Sustainability In Licensing Conference
Owned and organised by ProductsofChange.com
The Royal Geographical Society, London.
With thanks to its high calibre speaker line up and carefully curated content, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference has been hailed the “most amazing, inspiring, and engaging industry event ever attended,” by audience members from across the global brand licensing and consumer products industries.
A space for knowledge sharing and learning; networking and problem solving; conversation and, most importantly, asking questions; the Sustainability in Licensing Conference has – within just two years of making its live, in-person debut – carved its place on the industry calendar as one of its key ‘must attend’ events.
Billed “the most important for our industry in decades,” by past attendees, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference is making its return to the Royal Geographical Society in London on Wednesday, 6 November 2024 when Products of Change will once again deliver a jam-packed line-up of inspiring talks, panel sessions, and a showcase of an industry evolving and transition towards a more responsible and sustainable way of operating.
“Huge congratulations to all the Products of Change team for hosting such a brilliant day that was so well curated with an amazing array of speakers and genuine feeling of collaboration and collective responsibility running throughout the day. I cannot recommend this annual event highly enough.”
Paul Dearlove, Toy Industry Consultant, Wastebusters
Showcasing an industry’s transition from conversation to action, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2023 delivered a day filled with informative and inspiring discussions – ranging from the legislative changes impacting retail and manufacturing now and in the future, to the innovative new systems emerging across supply chains to reduce impact and encourage better circularity – while featuring some of the biggest names in brands and retail, including the LEGO Group; Mattel EMEA; The Walt Disney Company; Asda; Tesco; and Primark – all to be effecting positive, sustainable change.
Audience numbers included a mix of licensors and licensees, cross-sector professionals, and retailers who engaged with the Conference’s overarching message of collaboration to drive positive change across the $340bn global brand and licensing business.
Responding to the day’s collection of speakers from within the licensing industry, the retail sector, and climate education space, attendees left feeling energised over the positive steps they can now begin to take to effect change across their own operations.
“What an amazing day SiLC 2023 was. The content of the day was so good, I think it even topped last year (which was also incredible). I learned so many things and my ‘to-do’ list has no got longer.
“If you’re a retail business wanting to be more sustainable and make changes then check out Products of Change – a community of people all wanting to make change for a better world. The more we collaborate and share, the quicker we can fix things. The world is breaking and we all need to get on this mission quickly. We can do this.”
Tina Salt, founder and ceo, MAI Clothing
As well as giving a platform to an array of pioneering and innovative new technologies and systems – from Fabacus’ Digital Product Passport to PDS Group’s lean into a new circular system of dealing with textile waste – the event also played host to candid discussion around the hurdles being faced by the industry in making sustainable development a reality for the many businesses it touches. This included the financial demands of sustainable transition and the roadblocks and red tape within the licensing sector that next need to be surmounted.
The Sustainability in Licensing Conference also hosted the inaugural Products of Change SDGs Members Awards in alignment with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, an event that was presided over by Caroline Petit, deputy director for the United Nations Regional Information Centre. The awards celebrated industry winners – The LEGO Group, Asda, Carousel Calendars, and Wastebusters and Tesco – across four categories each aligned with four distinct Sustainable Development Goals.
“SiLC 2023 exceeded all our expectations. The energy in the room was phenomenal as the worlds of sustainability and our wonderful brand licensing and retail industries met in ways like never before.
“The connections and collaborations that were made yesterday will positively impact industry over the next year – how exciting it that? I cannot wait to see what SiLC 2024 will bring. And yes, we have already begun the planning.”
Helena Mansell-Stopher, ceo and founder, Products of Change
THE AGENDA - 2024 SCHEDULE TBC
Doors Open
Opening Keynote with The United Nations
Around the world, the United Nations works closely with government and business to adapt and help them better adopt the Sustainable Development Goals into their practices and operations. Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre will open SiLC 2023 with a keynote presentation on the importance of collaboration and the urgency to Act Now.
Speaker
Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre
Legislation Nation: How European law-making is changing business around the world
Determined to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050, Europe has become a global leader in the development and implementation of new legislative measures set to dramatically change the business landscape for good. Guiding business towards greater environmental responsibility, this legislation is impacting the global market. In this session, James George, POC Ambassador for Circularity; and Mike Swain, POC Ambassador for Packaging will talk attendees through the legislative updates businesses simply need to know.
