulation. They discuss how PPWR and EPR are forcing internal collaboration across buying, sustainability and finance teams, and why getting packaging data in order before the August deadline is now a matter of financial urgency.
Weekly podcast – What will it take for offshore wind to scale?
This week: Joël Meggelaars, head of regulatory and public affairs for Benelux at Ørsted, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the state of the offshore wind sector in Europe. They discuss from project cancellations and rising capital costs to the role of contracts for difference in restoring the risk-reward balance and enabling offshore wind to scale.
Plus: at the previous future of food
The vicious cycle stopping sustainable fashion, and how it can be broken
Femke Jonkmans, senior innovation associate at Fashion for Good, talks with Innovation Forum's Niamh Campbell about the Price Parity Toolkit, a financing mechanism designed to break the cycle of high prices and fragmented demands. They discuss how premium decoupling works in practice, supply chain alignment, traceability requirements and how the toolkit is evolving.
Weekly podcast – The label on the box: packaging's latest sustainability lever
This week: Monica Gross, ecosystem engagement manager at Avery Dennison, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the multiple functions of packaging and why labelling is central to all of them. They also discuss connected packaging and the shift from paper to film-based labels.
And, Ian talks with Innovation Forum's Lia Da Giau about how reuse, material innovation and waste management solu
Worker voices: how human rights monitoring can work
At the recent responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, Thomas Radal, global worker engagement expert at Ulula, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about what effective worker voice platform looks like. They explore how companies can embed it into human rights due diligence, from risk mapping to farm-level monitoring.
What does good packaging R&D actually look like?
Caroline Elms, director, global packaging procurement at snack brands business Pladis Global, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how companies can bring business functions together to deliver better packaging, why cost remains a core challenge and how this can best be addressed.
Weekly podcast – Make America healthy again: rhetoric versus reality
This week: Anupama Joshi, vice president of programs at the Center for Science and the Public Interest, talks with Innovation Forum's Anamya Anurag about the gap between the Make America Healthy Again movement's goals and its policy actions.
Plus: Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh and Hannah Oborne talk about emerging themes in the food sector, including how sustainability is being reframed around resi
Weekly podcast – Engaging on EU waste regulation? It’s all about the data
Leontien Hasselman-Plugge, CEO of ImpactBuying, talks with Ian Welsh about how companies are preparing for EU plastics waste regulation and why the challenges always seem to be about getting the right data.
And, Ian talks with Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau about emerging packaging sector trends and best practices more generally.
Plus: why electrical infrastructure shortfalls may impede data
Regenerative sourcing: Building resilient supply chains through system-level thinking (webinar recording)
Regenerative agriculture practices are proving their potential – delivering healthier soils, stronger farming communities, and more resilient supply chains – but regenerative agriculture isn’t just about improving sustainability scores; it’s about reshaping how supply chains create long-term value.
It’s a system-level approach that builds resilience from farm to brand and helps future-proof raw ma
Weekly podcast – How to scale next generation apparel materials
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell speaks with Femke Jonkmans, senior innovation associate at Fashion for Good, about some barriers impacting the development of new materials in the apparel sector.
Niamh also speaks with Ian Welsh about natural fibre use and innovation on water impacts in the apparel sector.
And, Nestlé's 410,000 KitKats heist; why language on climate change and busine
Is zero textile waste to landfill really achievable?
Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell talks with Esme Chiverton and Fiona Bretherton from Untouched World about how collaboration can make zero waste ambitions a reality for the apparel sector.
Why due diligence means embedding worker empowerment
This week: Thomas Radal, global worker engagement expert at Ulula, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about how worker empowerment programmes can really deliver at scale. Moving beyond traditional audits, they explore how companies can gather direct feedback from workers using accessible technologies.
