Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

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, Innovation Forum's Hannah Oborne talks about how climate risk, changing consumer expectations and regulation are pushing companies to adapt supply chains and embed sustainability into core strategy. And, EU moves to ban meat names for plant foods; Yangtze river fishing ban revives freshwater life; and, Tesco trials low carbon potatoes in UK stores, in the news digest. Host: Ellen Atiyah

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.

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 apparel and textiles sector, such as regulatory pressure on waste and growing recognition of worker heat stress as an occupational health risk. And, M&S launches solar support for cotton farmers; EU scales back corporate sustainability reporting rules; and, investors urge overhaul of GHG electricity rules, in the news digest. Host: Ellen Atiyah

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 a circular textile economy.

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 broader push for crop diversification and low-carbon fuel feedstocks. Planted in the fall and harvested in early summer, camelina provides living cover through the off-season while also being harvested and sold as a cash crop – an uncommon combination that creates a new incentive for farmers to keep soil covered longer. What we discussed… How crop innovation and R&D are supporting more resilient and profitable farming systems The role of winter camelina in crop diversification, soil health, and lower-carbon outcomes The importance of farmer engagement, partnerships, and on–farm trials in driving adoption What lessons from camelina can be applied to broader climate–smart agriculture strategies

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 responsible sourcing and ethical trade, including the rise of worker voice initiatives and overlap between climate and human rights risks.   And, Boohoo faces investor trial over labour abuses; just transition guidance targets net zero investors; EU deforestation rules may expand as details shift; Uzbek cotton reforms leave farmers vulnerable; and, Etsy sells Depop to eBay for $1.2bn, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.   Host: Ian Welsh

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.

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 was clear: sustainability had to be embedded at the heart of the business. Building on work initiated in the 1990s, she helped advance a strategy that increased supply chain transparency, while also expanding textile collection and recycling programmes. Under her leadership, initiatives such as the H&M Conscious range were debuted, reinforcing the belief that sustainable fashion must remain accessible while serving as co-chair of The Fashion Pact. A consistent theme throughout Helmersson’s leadership has been the need for structural transformation. Sustainability, she argues, should be a mindset that is woven into every part of the organisation. In times of external turbulence, however, delivering on that ambition becomes harder. Helmersson is clear that progress cannot be achieved through brand commitments alone; new systems need to be built, and deep, cross-industry collaboration is essential. Since stepping down as CEO of H&M in January 2024, Helmersson has continued to shape the industry. She has joined the boards of MANGO, Quizrr and On, and serves as Chair of Circulose. In this webinar with built in Q&A time, Helena Helmersson shared reflections on: What leadership looks like when driving structural change within large organisations What enables, and inhibits, CEO action on sustainability, including navigating the tension between profitability and sustainability Collaboration in practice: how deep coalitions can work for business Where the industry goes next, and the role each stakeholder must play in delivering change

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.

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 advance circular packaging initiatives. And, polypropylene coffee cups now widely recyclable in US; Unilever P&G L’Oréal join Ottawa reuse trial; sustainability reporting rises despite policy uncertainty; and, fashion risks losing third of profits by 2030, in the news digest. Host: Ellen Atiyah

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 address system bottlenecks such as grid integration, storage optimisation and demand flexibility • The key barriers to adoption, including upfront costs and organisational or cultural challenges • How partnerships between energy companies and technology providers can accelerate scale while sharing risk • Which digital breakthroughs could have the biggest impact over the next decade   Speakers: Carsten Sonne-Schmidt, managing partner, Digital Energy AI Adele Ara, group chief technology officer, Lightsource bp Dr Gianna Huhn, Group Strategy, Innovation Strategy & Technology Foresight Lead, SSE

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 energy transition is shifting from ambition to delivery, with companies focusing on infrastructure, energy security, capital discipline and system-wide innovation as 2026 unfolds. And, UN warns water crisis threatens fashion supply chains; researchers say ultra processed foods should face tobacco-style laws; and, Oatly and McCain push deeper food decarbonisation, in the news digest (compiled by Ellen Atiyah). Host: Ian Welsh

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-based communications, and accountable engagement. Hear practical insights from leading sustainability communicators on balancing compelling narratives with accuracy, navigating partnerships, and meeting evolving stakeholder expectations. What we discussed… How NGOs are communicating impact, progress, and setbacks more transparently Using data, evidence, and verification to strengthen credibility without overcomplicating messaging Balancing compelling storytelling with accuracy, nuance, and accountability Managing communications around corporate partnerships while maintaining trust and independence Evolving expectations of NGO communications across donors, communities, and business audiences

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 bodies can play in bringing rigour to value chain emission.

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 tackling global sustainability challenges. This webinar, hosted by Innovation Forum in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority explored how some of the latest bioscience breakthroughs are addressing these pressing issues. We look at emerging trends shaping the next wave of sustainable innovation, the technologies driving impact, and how organisations are applying bioscience. As a case study, we examined how Iowa is emerging as a key hub for the biosciences, bringing together agriculture technology, medical innovation, and industrial biotechnology in one ecosystem. What we discussed… Which bioscience breakthroughs from the past year are driving measurable sustainability impact, and how they came about What to watch for in 2026: scaling technologies, new applications, and the role of advanced technology in enabling sustainable innovation What drives success in biosciences: fostering innovation internally, building strategic partnerships, and leveraging ecosystems to deliver sustainable solutions

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 and textile sector trends, including the growing focus on tier two decarbonisation, supplier equity, resale expansion, water stewardship and performance material innovation.   And, UK grocers warn Amazon soy rollback risks deforestation; scientists warn climate research locked behind language barrier; and, Vinted enters US market targeting unworn fashion clutter, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.   Host: Ian Welsh

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, credit quality, the role of standards and buyers and why scaling credible forest-based climate solutions will depend as much on financial infrastructure as on science.

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 narrower scope, removal of the mandatory climate transition plan requirement, and a higher applicability threshold of around 5,000 employees and €1.5bn in annual turnover. While formal endorsement is pending, clarity is returning. This allows attention to shift from regulatory interpretation back to action. This webinar explores the business case for holistic due diligence beyond compliance, showing how better data, improved visibility and coordinated approaches can reduce duplication, ease supplier fatigue, strengthen sourcing relationships and support long-term resilience. This session explored: What are the real business risks of limited supply chain visibility, and how do these risks translate into financial, operational and reputational impact? How can evolving compliance expectations be framed in CFO-level terms that support investment decisions, prioritisation and long-term value creation? Which data actually matters in a simplified regulatory landscape, and how can companies ensure it reflects workers’ rights and on-the-ground risks without creating unnecessary reporting burden? How can brands and suppliers collaborate in shared supply chains to improve transparency, reduce duplication and enable effective, pre-competitive problem-solving?

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: greenhushing erodes trust as consumers hear less; Carrefour rolls out environmental scores for clothing; and, climate friendly beef claims face WRI reality check, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah. Host: Ian Welsh

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.