Emma Thomson, Forest 500 lead at Global Canopy, talks with Ian Welsh about the recently launched Forest 500 update on progress from big companies and financial institutions on deforestation. The big take away is that while many companies have been making big positive commitments, not least at COP26, there is still not the evidence of action on the ground that will be necessary for them to achieve their forest goals.

Textile Exchange’s La Rhea Pepper, Claire Bergkamp and Megan Stoneburner talk with Ian Welsh about the trends emerging from the increasing use of manmade cellulosic fibres in textile and apparel supply chains, and the resultant challenges, not least around avoiding deforestation. As ever, addressing these effectively requires collaboration and sensitive sourcing policies.

This week: Craig Mills, CEO of Vizzuality, talks about how data can best be presented so it is usable and so different functions in a busines can collaborate effectively to drive innovation. Increased frequency of data update – for example for deforestation on a daily basis rather than annual – enables companies to engage with their operations and supply chain in a significantly more dynamic way.

Plus: Singapore sets more punchy future carbon price; more forced labour in Thailand; UK Climate Change Committee to focus on delivery and implementation; and, Tesco removes 1.5bn pieces of plastic from packaging, in the news digest.  

And, Innovation Forum’s Natasha Bodnar gives an update on the upcoming business climate action conference.  

Host: Ian Welsh

David Antonioli, CEO of standard setting body Verra, explains to Ian Welsh how carbon offsetting can be part of broader corporate emissions reduction programmes, but why offsetting alone cannot move the world economy net zero emissions. He outlines the key characteristics of credible and robust verified emissions reduction credits, and why standard setters have to take a nimble approach to evolve as technology develops.  

This week: Karen Steer, manager at the Rainforest Alliance, and lead for the Accountability Framework, Stefano Savi, director of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, Philippe de Groot, head of agronomy at SOCFIN, and Ana Arce, senior manager for corporate sustainability governance at Bridgestone Americas, discuss the challenges for sustainable rubber supply chains, and the technology and collaborative solutions being developed to help.  

Also, hear from Anna Turrell, head of environment, Tesco, and Sarah Wakefield, head of food transformation, WWF, talking with Toby Webb about the Tesco and WWF Sustainability Innovation Fund for late-stage agricultural sector innovators. Click here for more information.

And, Innovation Forum’s Hanna Halmari gives an update on the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles conference.

Plus: BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered and UBS join Carbonplace offsets technology platform; Coca-Cola to boost returnable and refillable containers use to 25%; new research pointing to soy-linked deforestation in Brazil; and, new Barclays report shows how UK retailers are ending supplier relationships because of ESG risks, in the news digest.

Host: Ian Welsh   

In this conference session, recorded at Innovation Forum’s recent sustainable landscapes and commodities conference, joining Toby Webb are: Dann Wensing, CEO, IDH; Mariane Crespolini dos Santos, director of sustainable production and irrigation, Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply; Megan Willis, sustainability director, agricultural supply chains, Asia Pacific, Cargill; and, Michal Zrust, founder and executive director, Lestari Capital.

The panel assess current landscape approaches and what has worked so far. The discussion includes what needs to be done to create the right incentives and finance mechanisms to enable sustainable landscapes at scale.   

This week: Ian Suwarganda, head of policy and partnerships, sustainability and communications at Golden Agri-Resources, and Róisín Mortimer, lead private sector engagement and programming at the Tropical Forest Alliance, talk about changing regulatory landscapes in palm oil and other commodities, and unintended consequences of what’s proposed.

Plus, Innovation Forum’s Toby Webb and Peter Stanbury discuss Nestlé’s new plan to tackle child labour and other challenges in its cocoa supply chain. And, Emily Heslop talks about the future of food USA conference that’s coming up in June.

In the news digest: new USDA $1bn climate smart commodities project; Brazil’s Amazon deforestation spike; research suggesting that big brands are going to miss emissions targets; WWF research that says ocean plastic on track to increase for decades; and, Italy enshrines environmental protection in its constitution.

Host: Ian Welsh

Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, talks with Toby Webb about the challenges around market transformation in the cotton sector. Better Cotton’s recently set 2030 target on greenhouse gas emissions is for a 50% reduction per tonne of cotton. Other targets – on lower pesticide use, gender empowerment, farmer livelihoods and soil health – will be released during 2022. For McClay, success will mean delivering real impact and continuously, so that brands will be able to sell cotton products that have the good story that they want to tell.

Transforming the food system and overcoming the many environmental challenges it faces will require innovation at scale. With food production responsible for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and at the centre of many other environmental issues, Tesco and WWF have come together in a project designed to halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket.

In this podcast, Toby Webb speaks to Anna Turrell, head of environment, Tesco, and Sarah Wakefield, head of food transformation, WWF, about the Tesco and WWF Sustainability Innovation Fund. Tesco and WWF are seeking late-stage innovations focused on sustainable agriculture solutions. The fund will support innovators and scale-up companies capable of delivering proven environmental innovations in partnership with suppliers operating in Tesco’s supply chain.

Innovators can find out more on the Sustainability Innovation Fund here. Interested innovators should enquire via the site by 28 February 2022.

The last few years have given rise to a wave of new business models in apparel, built upon the principles of circularity over fast fashion. With apps and platforms popularising resale, rental, and even repair, brands are increasingly looking to offer the same. In this hour-long webinar, an expert panel took a closer look at how circular models are changing the fashion retail landscape, both for brands and the consumer.

Among the points discussed:

• What growth looks like for circular models, and how they can remain sustainable

Panel:

• Jade McSorley, co-founder, LOANHOOD

The discussion was moderated by Tanya Richard, head of research and stakeholder engagement, Innovation Forum.