Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Over the past decade, various apparel brands have made major commitments to deliver living wages to workers in their supply chains. However, a recent report by the University of Sheffield found that despite these ambitious commitments, low pay continues to be the status quo. And there is still widespread confusion over the definition of a “living wage”, and action on the ground varies greatly acro...

This week: Forest 500 report authors Sarah Rogerson and Emma Thomson, from Global Canopy, outline what progress companies are making on deforestation, and argue that too many are still failing to recognise their responsibility to act. And, Wendy Savage and Alex Katz from Patagonia discuss the brand’s work to develop living wages for workers in its supply chain. Plus: Uzbek cotton sector progress,...

Jo Griffiths, global food community director for the British Standards Institute – BSI, speaks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the challenges in developing sustainability standards for plastic packaging. They debate why the plastics debate has become highly polarised and the dangers in simply stopping using plastics, particularly in food packaging. Griffiths outlines the difficulties aroun...

This week: Amy Yoder, CEO of agri-tech business Anuvia Plant Nutrients, on innovation in fertilisers that add organic matter to boost soil health and boost productivity across all crops, without potentially harmful chemical inputs. Plus: why we may dodge the worst case climate change; a call for big hikes in European meat prices; how fermented proteins are bad news for the diary sector; and, US $7...

Dawn Jutla, founder and co-CEO of blockchain technology developers Peer Ledger, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about how technology is revolutionising consumer engagement with products and supply chains. They discuss some of the challenges in adapting blockchain for agriculture supply chain, and how it can enable full traceability and honest communication with suppliers and consumers. Pee...

In order to limit global temperatures to 1.5C, greenhouse gas emissions must fall 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, according to the IPCC. This reduction is required at a time of rapidly expanding food production. It is estimated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation that food and feed production will need to increase by 70% by 2050 to meet the world's food needs. To meet...

This week: Nathalie Walker, director, tropical forests and agriculture at the US’s National Wildlife Federation on why her work preserving natural habitats in the US and beyond means engaging with business to tackle the climate crisis and tropical deforestation. Plus: how PayPal is targeting human trafficking; a new WEF report into how to change incentives in food production and consumption; and,...

Niels Wiellard, managing director of Satelligence, discusses the potential of the new Radar Alerts for Detecting Deforestation initiative with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh. Developed by Satelligence and Wageningen University, and facilitated by the World Resources Institute, RADD is designed to allow palm oil companies accurate and up-to-date information on deforestation in their supply chains. Wi...

This week: Airbus’s Patrick Houdry and Earthworm Foundation’s Rob McWilliam on the development and implementation of satellite remote sensing system Starling, their joint project to help improve supply chain traceability and tackle deforestation impacts.  Plus: mixed messages from Davos bankers on climate, Coke says plastic’s here to stay, Nestlé’s market-making on recycling, and CDP’s latest A-li...

At the recent Innovation Forum sustainable landscapes and commodities conference in London, Ian Welsh and Tom Idle spoke to a number of expert participants to summarise some of the panel sessions and capture some key outcomes. Hear from: Justin Adams, executive director of Tropical Forest Alliance Laurence Ruffieux, director, operations, sustainability, Philip Morris International  Nic Sheen, chie...

This week: Dawn Jutla from blockchain technology developers Peer Ledger on how technology is revolutionising consumer engagement with products and supply chains. And, Jo Griffiths from the British Standards Institute (BSI) on the challenges developing sustainability standards for plastic packaging. Plus: WEF annual risks report; Blackrock doubles down on climate, again; the EU’s €1tn climate mitig...

Anita Neville, senior vice president for corporate communications at Golden Agri-Resources, and Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh talk about why the palm oil still suffers from negative publicity, despite the progress the sector has made. She outlines how the industry can achieve real traceability, and develop a robust economic model for the future. She argues that this means ensuring that farmer incom...