Plus: Innovation Forum's Ellen Atiyah chats with Liz Hershfield, executive director of COTTO
Why flexible packaging recycling isn’t scaling (yet)
Dana Mosora, senior consultant at CEFLEX, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the push to make flexible packaging circular in Europe. They explore the key barriers to scaling recycling, from low collection rates and inconsistent quality to weak market demand, and the critical role of policy, particularly the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Weekly podcast – How food brands can win today’s consumers
This week: highlights summary from a recent food webinar on how consumer expectations are reshaping the food sector. Moderated by Innovation Forum’s Ellen Atiyah, Dorothy Shaver from Unilever, Caroline Reid from Oatly and Griffith Foods’ Alex Skidmore explore how health, price and sustainability priorities differ across generations.
Plus: at the recent sustainable packaging innovation forum, Innov
Can commodity shipping overcome the green premium challenge?
Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill's ocean transport business, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the challenge of decarbonising global shipping. They discuss the role of alternative fuels and why scaling change depends on solving the "green premium" and clearer regulation from the International Maritime Organisation.
Consumers want nutritious, low-impact food: How can innovation deliver at scale?
From a growing focus on health and nutrition, to rising demand for lower-impact food, evolving consumer expectations are reshaping how value is created across the food sector.
This webinar explored how companies are responding to changing consumer demand and utilising innovation to deliver products that meet both sustainability and nutrition expectations. We looked at how organisations are adaptin
Weekly podcast – Can camelina help reshape climate-smart agriculture?
This week: a highlight from the recent webinar organised in partnership with Cargill. Anne Schwagerl from the Minnesota Farmers Union, University of Minnesota's Mitch Hunger and Cargill's Lyle DePauw and Anna Teeter, talk with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the promise of winter camelina as a climate-smart crop, and the barriers to delivering it at scale.
Plus: In conversion with Ian, Innovati
Why businesses are calling for stronger human rights due diligence
Ian Welsh speaks with Andrew Wallis, co-founder and CEO of Unseen, about the rapid rise of mandatory human rights due diligence and forced labour regulations around the world. They explore how evolving legislation, investor pressure and stronger enforcement are pushing businesses beyond transparency and reporting toward real action to identify and address exploitation in global supply chains.
Weekly podcast – Chasing the final 1% in textile waste
This week: Esme Chiverton and Fiona Bretherton, from Untouched World, talk with Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell about the brand’s drive to achieve zero textile waste to landfill. They discuss how they’re tackling the technical and economic challenge of the final 1% and how local collaboration and transparency are helping.
Plus: Talking with Ian Welsh, Niamh shares some of the key trends in the a
Circular textiles: infrastructure, innovation and collaboration
Karla MaGruder, founder and board chair of Accelerating Circularity, talks with Ian Welsh about scaling textile-to-textile recycling. They explore the system-level changes needed to connect collectors, sorters and recyclers, and the complementary roles of mechanical and chemical recycling. They discuss why collaboration, standardisation and commercial-scale infrastructure are critical to building
Advancing climate-smart crops: R&D driving on-farm change (webinar recording)
As the agriculture sector accelerates toward more resilient systems, the search for climate-smart crops continues to gather pace. Innovation in crop systems is key to unlocking solutions that deliver resilience, productivity, and lower carbon outcomes.
This webinar explores the potential of winter camelina, an oilseed crop advancing through research, innovation, and on-farm trial, as part of a br
Weekly podcast – Why responsible sourcing is good for growth
This week: Andrew Wallis, CEO of Unseen talks with Ian Welsh about the evolving landscape of mandatory human rights due diligence and forced labour legislation. They cover global regulatory developments and discuss the economic, operational and investor-driven benefits of enforcing human rights standards in supply chains.
Plus: Innovation Forum’s Emilia Colman shares emerging trends in responsib
Making tracks: Michelin’s scope 3 progress in action
Kara Fulcher, director of sustainability strategy for Michelin in North America, talks with Ian Welsh about corporate engagement on scope 3 emissions. They discuss the pace of supply chain decarbonisation and Michelin's approach across energy, materials and nature. They also highlight the challenges of making the business case for scope 3 action and how companies can communicate credible progress.
