Future Consumer Talks

In this episode of Future Consumer Talks, Felix Riley, Roxana Sharifi and Giulia Tomassini discuss how AI is reshaping the retail sector, from operational efficiency to customer engagement. The conversation explores the legal and governance challenges linked to the EU AI Act, the risks of over-automation, and the growing value of authentic human interaction in an AI-driven marketplace.   Listen on...

Your morning coffee, your favourite chocolate bar, the leather in your shoes-what do they have in common? They may all fall under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a landmark piece of environmental trade legislation. In this episode, Marie-Clémence Cicile, Daniela Lozada Fernández and Camille Peraudeau discuss how the EUDR is reshaping international trade in forest-risk commodities such as c...

In this episode, we dive into the latest CMS Technology Transformation report and what it means for the consumer and retail sector. We explore why customer and supplier demands are driving investment in new technologies, and how businesses are balancing innovation with escalating risks. By unpacking the survey’s findings and real-world implications, we highlight emerging dispute trends and practic...

In this episode, we unpack the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive and how it’s being implemented across EU member states, with a closer look at Romania and Ireland. We explore what that means on the ground for farmers, suppliers, and retailers: What challenges are emerging? Where are the real opportunities for change? By comparing national approaches, we highlight key similarities, differenc...

In this episode, we look at ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the retail industry and discuss relevant IP considerations. Esme Saynor, Sarah Hopton, Sabine Rigaud and Jia Schulz-Cao explore examples illustrating how AI is being used to transform the retail industry, particularly in the e-commerce space. They discuss the IP implications of these use cases for the retail ind...

In this episode, we look at ways in which artificial intelligence (or AI) is transforming the retail industry and discuss key considerations under the EU AI Act. Esme Saynor, Sarah Hopton, David Rappenglück and Mariangela Selvaggiuolo explore examples illustrating how AI is being used to transform the retail industry, particularly in the e-commerce space. They discuss relevant considerations under...

In this episode, join Esme Saynor, Giulia Tomassini and Camille Peraudeau as they look at the environmental revolution in the UK, and Europe as a whole. Our speakers discuss: what EPR is, focusing on key principles of extended producer responsibility the differences in approach between the UK, France and Italy, and future developments In addition to discussing the ‘polluter pays’ principle, our sp...

In this episode, Esme Saynor, Jessica Wilkinson, and Ricardo Gomez-Barreda dive into the dynamic world of recommerce and its growing impact on the retail industry across the UK and Spain. Our experts unpack the concept of recommerce, shedding light on its rising popularity and the key drivers behind this shift, including: the impact of the cost of living crisis growing eco-conscious consumer behav...

In the last episode of 2024, Esme Saynor, Stuart Helmer and Szabolcs Szendro delve into the audience poll vote to discuss incoming legislation associated with green claims and offer a future look at 2025 and beyond. They explore the impact of green claims, particularly on businesses within the UK, EU, Hungary and CEE. Our experts discuss recent developments, and the multiple factors businesses mus...

In this episode, Esme Saynor, Stuart Helmer and Giulia Tomassini discuss key cases associated with green claims legislation. They explore the impact of these claims in the UK and in Italy, and provide an overview of how the two countries’ enforcement authorities differ in their approach. Our experts discuss recent developments and how the issue has grown in the social and legal spotlight in recent...

In this episode, we look at the recycling and anti-waste responsibilities of manufacturers and distributors in the UK and Italy. Esme Saynor, Aimie Farmer and Paola Ghezzi discuss how recycling obligations are often brought about through extended producer responsibilities (EPR), and they focus on: deposit return schemes packaging waste and recycling, and any EPR developments on the horizon In addi...

The second episode of Future Consumer Talks focuses on the regulation of food waste. We discuss amendments to the Waste Framework Directive that the EU Parliament recently voted on. It proposed measures to prevent food waste throughout the supply chain. We also consider the separate collection of food waste from other waste and updates on food waste reporting in the UK. Additionally, for France we...

This podcast on ecodesign for sustainable products considers the legal changes for ecodesign that are being introduced at EU level, including the digital product passport, as well as the current position in the UK and Germany. We discuss strategy, successes and hurdles to overcome with the newly introduced laws, how they differ from the current regime and some practical implications to help you an...