In this episode of SGS Live Replay, we dive into the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and its groundbreaking shift towards a circular economy. With this regulation, manufacturers are now expected to design products that prioritize durability, reusability, repairability, and recyclability. Additionally, the requirement of a digital product passport (DPP) for each product will bring unprecedented transparency by tracking materials, production processes, and sustainability metrics across the entire supply chain.

Listen as our global softlines experts, Frank Kempe and Valérie Cimetiere, unpack what these new regulations mean for businesses aiming to remain competitive and meet compliance in regulated markets. They’ll discuss practical strategies for adapting to the ESPR, leveraging sustainability as a competitive advantage, and the steps companies can take to meet these demands while delivering verified environmental data on product durability, recyclability, greenhouse gas emissions, and more.

(00:04:05) - How ESPR or Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and DPP or Digital Product Passport are embedded in the regulatory landscape?

(00:05:35)- ESPR - what is recent status and what is expected timeline?

(00:07:15)- What are the key elements that make a product "sustainable" according to Ecodesign regulations? The process of assessing a product's environmental impact throughout its lifecycle.

(00:11:48)- Any penalties for non-compliance with Ecodesign regulations

(00:12:41)- The future of Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations. What changes or advancements we anticipate?

(00:22:08)- As far as DPP goes - Is there a reference to other industries as benchmark or is SL leading?

(00:23:39)- The driving force for the strategy of brands. Regulation such as ESPR or the idea of sustainability and going beyond.

(00:24:23)- What is the #1 recommendation to be ready for time once open details are clarified and regulation & requirements come into effect?

Resources: https://www.sgs.com/en/service-groups/sustainable-textiles-and-clothing

The evolving landscape of finance is increasingly shaped by sustainability, blurring the lines between traditional treasury functions and the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. As businesses face growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, the role of treasury is transforming to meet these demands. In this SGS Live Replay, our experts will explore the critical intersections of finance and sustainability, discussing the key drivers behind this shift, the impact of regulatory frameworks, and the innovative strategies companies are using to navigate these changes.
About the speakers:
Jennifer Pearson is a passionate treasury professional, who has been in the industry for more than 10 years across multiple industries from big manufacturing, professional services and financial services before starting her own consultancy business, TreasuryEdge in 2023 which specialises in supporting scale-up businesses develop their treasury function.
Simon Colton’s key role is working with sustainability, ecosystem and corporate sector specific teams for global banks and funds. With 10 years previous corporate banking experience his task is to bridge the current gap between the Testing Inspection Certification (“TIC”) and the Financial Services industries. ESG advisor for corporate clients helping build core implementable sustainable business strategy around enterprise risk management; financial strategy; operations and supply chains. 

(00:18:43) - What is the treasury team's role in managing the organisation's sustainable finances?

(00:20:20) - Mitigating Financial Risks Related to Sustainability
(00:21:46) - Treasury's Role in Energy Efficiency
(00:23:45) - Importance of Sustainability Reporting
(00:28:26) - Technological Innovations in Treasury and Sustainability
(00:32:36) - Overview of Global Sustainability Trends

As the world shifts towards more sustainable energy sources, biofuels are at the forefront of this transformation. But what does this mean for the energy and oil & gas industries?
In this SGS Live Replay, listeners can learn about how and where biofuels are typically used; the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel; the current demand for biofuels and what expectations look like for the future.  
Speaker: Sara Logue is Director of Business Development with Oil, Gas, and Chemical Management at SGS. Sara brings two decades of experience in the energy market to SGS, and is based in Mount Vernon, Washington. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Houston and a MBA in International Sales and Marketing from LeTourneau University.

(00:02:50)- What are Biofuels and Advanced Biofuels?

(00:04:31)-Differences between Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel

(00:06:52)-Where Biofuels are Used

(00:07:55)- Benefits of Biofuels

(00:09:18)- Current Demand for Biofuels

(00:12:00)-Trivia Segment

(00:14:59)- SGS's Role in the Biofuels Market

In this episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of AI regulation and its significant impact on the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry. Join our experts, Tomislav, Gabriele, and Jeremy, as they explore the role of TIC in AI governance, the challenges of certifying rapidly evolving AI technologies, and how international standards are shaping compliance efforts.

(00:00:53)- Introduction to the role of TIC in AI.

(00:22:30)- Final thoughts on the future of AI regulation.

Listen now to stay ahead in understanding how AI regulation will influence industries across the globe.

In this episode, we dive into the regulatory landscape surrounding artificial intelligence, focusing on the challenges and the importance of the EU AI Act. Host Tomislav Nad brings together two key figures: Jeremy Rollison, Head of EU Policy at Microsoft, and Gabriele Mazzini, the Architect and Lead author of the AI Act. They discuss the necessity of regulation, key risks in AI, and the impact on global industries.

(00:02:24)- The risks and reasons for AI regulation.

(00:14:50)- Microsoft’s approach to addressing AI risks.

