Delegates from over 20 countries gather virtually to hear insights from Tesco, Asda, Eden Project, The Insights Family and Hubbub among others.
The Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2021 got off to a strong start today (24 June), with delegates from over 20 countries logging in to hear insights from companies including Tesco, Asda, The Insights Family and Eden Project.
Helena Mansell-Stopher (pictured), curator of the conference and founder of Products of Change, said that it was “wonderful” that so many people were part of SILC this year.
“When we started on our journey of communicating sustainable practices within the industry over two years ago, through our Products of Change organisation, much of what we discussed was being heard for the first time while only 22% of attendees to our SILC20 conference knew what the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals were,” Helena said in her opening speech to the delegates.
“Fast forward to 2021 and many companies within the industry now have green teams, are achieving fantastic results in reducing packaging, have shifted to using recycled materials, have removed single use plastics, and are communicating their sustainability objectives.”
Helena continued: “Licensing International focused on sustainability for its Mind Mix conference this April and Products of Change, was invited to curate the sustainability agenda for the Brand and Licensing Innovation Summit, showcasing the amazing results the Products of Change movement is achieving.
“It’s fantastic that as an industry we are putting our focus on sustainability, and I know that change isn’t always easy to implement, especially in commercial businesses, but it’s something that clearly more of you are taking responsibility for doing.
“Here at SILC we have representatives from the worlds of fashion, toys, food, sports, publishing, gaming, retailing, greeting cards, calendars, partyware, housewares, giftware, entertainment, education, marketing as well as all manner of brand owners and licensors from all over the world, collectively responsible for millions of different consumer products. The very fact that you are attending SILC is so encouraging as together we can achieve so much.”
Highlights from today’s schedule included Jonathan Watson from The Insights Family sharing details on how the pandemic has moved things on significantly on the business/sustainability front, while Paul Earnshaw, senior packaging manager at Tesco, shared some of the great initiatives that he is driving from the grocer and what Tesco now requires from its supply base to meet its targets and new government legislation.
Other speakers included Hubbub, Eden Project, Recoup, Pack IDS and The Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The day ended with a presentation from George at Asda, showcasing its latest technologies and the trials currently underway to imbed efficiencies in its systems.
Summing up on day one, Helena said: “Our industry has been given a great opportunity to drive social and environmental change through the brands we manage, a responsibility to use this opportunity to make a difference and SILC is very much part of this.”
For further details on SILC21 simply click on this link – tickets can still be purchased for day two tomorrow (25 June) with content available on-demand for delegates for 30 days afterwards.
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