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 practical strategies for building resilience - offering a clear view of how technology is reshaping risk, operations, and the customer experience across the sector.

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.

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:

By comparing national approaches, we highlight key similarities, differences and early enforcement trends, offering insight into how fairness is being redefined across the EU food supply chain.

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 industry across the UK, France and Austria, taking into account recent developments (including the recent UK copyright and AI consultation).

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 the EU AI Act in relation to these use cases for the retail industry across the UK and the EU.

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:

In addition to discussing the ‘polluter pays’ principle, our speakers explain the implications of EPR obligations, and look ahead to what businesses might expect in the future.

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.

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:

Beyond exploring the opportunities in the recommerce space, the discussion also highlights potential risks and challenges associated with this trend. Plus, our speakers share personal insights and experiences with pre-loved retail, offering a unique perspective on this sustainable shopping revolution.

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.

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 must consider in their marketing, including scientific data and the use of specific language.

There is a particular focus on the complexities surrounding compliance with current and future greenwashing laws and our speaker explore the changing face of penalties for non-compliance.

Join us again in January for the next instalment of Future Consumer Talks, where we will be discussing the rise of Recommerce.

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.

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 years. There is a particular focus on the complexities surrounding enforcement against greenwashing and the case law that gives ‘dos and don’ts’ list in ensuring accuracy in their advertising and marketing.

Join us next month for the second half of the episode, where we are joined by Szabolcs Sendro and will be discussing topics delivered by the audience vote. 

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.

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

In addition to discussing recycling rules in Europe, we provide insight into Italy’s regulations for waste management, as well as where we can see other European countries adopting sustainable waste management practices.

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.

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 discuss obligations to donate unsold food.

Future Consumer Talks is a CMS podcast on legal topics affecting consumer products for retail. Through this series our lawyers will be providing insight into the fast-evolving landscape of product regulation and compliance matters. We will also be covering legal news, recent developments and emerging trends, and how they are relevant to industry.