During the annual POC Conference today at the Royal Geographical Society, Products of Change has just announced the winners of its POC Member SDG Awards for 2026.
Founded in partnership with the United Nations and launched by the UN’s Caroline Petit, the awards are aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, a universal collection of objectives towards the protection of the planet, eradication of poverty, reduced inequality, and peaceful societies.
The awards celebrate companies that are going above and beyond in reducing their environmental impact and positively affecting industry. They are sowing the seeds of how industry will operate in the future and experiencing both the ups and downs of this along the way.
This year, POC welcomed internationally award-winning climate comedian and speaker, Stuart Goldsmith, to host the awards as well as open the Conference. Known for his sharp, intelligent stand-up that tackles the climate crisis head-on, Stuart’s TV credits include performing stand up on Live at the Apollo (BBC) and Conan (TBS).
The POC SDG Awards highlight four key SDGs most relevant to the brand and licensing industry: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 – Climate Action, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
In true POC style, the trophies are not your average trophies, and themselves tell a story about circularity and responsible resource management. This year, for the first time, Products of Change has partnered with Dorset, UK-based Brothers Make, two brothers, Matt and Jonny, who collect discarded plastic from local communities, businesses and beyond, transforming it into high-quality, practical and thoughtfully designed products.
Brothers Make strives to shift perceptions on plastic waste, encourage people to ditch single-use and move towards a truly circular economy. So, this year’s trophies, made by Brothers Make, will be continuing this story, and feels like an apt way to celebrate the individuals and companies that are working towards the same mission.
The 2026 award winners are:
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
This award goes to a company that has been challenging the operational infrastructure of industry, then open-sourcing that technology for the global industry to benefit from. They have not only extended this outside their own platform, but have enabled competing businesses to use their infrastructure to enable further environmental impact reduction. They have been expanding their work into the brand and licensing sector for the last five years.
WINNER: Teemill
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Retail is at the heart of true sustainable transformation. This company has been creating the systems to enable progress and today has showcased to industry how much progress can be made.
WINNER: The Works
SDG 13: Climate Action
As we have seen today, this company has pushed the boundaries of what is commercially and creatively possible.
WINNER: Girlguiding and Wayne Hemingway Designs
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Our fourth and final award goes to an individual who has quietly been building the infrastructure, working across the supply chain and supporting their licensees to reduce their impact. They have recently expanded the team to have further impact.
WINNER: Thomas Saurén, sustainability and content director, Rights & Brands
Huge congratulations to all recipients!