(00:27:25)- Exploring how the EU AI Act might affect global regulations.

(00:31:42)- Final reflections on AI, innovation, and responsible regulation.

Listen in to understand how AI regulation is shaping the future of technology and what it means for businesses worldwide.

In the first episode of our two-part series, "Roadmap to Sustainable Footwear," we delve into bluesign's pivotal role in revolutionizing the textile and footwear industry. Join us as we discuss with Kutay Saritosun and Ron Hu the origins and mission of bluesign, its sustainable chemical management approach, and its collaboration with Vibram. Explore how bluesign assists companies in measuring and reducing their environmental impact, the challenges brands face, and the implications of the EU Green Deal. Tune in to understand bluesign's comprehensive Footwear initiative and its strategies for promoting sustainability and circularity in the industry.

(00:00:14) -Introduction to bluesign and its mission.

(00:06:42)- Chemical management and sustainability.

(00:10:41)- Impact measurement and reporting.

(00:16:31)- Sustainability legislation in the EU.

(00:26:16)- bluesign’s Footwear initiative.

(00:27:47)- Challenges and solutions in Footwear Industry.

In this episode of SGS Live Replay, host PJ Kwong dives into the innovative world of wildlife protection with AI. Joining her are experts Shel Graupe Technical Manager for Wildlife Services, at SGS in Canada Inc., and Fabio Mascio founder and lead executive of The Edge Company based in Italy. They discuss the challenges, limitations, and solutions associated with keeping birds away from hazardous areas such as airports, tailings ponds, and wind farms. Learn how AI is revolutionizing bird detection and deterrent services, ensuring safer environments for both birds and humans. Tune in for an insightful conversation that merges technology and wildlife conservation.

(00:00:15) - Introduction and overview of the episode.

(00:07:36) - Overview of SGS's bird detection and deterrent services.

(00:08:36) - Collaboration between SGS and The Edge Company.

(00:11:21) - What is BCMS?

(00:13:30) - How AI is used in bird detection and deterrence.

(00:16:15) - Case studies and success stories.

(00:24:50) - Future of AI in wildlife protection.

(00:26:13) - Q&A session with audience questions.

(00:31:35) - Final thoughts and closing remarks.

In this episode of the Changing Conversations podcast, host Daniel Tatarsky discusses AI deployment, governance, and strategic implementation with experts

Identifying valuable AI opportunities (00:00:56) Discussion on identifying valuable AI opportunities within specific services and markets, including the integration of AI into existing services.

Importance of Governance in AI implementation (00:04:21) The significance of governance in directing, managing, and controlling AI activities to ensure efficient deployment and adoption.

AI Governance and ethical considerations (00:05:22) The role of AI governance in ensuring safe, ethical, and fair AI systems, including the need to avoid bias, discrimination, and unfair behavior.

Data quality and model selection (00:10:02) The importance of data quality in AI, including the impact of incomplete, inconsistent, or biased data on AI model accuracy and precision.

Future trends in AI development (00:12:34) Discussion on multi-model AI strategies, model customization, and chaining of models, as well as the potential for powerful virtual agents and enterprise-grade trustworthy solutions.

Balancing AI automation and human expertise (00:21:21) Exploring the evolving balance between AI automation and human expertise in the tech industry, emphasizing the need for a co-pilot approach and maintaining human control in AI implementation.

Quality of data and pragmatism (00:22:49) Discussion on dealing with data quality and pragmatic approaches to business use cases.

Experimenting with AI (00:23:19) Importance of experimenting with AI, developing a solid strategy, and managing the complete lifecycle from data to model deployment.

Emerging technology and risks (00:23:56) Exploration of generative AI as an emerging technology, its opportunities and risks, and the importance of critical thinking in leveraging AI.

Looking ahead and new series announcement (00:24:56) Announcement of a new series on tech for AI, which will explore AI regulations, their impact on companies, and the challenges for the tech industry.

Join us for a deep dive into the transformative effects of AI on the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry in the latest SGS podcast episode. Our experts are joined by Joost Vos from IBM to discuss how AI technologies are enhancing TIC services, driving innovation, and shaping the future of the industry. Listen now to explore the intersection of AI and TIC services, and how it's paving the way for new opportunities and heightened efficiency.

The impact of AI on the TIC industry (00:00:15) Discussion with Tzveta Iordanova on the significant trends shaping the testing, inspecting, and certification industry and the adoption of AI to address these challenges.

Real-world examples of AI at SGS (00:07:24) Nicola Colombo shares examples of how AI is used at SGS to comply with regulatory requirements and manage business risks in the consumer goods industry.

Latest AI models and their applications (00:11:32) 

Granular Access Control (00:25:16) Discussion on the challenges of creating universal AI models for accessing company knowledge and the need for customized models.

Feasibility of AI Pipelines (00:26:22) Exploration of the unfeasibility of creating universal AI models for accessing segmented data and the need for context-based AI pipelines.

Closing Remarks (00:27:32)