Leading the way for systems change: Helena Helmersson on making sustainability a core business imperative
Few leaders in the apparel and textiles industry bring as much hands-on experience across buying, production and CSR as Helena Helmersson did during her time at H&M Group. Her unique position as the only fashion industry executive to move from CSO to CEO gives her a rare, end-to-end view of how sustainability and commercial strategy intersect at scale.
Helmersson’s long-term vision at H&M
Avoiding double counting in agricultural scope 3
Kendra Tolly, chief product officer at Athian talks with Ian Welsh about how to ensure scope 3 agriculture projects are credible, scalable and defensible. They discuss methodology validation, third-party verification, liability, co-claiming, benefit sharing and the systems needed to prevent double counting while delivering real impact at farm level.
Weekly podcast – How Europe can truly scale flexible packaging recycling
This week: Dana Mosora, senior consultant at CEFLEX talks with Ian Welsh about the push to make flexible packaging in Europe circular. They discuss PPWR targets, infrastructure gaps, recycled content demand and the policy changes needed to scale sorting and recycling by 2030.
Plus: Innovation Forum's Lia Da Giau about some of the emerging themes and corporate innovations that are working to advanc
AI and technology: How digital transformation is driving the energy transition
Digitalisation is no longer a side enabler — it’s becoming central to system-wide acceleration, efficiency and optimisation. At the same time, questions remain around scalability, cost, and how quickly the sector can realistically move.
We’ve asked the panel to explore:
• Where digital tools and AI are already delivering tangible value in the energy transition
• How digitalisation can help addre
Shipping decarbonisation: steering fuel transition progress
This week: Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s ocean transport business, talks with Ian Welsh about the decarbonisation challenge facing global shipping. They explores fuel choices, energy efficiency, customer demand, regulation and why policy clarity is critical to scaling low and zero carbon solutions in a highly competitive sector.
Plus: Innovation Forum’s Natasha Bodnar highlights how the ene
Building credibility in sustainability storytelling: How NGOs can strengthen trust through transparent communications
As scrutiny of sustainability claims rises, NGOs are under growing pressure to communicate impact clearly, explain complexity, and be transparent about challenges — all while maintaining trust with donors, communities, and partners.
This webinar, the third in the Sustainability Communications and Engagement series, explored how NGOs can build credibility through transparent storytelling, evidence-
Can carbon markets recover as standards tighten
Verra's chief programme development and innovation officer, Candace Vinke, talks with Ian Welsh about the improvements that can strengthen carbon credit project credibility and market confidence. They discuss how emerging SBTi guidance could open pathways for climate activities beyond traditional carbon credits, particularly within scope 3 supply chains. They also highlight how role standards bodi
Innovation for resilient food and health systems: how bioscience is driving transformational impact (webinar recording)
The world faces mounting pressure to accelerate sustainable innovation at the intersection of food, health and industrial production, but moving from scientific discovery to scaled impact remains complex.
From improving crop resilience and reducing environmental footprints to building healthier communities and more sustainable supply chains, bioscience innovations have become critical tools in tac
Weekly podcast – Inside Michelin’s scope 3 strategy and supply chain transition
This week: Reflecting on the recent climate resilience innovation forum, Michelin's director of sustainability strategy North America, Kara Fulcher, talks with Ian Welsh about the accelerating pace of corporate scope 3 action and how Michelin is reducing emissions, improving materials and protecting natural rubber supply chains.
Plus: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell discusses emerging apparel
Why forest conservation cannot wait for perfect carbon markets
Nathan Truitt, executive vice president of climate funding at the American Forest Foundation, talks with Ian Welsh about how climate finance can unlock sustainable management of family-owned forests in the US. They discuss why carbon finance remains critical despite controversy over carbon credits, arguing that action should not wait for perfect systems. The conversation explores carbon pricing, c
From regulation to resilient value chains: The business case for due diligence after CSDDD simplification
Due diligence fatigue has long affected the apparel and textiles sector, with heavy administrative workloads and repeated supplier checks that often fail to identify real labour risks. Uncertainty around the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) has made it harder for companies to commit to long-term investment.
