What’s to come in 2024?

Innovation Forum’s spring conference series will include events discussing responsible sourcing and ethical trade, sustainable apparel and textiles, the future for food and beverage and how companies can tackle their scope 3 supply chain emissions. The conferences will feature a variety of session formats including plenary discussions, focused breakouts and workshops, and Innovation Forum’s “5th room” sessions for very off the record deep-dives into the most controversial topics, which proved very popular at events in 2023.  

Innovation Forum’s 2024 conference series kicks off once again in London on 20th and 21st March for this year’s Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum. The evolving regulatory landscape – not least for companies with operations in the EU – will be a key point of focus. We’ll be highlighting how companies can navigate evolving legislation and enforcement as new laws come into force, and talking about the tools and innovations that can ensure a best practice approach. 

Investors are taking an ever-greater interest in human rights risks and compliance when decision-making and we will have expert voices reflecting on what corporate transparency should look like. Among the already confirmed attendees are senior responsible sourcing and human rights experts from Ferrero, Unilever, Tetra Pak and Twinings. Full details available here. 

This year’s Sustainable Apparel and Textiles conference series will be in Amsterdam on the 23rd and 24th April and in New York City on 25th and 26th June. Among the topics we’ll discuss in Amsterdam are how EU policy shifts are impacting the sector, asking if established fast fashion models may become a thing of the past and what exactly will future “sustainable fashion” look like. We’ll also be discussing how brands can lower logistics impacts through, for example, more efficient inventory management and the development of green shipping. Among the brands that are already committed to taking part are Decathlon, Zalando, Diesel, Lindex and VF Corporation. Also joining will be representatives of the European Commission and Pakistan Environment Trust. Click here for more information.  

Among the sessions in New York will be discussions on how the apparel sector can align business growth with tough climate impact targets, and what designing for circularity at scale looks like. We’ll ask what fashion can learn from other sectors to accelerate sustainability progress, and the alternative business models that can help. Those already confirmed as panellists include delegates from Macy’s, Eileen Fisher and American Eagle. Find out more here.  

The Future of Food and Beverage series also returns for 2024, once again in Amsterdam, on 14th and 15th of May, and in Minneapolis on 29th and 30th of May. At the EU-based conference there will be a focus on resilience and regeneration, and how the sector can prioritise innovation and sustainability at scale. We’ll be looking at how to establish action plans for biodiversity, and how developing real climate resilience can be done practically and where the funding for this will come from. Consumer attitudes and purchasing decisions, and how they are changing, are also clearly essential considerations for sector brands – we’ll examine the latest consumer research and evaluate how it’s shaping the future. Leading executives from Danone, Chivas Brothers, Nestlé, Mars and Sainsbury’s are already confirmed to attend. Click here to learn more.  

In Minneapolis we will be showcasing practical examples of leading technologies and innovators that are driving positive change. Sessions will also focus on nature-positive production, with case studies covering how leading brands are tackling climate, biodiversity and nature challenges. We’ll also focus on evolving policy and regulation, and changing reporting and transparency requirements. Among the companies registered to send senior representatives are JBS, McCain Foods, Aldi, Campbell Soup and Mondelēz International. More information is available here. 

Completing the spring conference series is the Future of Climate Action event in Amsterdam on 12th and 13th of June where we will focus on how to tackle scope 3 supply chain greenhouse gas emissions. We’ll talk about what an ambitious climate action plan looks like, with 2030, 2040 and 2050 targets. Evolving policy and regulatory frameworks will again be considered in detail, not least the implementation of the EU’s deforestation regulation and the move towards mandatory climate reporting. Already signed up to take part are the key people from Nokia, H+M Group, Henkel, KFC and many others. Find out more here.