E-bikes are transforming how people commute, but are they always safe? In this SGS Live Replay, experts from SGS and the e-bike industry explore the booming e-bike market, the rising safety concerns, and how SGS helps ensure these vehicles meet strict safety standards through rigorous testing and certification. Tune in to learn how SGS plays a crucial role in keeping riders safe on the road.

Featuring insights from John Ciliege (SGS North America), Bobby Brown (Global Head of Hardlines Fire Technology), and Mike Fritz (CTO, Human Powered Solutions).

(00:02:50)- Introduction.

(00:05:01)- E- bikes: unintended consequences with batteries

(00:06:40)- Warning sign that something may be wrong

(00:07:09)- Certification of E-bikes

(00:08:57)- The growth of e-bikes and e-scooters

(00:12:07)- Users demographics

(00:14:21)- Testing lithium-ion batteries

(00:15:50)- Fires with lithium batteries: why are they so different and why do they pose a new challenge for firefighters?

(00:18:22)- Different ways these bikes are currently regulated

(00:23:16)- How the consumer can understand the regulatory policies

(00:28:20)- The main concern from a fire safety perspective when it comes to regulation

(00:30:57)- SGS’s role

(00:34:20)- Q&A

(00:35:53)- E-bikes certificationnumber

In this SGS Live Replay, Emilie Viengchaleune and Darajit Daud discuss how effective communication and storytelling are transforming Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) practices. They share insights from SGS’s Safety Month campaign, exploring how strategic messaging fosters a culture of safety, compliance, and awareness globally. With their extensive expertise, they provide practical tips to enhance safety initiatives across regions.

(00:00:44)- Expert guests introduction.

(00:03:46)- How has this annual campaign evolved since it was introduced.

(00:07:10)- What purpose does Safety Month serve for the organization? And what is NOT what it’s about?

(00:09:10)- What does Safety Month mean for an employee at SGS and how does Emilie’s role as a comms manager play a part in this program?

(00:10:41)- If Communications is not often seen as a traditional element of H&S, how does SGS successfully integrate this in matters of people and workers’ safety?

(00:13:18)- Inspirations and direct influences to establish a well-rounded program like Safety Month.

(00:15:06)- Poll question.

(00:19:00)- How personal stories and accounts of survival, human interests played a part in the way Safety Month has matured through the years.

(00:21:49)- Personal stories related to this year’s theme WalkAware: Your Steps Matter.

(00:30:40)- Unexpected things or moments during these Safety Month celebrations.

(00:32:25)- The hardest part in getting an authentic messaging about safety spread across an intended audience.

(00:34:29)- What is one benefit of using this storytelling strategy?

(00:36:46)- What else can be done to make the Safety Month even more impactful?

(00:37:52)- What companies can do right now if they want to utilize a storytelling strategy in their own company.

This SGS Live Replay dives into the unique cybersecurity challenges of the Middle East, from evolving threats and compliance complexities to the transformative role of AI. Join experts Khawaja Faisal, Senior Manager Operations at SGS in Pakistan, Waqas Awan, Manager (Audit and Training) at SGS in Pakistan, and Ramesh Venkatesan, Technical Manager at SGS Gulf Limited in the UAE. Together, they bring decades of experience in information security, governance, and resilience to explore strategies and best practices for navigating this critical region's cyber landscape.

(00:01:04)- Expert guests introduction.

(00:02:20)- Cybersecurity, an emerging area of interest for companies.

(00:06:45)- Brief on the current cybersecurity landscape in the Middle East.

(00:13:15)- What is cyber threatintelligence and why it is so important.

(00:17:01)- What are the Best Practices forImplementing a Cyber Intelligence Program?

(00:21:31)- How can AI be used toaccelerate security defenses?

(00:24:23)- What are the types of AI toolsthat can be used in cybersecurity?

(00:28:40)- Practical examples or casestudies where businesses used AI for cybersecurity?

(00:33:50)- Audience questions.

(00:37:04)- Brief overview of privacy lawsacross the Middle East, and provide an insight into some of the subtledifferences?

(00:42:23)- What steps do companies need totake to maintain compliance with Cybersecurity & Privacy laws across theMiddle East

(00:45:00)- What are the trends that peopleshould be looking out for in this area?

(00:47:38)- What companies can do right nowto start to prepare.

(00:49:43)- Key takeaways.

Resources: https://www.sgs.com/en-ae/our-services/business-assurance/digital-trust-assurance

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?(00:14:12)- POLL: Ecodesign strategy(00:16:45)- What are the key components of a Digital Product Passport?(00:18:37)- What challenges might companies face when trying to implement a Digital Product Passport and can you share some best practices?

(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?Q&A (00:25:57)

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. 

(00:00:14) - Introduction by Pj Kwong and Guest Introduction
(00:03:15) - What tasks are managed by the Treasury team?
(00:04:27) - Promoting Sustainable Practices in Treasury
(00:06:54) - Ensuring Sustainable Procurement Practices
(00:09:56) - Managing Financial Resources Sustainably
(00:14:27) - Is the intersection between treasury, teams, and ESG becoming more common beyond just large global companies?(00:16:18) - Treasury's Role in Sustainability Ratings

(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(00:38:08) - Q&A(00:41:59) - Balancing Economic Performance with Sustainability Goals
(00:45:11) - Predictions for Sustainability’s Role in Business in the Next Five Years

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. (00:00:14)-  Introduction and Guest Welcome

(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(00:22:57)-Challenges and Controversies in Biofuels (00:25:37)- Q&A(00:29:12)-Future of Biofuels

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.

(00:13:21)- Challenges faced by the TIC industry with AI.

(00:14:30)- Discussion on the EU AI Act and its future impact.

(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.