Recent policy signals now offer clearer direction, including a narr
Weekly podcast – The textile-to-textile recycling route to circularity
This week: Karla Magruder, founder and president of Accelerating Circularity, talks with Ian Welsh about why systems thinking, collaboration across the supply chain and clear demand signals are essential to making circular textiles work. The discussion explores how new tools and partnerships could help move the industry away from landfill and incineration toward true circularity.
Plus: greenhushin
How Danone helps farmers adopt regenerative practices
Regenerative agriculture is increasingly seen as critical to tackling supply chain emissions, but scaling it requires more than technical fixes. At the recent scope 3 innovation forum, Danone’s Ginny Maceda and Ian Welsh talked about how long-term relationships, shared investment and trust with farmers underpin the company’s approach to regenerative dairy farming.
Building credibility in sustainability storytelling: B2C brands and the consumer trust gap (webinar recording)
Hear from Patagonia, Primark, Kantar and Nestlé on credible sustainability communications and how to deepen consumer trust in turbulent times.
As consumers pay closer attention to brands’ sustainability claims, the challenge is no longer solely what companies do, but how they explain it clearly and honestly.
The second webinar in the series focuses on consumer-facing brands and retailers. We exp
Can green hydrogen decarbonise heavy industry?
This week: StormFisher Hydrogen’s chief executive officer, Judson Whiteside, talks with Ian Welsh about developing carbon-neutral e-methanol and e-methane from green hydrogen, and how policy incentives and corporate scope 3 pressures are shaping global demand for low-carbon fuels. He also explores the role of North America’s renewable power advantage, the realities of scaling hydrogen projects, an
Eileen Fisher’s approach to circular systems
Carmen Gamma, director of circular design at fashion brand Eileen Fisher, joins Innovation Forum’s Ellen Atiyah, to discuss how the brand’s circularity programme began with simple take-back and has evolved into resale, remanufacturing and textile-to-textile recycling. They explore what it takes to scale circular systems across a business, the role of leadership and cross-team collaboration, and th
The unintended consequences of packaging EPR
Adam Read, chief sustainability and external affairs officer at Suez UK, joins Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh to discuss how EPR and simpler recycling rules are reshaping the waste and recycling sector, shifting costs towards producers and aiming to improve material quality, efficiency and recycling rates. They discuss unintended consequences of packaging changes, the limits of compostable materials
Weekly podcast – The credibility questions for scope 3 ag projects
This week: Athian Ag’s chief product officer, Kendra Tolley, talks with Ian Welsh about why demonstrable credibility is essential for agriculture scope 3 projects, and how better data, traceability and verification can strengthen confidence in value chain emissions reductions and reporting.
Plus: agrifood outlook warns of continued volatility in soft commodity prices; new questions about exten
Weekly podcast – Are carbon markets entering a new phase?
This week: Verra's chief programme development and innovation officer, Candace Vinke, talks with Ian Welsh about how improvements in methodologies, verification and safeguards are resharing carbon credit integrity, and what that means for the markets' future. They discuss how emerging standards may influence how companies use carbon credits and value chain abatement as part of their net zero strat
Have we been treating nature like a free factory?
Earthworm Foundation CEO Bastien Sachet reflects with Ian Welsh on why environmental and supply chain shocks are caused by long-term neglect rather than short-term disruption. Bastien argues that businesses have treated nature as a free factory, optimising costs while failing to reinvest in soils, forests and farming communities. They explore why regenerative, place-based approaches and long-term
Weekly podcast – Is packaging waste policy catching up with reality?
This week: Adam Read, chief external affairs and sustainability officer at Suez UK talks with Ian Welsh about the impacts of extended producer responsibility for the packaging sector, and the real opportunities that this can offer.