Franco Costantini, managing director of Control Union UK talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about why certification can be useful for companies wanting to rationalise their use of plastic and help them satisfy consumers on product impact. They discuss the importance of not dismissing use of plastic out of hand, and examine the drivers for greater use of product plastic-free certification when...

This week: Niels Wiellard, managing director of Satelligence, on how a new satellite monitoring initiative in the palm oil sector – known as RADD – will help the industry monitor deforestation in plantations in near real-time. And Jeff Milder, director of global programmes at the Rainforest Alliance, on his hopes for the implementation of the new multistakeholder Accountability Framework initiativ...

CB Bhattacharya, professor of sustainability and ethics at the University of Pittsburgh and author of Small Actions, Big Difference , discusses with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh how companies are working hard to change how they approach sustainability and leverage greater value. They consider case study examples – including Unilever – where companies have engaged their employees around sustainable...

Emily Kunen from Nestlé, Gotz Martin from Golden Agri-Resources and Róisín Mortimer from Earthworm Foundation debate with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh how business and partner organisations can really help smallholder palm oil farmers grow incomes without clearing new land. They discuss the challenges around developing traceability all the way to the farm level, land use planning and ownership, an...

This week: Anita Neville, senior vice president for corporate communications at Golden Agri-Resources, debates the state of play for the palm oil sector, why traceability in supply chains is vital and why the industry still attracts a bad press despite the best efforts of the most progressive companies. Plus: COP25 flops, Apple and Google threatened with court over cobalt child labour, meat altern...

Justin Adams, executive director of the Tropical Forest Alliance talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the urgency for collective action on deforestation and its associated social challenges. They discuss the tensions and tradeoffs necessary to deliver sustainable landscapes, and the partnerships locally and at a global level required. Adams describes how the Amazon Soy Moratorium has had...

At IFC’s manufacturing conference in Morocco, Irache Pardo, finance and treasury director for Spanish hi-tech business CIE Automotive and Ian Welsh discuss the impacts of sustainability and industry 4.0 technology on the manufacturing sector. They discuss how to link sustainability and profitability, and then target investment to bring about the best business impacts. And they debate how to get th...

Frédéric Garcia, advisor for industry to the head of staff of the president of Mexico, and formerly CEO of Airbus Mexico, and Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh discuss the importance of the manufacturing sector for the Mexican economy, and how Mexico has benefited from free trade with the US and Canada over the past few decades. They discuss what innovation can do for a developing economy, particularly...

This week: CB Bhattacharya, professor of sustainability and ethics at the University of Pittsburgh and author of Small Actions, Big Difference , on how companies are working hard to change how they approach sustainability and leverage greater value. Plus Tesco’s new sustainable basket metric, how avocados with edible coatings can cut plastic use, Indian migrant workers human rights risks, ocean ox...

In the first of a new podcast series about the Accountability Framework initiative, Rainforest Alliance director of global programmes Jeff Milder talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about why the framework has been established, what it is setting out to achieve and how it can specifically help companies with taking action and monitoring progress in their commodity supply chains. And, Ruth Nuss...

In this webinar panellists from QIMA, Aldo, Twinings and BAT discuss how companies and suppliers can improve auditing practices. They assess how to leverage AI and data analytics to uncover potential human rights violations and debate the extent to which audits can assist and/or complement these processes. Panellists: Terri Olano, senior business development manager, QIMA Vera Galarza, senior dire...

This week: Emily Kunen from Nestlé, Gotz Martin from Golden Agri-Resources and Róisín Mortimer from Earthworm Foundation debate how business and partner organisations can really help smallholder farmers grow incomes without clearing new land. Plus: major international brands back extension of the Amazon soy moratorium, brands and climate progress, UN human rights action plans and H+M supports game...

Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and managing director of Mohammadi Group, talks with Ian Welsh about the challenges facing the apparel sector in Bangladesh. She highlights the progress made with the help of international cooperation, since the Rana Plaza disaster, through the building safety accord and the worker safety alliance, with the wo...