Speakers
James George, POC Ambassador for Circularity
Mike Swain, POC Ambassador for Packaging
Illana Adamson, Founder at Be Better Sustainability, Assessor Cambridge Sustainable Marketing Course
Getting the measure: The Importance of being Carbon literate
Transparency across the global supply chain is a key pillar of incoming legislative updates, and crucial to being transparent is having a good knowledge of carbon reporting. We will be joined by the Carbon Literacy Trust’s Phil Korbel to discover the different areas in carbon reporting and how you can start calculating your impact.
Speaker
Phil Korbel, co-founder and director of advocacy at the Carbon Literacy Trust
BREAK
Mapping a sustainability pathway: How the industry is adapting to new demands
Leading names from the global brand and licensing industry, The Walt Disney Company, the LEGO Group, Mattel, Bravado (part of the Universal Music Group), Difuzed, and DK Books will share their insight and experience of navigating the sustainability conversation and putting those words into action.
Speakers
David Boyne, managing director, Bravado
Jeremy Orriss, director of licensing, Difuzed
Sine Møller, sustainability transformation director, the LEGO Group
Nicolas Loufrani, CEO at The Smiley Company
Anna Halford, associate principal council, The Walt Disney Company
Nicola Torode, head of operational compliance and sustainability, DK Books
Elizabeth Eaves, sustainability lead, Mattel EMEA
Time to tackle our biggest impacts: Building a Scope 3 Methodology for the Brand and Licensing Industry
The LEGO Group has been among the leaders of innovation within the sector for the past four years and has played a pivotal role in getting the global licensing industry to where it is on its sustainability journey today. Not shy to showcase their evolution, Sine Møller will present the next phase of the LEGO journey with a cross-industry collaborative group now building a Scope 3 Methodology for brand owners.
Speaker
Sine Møller, sustainability transformation director, the LEGO Group.
Kit for purpose: How is the sports side of licensing driving change and influencing with their brands?
Chaired by Simon Gresswell, POC’s Ambassador for Sport we bring together a panel featuring Rishi Jain, director of impact at Liverpool Football Club; Dan Ashmore, retail operations and buying manager at Wimbledon; and Matt Bailey, head of strategy & sustainability at Desert Vipers.
Speakers
Simon Gresswell, POC’s Ambassador for Sports
Rishi Jain, director of impact at Liverpool FC
Dan Ashmore, Retail Operations and Buying Manager at Wimbledon
Matt Bailey, Head of Strategy & Sustainability, Desert Vipers
Charlotte Hughes, Senior Licensing Manager, Formula E
Ryan Collins, Head of Customer Success, Dayrize
Mapping your impact
Products of Change will be presenting a new era of licensing, developed in partnership with Kids Industries as well as Netflix and The LEGO Group, the Sustainability Framework Maturity Tool is a signalling gun for a whole new era of industry transparency and reporting.
Speakers
Jelena Stosic, Strategy director at Kids Industries
Jakob Max Hamann, Sustainability Lead at The Lego Group
Rikesh Desai, Consumer Products EMEA at Netflix
POC Awards
LUNCH
Transparency tools: Making impact assessment scalable
Facing the need to meet new transparency demands, the licensing and consumer products sector is going to need to understand product impact assessment. Dayrize technology makes that scalable by combining leading tech with the latest sustainability science to help businesses showcase the environmental impact of their products.
Speaker
David Kilbey, Sustainability Solutions
Exploring the Digital Product Passport with Fabacus
With the Digital Product Passport launching throughout Europe from January 2024 and a new CSRD requiring increased disclosure of data from companies, Fabacus presents its solution to the SiLC audience as Jonathan Baker connects impact data and product sales data to meet incoming demands from EU lawmakers.
Speaker
Jonathan Baker, CCO, Fabacus
Fashion Conscious: Nobody’s Child
Nobody’s Child is a responsible brand on a mission to bring beautiful fashion to every woman, everywhere, without costing the earth. Passionate about lower impact fabrics, the team has spent the last eight years running away from materialism. Nobody’s perfect but this brand is an example of how through partnerships and purpose, you can certainly make a difference.
Speaker
Jody Plows, CEO, Nobody’s Child
The George at Asda team talks us through the supermarket giant’s latest efforts to reduce its environmental impact, including the implementation of circular practices and how they are navigating the latest legislative requirements.