Plus: recycled polyester under fire as UK bans fashion adverts; EU backs major rollback of corporate ESG obligations; and, Microsoft leads peers on nature positive da
Is fermentation the future of food production?
Cargill's vice president of global core research and development, Cordell Hardy, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential of fermentation in providing scalable solution for food ingredient production. They discuss how integrated fermentation is in our everyday lives, from zero-calorie sweeteners to plant-based materials.
Monday briefing - How ASDA approaches remediation and responsible sourcing
This week: Duncan Warner, senior responsible sourcing and human rights manager at ASDA, talks with Ian Welsh about the role of retailers in driving effective remediation across global supply chains. They discuss how collaboration, transparency, and a growth mindset help address human rights challenges, and why embedding practical frameworks and partnerships is key to meaningful impact.
Plus: Innov
What's driving change in the global fashion sector?
Liv Simpliciano, head of policy and research at Fashion Revolution, talks with Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell about What Fuels Fashion?, Fashion Revolution’s latest transparency report, exploring the power dynamics, environmental impacts and social costs embedded in global fashion supply chains. They discuss accountability, data gaps, and why greater transparency is critical to drivi
Coffee Landscapes Forum: 10 Years of Conservation International's Sustainable Coffee Challenge (audio recording)
Join Conservation International for the 10-year milestone of the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, marking the transition from our community’s first decade of building partnerships and mainstreaming sustainability in coffee to our next chapter of scaling investment and impact.
This virtual event, hosted by Innovation Forum, united coffee actors to explore innovative strategies and finance mechanisms
Weekly podcast – Can we scale carbon projects without perfect data?
This week: Nathan Truitt, executive vice president of climate funding at the American Forest Foundation, talks with Ian Welsh about the evolving role of carbon finance in supporting US family forest owners, and the tension between credit quality and affordability. They discuss what it will take for carbon markets to earn broad credibility as the world moves toward net zero.
Plus: Intel retreats fr
Weekly podcast – How can real support for regenerative farmers look like?
This week: Danone’s senior manager of mission and sustainability, Ginny Maceda talks with Ian Welsh about how the company is scaling regenerative agriculture through long-term, direct relationships with dairy farmers. She outlines why trust-based collaboration, flexible incentives, and farmer-led improvement plans are central to achieving both environmental and commercial outcomes.
Plus: Carlsbe
Why farmer finance is the missing link in resilient food supply chains
Cargill's Leticia Kawanami and Solidaridad's Joel Brounen talk with Ian Welsh about the financial and structural barriers preventing farmers, particularly smallholders, from climate change adaptation and adopting more sustainable practices. They discuss the challenges in corporate commitments in driving meaningful support on the ground, the growing urgency of farmer-centred investment models, and
How B2B companies are strengthening trust through transparent communication (webinar audio recording)
As sustainability strategies mature, the pressure is increasing on how companies communicate progress, both within their value chains and to consumers. Many organisations are now asking the same questions: how do we talk credibly about targets, trade-offs and incomplete journeys, without overclaiming or oversimplifying?
In response, Innovation Forum is launching the Sustainable Communication and
Monday briefing – A farmer’s view on resilience and the realities of climate volatility
This week: As climate volatility intensifies, UK farmer Thomas Gent discusses with Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari the operational realities of farming during extreme wet and dry seasons and the measurable benefits of soil health. They highlight the untapped potential of farm-level innovation, calls for stronger links between brands and growers, and warns that real progress must scale far beyond
Weekly podcast – The benefits of circular fashion: a look at Eileen Fisher’s recycling operations
This week: Carmen Gama, director of circular design at Eileen Fisher, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ellen Atiyah about the operational and financial realities of circular fashion, from sorting and resale to textile-to-textile innovation. They outline why infrastructure gaps remain the biggest barrier and how the brand evaluates the business case for recycling.