Speakers
Jade Snart, senior sustainability manager, Asda
Jennifer Ward, sustainability manager, George at Asda
BREAK
Tooned in: Cartoon Network talks engaging audiences
Monika Oomen, vp brand, digital content strategy and communications, Kids, EMEA talks attendees through Cartoon Network’s latest initiative to bring kids and families into the climate conversation, and then convert that into action.
Speaker
Monika Oomen, vp brand, digital content strategy and communication, Kids, EMEA
A Circular Story: One company’s evolution towards a circular model
One global manufacturer, one brand owner, a licensed manufacturer, and a circular technology partner, all with the support of a leading retailer – this is the story of a circular system in development. Poetic Brands, Norlanka, and Upcycled Labs – all part of the PDS Group – will showcase a working example of how our industry can work together to build a circular system. Follow the journey, from manufacture to retail, and discover what industry innovation can really look like.
Speakers
Anne Bradford, director at Poetic Brands
Barry Kane, managing director, Upcycle Labs
Ben Alexander, head of business (UK and Europe), The Norlanka Group
Jade Snart, senior sustainability manager, Asda
Waste not want not: Building a circular economy for plastic toys
The not-for-profit environmental education platform, Wastebusters has partnered with Hasbro, the UK children’s magazine industry, and many SME toy companies to build and test a recycling infrastructure for hard to recycle plastic toys while driving the message of re-use and re-sell. This groundbreaking initiative has been brought to life by the pioneering technical team at Tesco. Join the team as they present a real life example of how our industry can drive meaningful and positive change.
Speakers
Katy Newnham, founder at Wastebusters
Cheryl Thompson, head of technical at Tesco Stores Ltd
Felicity Thompson, technical manager at Tesco Stores Ltd.
A new era for licensing: Natural and plastic-free
Learn how LUSH, the mass market retailer and cosmetics company has scaled a business by staying true to its core values while partnering with the global brand and licensing industry to shine a light on mass market sustainably-produced products.
Speakers
Melody Morton, Lush Concepts Creative Director
Matt Bradbrook, Beauty Chef at Lush Cosmetics
Sustainability in Retail: A Panel Session
Join Primark, Asda, and the Lush team as they discuss how retail is navigating the sustainability space – from legislation to circular principles – for a regenerative and sustainable future.
Speakers
Nick Lambert, circular product lead at Primark
Jade Snart, senior sustainability manager at Asda
Melody Morton, Lush concepts creative director
Matt Bradbrook, Beauty Chef at Lush Cosmetics
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
The speaker line-up for the Sustainability in Licensing Conferences has included true leaders from the retail world, pioneering licensees, trailblazing manufacturers and inspiring opinion formers from both within and outside the industry, each playing a part in the journey to become more sustainable.
The speakers each shared experiences, facts and ideas which will collectively serve to future proof your business and the industry of which we are all a part, enabling sustainable strategies to be developed that take into consideration how a given organisation can operate commercially as well as ecologically.
Anna Halford McGhee
Associate Principal Counsel, The Walt Disney Company
Anne Bradford
Director, Poetic Brands
Barry Kane
Co-founder and Managing Director, Upcycle Labs
Benjamin Alexander
Head of Business, UK & Europe, Norlanka (PDS limited)
Charlotte Hughes
Senior Licensing Manager, Formula E
Cheryl Thompson
Head of Technical, Tesco
David Boyne
Director, Bravado
David Kilbey
Global Partnerships Lead, Dayrize
Elizabeth Eaves
Lead Sustainability Engineer, Mattel
Felicity Thompson
Technical Manager, Tesco
Gary Pope
Co-Founder, Kids Industries
Helen Scobie
Product Development Expert, George @ ASDA
Illana Adamson
Founder, Be Better Sustainability; Assessor, Cambridge Sustainable Marketing Course
Jade Snart
Sustainability and Compliance Expert, ASDA
Jakob Max Hamann
Product Sustainability Manager Specialist, LEGO
James George
Network Development Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Jelena Stosic
Strategy Director, Kids Industries
Jennifer Ward
Sustainability manager, George @ Asda
Jeremy Orriss
Director of Licensing, Difuzed
Jessica Brown
Design Specialist, George @ ASDA
Jonathan Baker
CCO, Fabacus
Katy Newnham
Director, Wastebuster
Jody Plows
CEO, Nobody's Child
Matt Bailey
Head of Strategy & Sustainability, Desert Vipers
Matt Bradbrook
Beauty Chef, Lush Cosmetics
Melody Morton
Creative Director, Lush Concepts
Mike Swain
Packaging Innovation Specialist
Monika Oomen
VP Brand, Communications and Digital Content Strategy, Kids EMEA, Warner Bros. Discovery
Nick Lambert
Circular Product Lead, Primark
Nicola Torode
Head of Operational Compliance and Sustainability, DK
Nicolas Loufrani
CEO, The Smiley Company
Phil Korbel
Co-Founder & Director of Advocacy, Carbon Literacy Project
Rikesh Desai
Consumer Products EMEA, Netflix
Rishi Jain
Director of Impact, Liverpool FC
Simon Gresswell
Founder and MD, SGLP
Sine Klitgaard Møller
Sustainability Transformation Director, the Lego Group
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR SILC 2024
WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2024
Taking place at The Royal Geographical Society – 1 Kensington Gore, London, United Kingdom, SW7 2AR.