Plus: US shutdown threatens vital f
The business case for innovative circular fashion solutions
Barry McGeough, group vice president of innovation and strategy at AmeriCo Group, talks with Innovation Forum's Niamh Campbell and explores how applied innovation, synthetic biology and even energy-sector technology could drive circularity in the apparel sector. They discuss economic pressures, political shifts, and why the industry must look far outside its bubble for the solutions it needs.
Monday briefing – A rancher's view from the front line of regenerative agriculture
This week: Rancher and UK television host, Jay Doan from Blackleg Ranch, talks with Ian Welsh about how Blackleg Ranch has practiced regenerative agriculture mimicking historic bison movements to restore prairie grasslands. They discuss why resilience is the real language that resonates with ranchers, why neighbouring farms resist change even as their soil degrades. They highlight how generational
Weekly podcast – How regenerative agriculture can cut through
This week: Earthworm Foundation's CEO Bastien Sachet joins Ian Welsh to explore why regenerative agriculture and farmer empowerment remain slow to scale despite years of corporate commitments. They discuss why businesses must rethink supply security through the lens of resilience, why long-term partnerships beat transactional sourcing, and how reinvestment in landscapes can function like reinvesti
What effective EPR could mean for packaging and recycling systems
Amcor’s chief sustainability officer David Clark joins Ian Welsh to unpack the rapid rise of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes and what well-designed systems can deliver. They discuss how eco-modulated fees can incentivise better packaging, why operational control for industry is critical and how EPR can strengthen recycling economics. They also reflect on the diverse approaches emerg
Monday briefing – The reality of digital product passports: what, how, and why?
This week: Tara St James, senior director of sustainability at Canadian apparel brand Moose Knuckles, talked with Ian Welsh at the latest apparel conference in Amsterdam discussing the implementation of digital product passports. They discuss the importance of product traceability technology and the regulations brands are looking out for such as the US' Fashion Act and EU's Ecodesign for Sustainab
Building trust with smallholders in Indonesia's palm oil sector
Rob Nicholls, general manager for programmes and projects at palm oil business Musim Mas, and Kaixiang Chin, sustainability manager for Asia at Bunge, talk with Ian Welsh about their long-term collaboration to strengthen the capacity of independent smallholders in Indonesia. They explain how farmer training, regenerative practices and local composting projects are helping to build resilience, impr
Can microbes make the food system more sustainable?
This week: Cargill's vice president of global core research and development, Cordell Hardy, talks with Ian Welsh about how fermentation can reshape food production. From zero-calorie sweeteners to plant-based materials and localised protein sources, they discuss how microbes are being used as miniature manufacturing plants.
Plus: cocoa shortages drive rise in chocolate alternatives; luxury brand
Building a better recycling system: data, design, and policy
Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership, talks with Ian Welsh about how data, design, and policy are transforming recycling in the US. From the CIRCLE Act to California’s CalFFlex initiative, they discuss how to scale circular systems, strengthen end markets, and move beyond recycling as the only solution.
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Weekly podcast – What fuels fashion’s challenges?
This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell talks with Liv Simplicianco, head of policy and research at Fashion Revolution about the findings in the latest What Fuels Fashion? report.
And at this week’s Critical Minerals Innovation Forum, Ian Welsh spoke with co-COO of mining sector group ICMM Aidan Davy.
Plus: Exxon accused of funding climate denial groups in South America; brands call for str
Weekly podcast – How can palm oil growers thrive amid climate and market risks?
This week: In Colombia, Cargill and Solidaridad are partnering to help smallholder palm oil growers build more sustainable and climate-resilient supply chains. Leticia Kawanami and Joel Brounen talk with Ian Welsh about how farmer-led action plans, shared investment, and collaborative data tools are driving measurable progress – and how these lessons can scale across Latin America.
Plus: at the
Building trust and finance for regenerative supply chains
Sajeev Mohankumar, senior technical specialist at the FAIRR Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about the future of food and the urgent need for regenerative agriculture. From farmer inclusion to investor alignment, they unpack how to build resilient, sustainable food systems.
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