Direction details can be found by clicking HERE.
* DIETARY & ACCESSIBILITY *
Please email clare@createvents.co.uk with any dietary or accessibility requirements. If booking for someone else, you are responsible for highlighting any needs for your party.
LIVE EVENT TICKETS – £259.00
Take advantage of the early bird price saving £40 – this will increase soon!
SILC 2024 takes place as a live event on Wednesday 6 November 2024 at The Royal Geographical Society in London. The one day live event begins at 9am, with the conference itself finishing at 5:30pm before an (optional) evening drinks reception. *Full and detailed timing TBC*
This is a secure payment system and you will be emailed a full receipt as soon as you book.
A 20% discount applies to members of Products of Change – please select this option if you’re a paid-up member. The voucher code to be used is POCMEMBER
DIGITAL EVENT TICKETS – £149.00
Take advantage of the early bird price saving £30 – this will increase soon!
If you’re unable to enjoy the networking of the live event but would like to join from home/office, you may do-so via our digital stream which will run within the same time-zone as the live event. Content will remain available for 30 days post-event (this is also the case for live event ticket holders).
DON’T WANT TO BOOK ONLINE?
If you would prefer to pay via invoice, please email clare@createvents.co.uk
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Sure, get in touch with any of the team – our faces and phone numbers are just a few scrolls down from here.
Book your LIVE EVENT ticket(s) now
(You will pay via a secure system and receive an immediate receipt)
20% discount for POC Members – use code POCMEMBER (details will be verified)
Book your DIGITAL ACCESS ticket(s) now
(You will pay via a secure system and receive an immediate receipt)
20% discount for POC Members – use code POCMEMBER (details will be verified)
Please note before purchase: Your details will be used to keep you informed of updates to the event and we may also contact you about other products or services from within our group of companies.
The Products of Change Members SDG Awards
Products of Change is launching the industry’s first Sustainability Awards to align with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and in celebration of the boldest and most pioneering companies and individuals in the global brand and licensing sector.Four awards will be presented to four worthy recipients at the Sustainability in Licensing Conference taking place on Wednesday, 8 November at the Royal Geographical Society in London during a special session built-in to the day’s conference programme.
EVENT SPONSORS
The Sustainability in Licensing Conference has received widespread support from the industry with leading businesses and brands keen to pledge their commitment, sharing in the belief that together real progress can be made in the sector on this vital issue.
HEADLINE SUPPORTER
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
TALK TO THE TEAM
Behind the scenes of The Sustainability in Licensing Conference is a close-knit team of people with complimentary skills and personalities, but who all share in the vision of ensuring this significant conference really hits the mark.
Owned by Products of Change Media – which is a joint venture between Max Media Ventures and Products of Change, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference benefits hugely from the partnership formed with Helena Mansell-Stopher.
HELENA MANSELL-STOPHER
Curator and Conference Director
With a 20 year career in the licensing industry across media and lifestyle brands and a wealth of knowledge across all categories and retail. With a course in Business Sustainability Management under her belt, from the University of Cambridge Helena will continue to work with brand owners, retailers and category experts to drive change within the licensing arena.