Agenda
9:30 AM
Helena’s welcome
Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and CEO of Products of Change, will welcome attendees to the Conference and reflect on the last year of progress across both POC and our wider industry.
9:35 AM
Opening keynote from the United Nations
As part of the United Nation’s ongoing collaboration with Products of Change, Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre, will address attendees in her keynote speech, highlighting the important role they have to play in driving sustainable change in the industry.
Full Details
Speaker:
Caroline Petit
deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre - United Nations
9:40 AM
Keynote: The power of planetary storytelling
‘Ocean’ with David Attenborough, co-produced by Open Planet Studios, recently reminded us, “the climate crisis is a communication crisis.” In this keynote, Kate Goldman-Toomey will show how powerful, trusted imagery can ignite the conversations and decisions we need for faster environmental progress.
Full Details
To drive change, we first need to truly see the world we are trying to protect. Open Planet is making that possible. As the organisation behind the open-source library of world-class environmental footage, Open Planet captures the reality of our planet in transformation – and shares it freely with anyone, anywhere, to inspire urgent action.
Many of us were deeply moved by the recent feature-length documentary Ocean with David Attenborough, co-produced by Open Planet Studios, which revealed with striking clarity both the beauty of our oceans and the peril they face.
As Sir David Attenborough reminds us, “the climate crisis is a communication crisis.” In this keynote, Kate Goldman-Toomey will show how powerful, trusted imagery – when placed in the hands of educators, innovators, and changemakers – can ignite the conversations and decisions we need for faster environmental progress.
Speaker:
Kate Goldman-Toomey
Executive Director of Partnerships - Open Planet
10:00 AM
Wear it again: Consumer insights on fashion’s next wave
Join Mintel’s fashion and retail expert, Tamara Sender Ceron, as she reveals the data behind this shift: from emerging second-hand platforms to high-street take-back schemes, you’ll gain a clear picture of where the market is heading and what it means for brands, licensees, and retailers.
Full Details
Speaker:
Tamara Sender
Associate Director Fashion & Retail - Mintel
10.10 AM
Shaping tomorrow: Navigating global sustainability regulations
Join Products of Change Advisors and members for a practical update on global environmental legislation – and what it really means for your business. Together, we’ll cut through the complexity, highlight the key regulations you need to know now.
Full Details
Speakers:
Helena Mansell-Stopher
Founder and CEO - Products of Change
Andrea Green
Advisor and ambassador for North America- Products of Change
Dr Mirjam Hazenbosch
Sustainable Business Programme Manager- ZSL
Jonathan Baker
Chief Commercial Officer- Fabacus
Anna Halford
Lead Counsel- Disney Consumer Products
10.30 AM
Guardians of the future: How heritage brands are driving sustainability through licensing
In this powerful conversation, these heritage brands will explore how their licensing programmes are not only building revenue to support their causes but also embedding environmental and social responsibility into the very fabric of their brand partnerships.
Full Details
From preserving wildlife to protecting cultural history, heritage organisations carry a unique responsibility – and an unparalleled opportunity – to inspire change. Licensing is becoming a vital extension of this mission, transforming consumer products into vehicles for education, impact, and sustainable practice.
In this powerful conversation, the Natural History Museum, Eden Project, the RSPB, Curating Cambridge, and ZSL London Zoo will explore how their licensing programmes are not only building revenue to support their causes but also embedding environmental and social responsibility into the very fabric of their brand partnerships.
Discover why sustainability is central to their strategies, how they’re leveraging the power of consumer connection, and what it means for the wider brand and licensing industry to follow their lead.
Speakers:
Louisa Skevington
Licensing Manager - Natural History Museum
Abbie Taylor
Brand Licensing Manager - Zoological Society of London
Freddie Hack
Sustainability Manager - RSPB
Hannah Aspey
Head of Brand Licensing - Curating Cambridge
Tracey Smith
Commercial Partnerships and Licensing Manager - Eden Project
11:00 AM
Packaging under pressure: What EPR really means for retail
In this session, Paul Earnshaw unpacks the latest developments in EPR from a retailer’s perspective, highlighting how increasing alignment between EPR frameworks and upcoming waste legislation will influence packaging strategies in the years ahead.
Full Details
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is reshaping how retailers and suppliers think about packaging – and the changes are coming fast. In this session, Paul Earnshaw unpacks the latest developments in EPR from a retailer’s perspective, highlighting how increasing alignment between EPR frameworks and upcoming waste legislation will influence packaging strategies in the years ahead.
With extensive experience across every aspect of packaging, Paul brings unique insight into materials, processes, and sustainable design. As the architect of Tesco’s packaging sustainability strategy – including its industry-leading preferred materials and formats guidelines –he offers practical, forward-looking guidance on how businesses can adapt to stay compliant, reduce impact, and unlock innovation through packaging.
Speaker:
Paul Earnshaw
Lead Packaging Manager - Tesco
11:20 AM
Break
11:45 AM
Smarter packaging, bigger impact: the LEGO Group’s licensing partner optimisation journey
What if better packaging could cut costs, reduce waste, and boost efficiency all at once? Christian Lanckman has proven it can. He has optimised 50% of the LEGO Group’s licensing partners’ packaging – delivering major cost savings while driving measurable sustainability improvements.
Full Details
By creating a LEGO Licensing packaging optimisation programme, Christian developed a unique performance prediction algorithm that helps partners design packaging that uses less material, lowers EPR taxes, improves logistics, and strengthens sustainability credentials. His approach combines material innovation, light-weighting, right-sizing, cube optimisation, and portfolio harmonisation – showing how smarter design unlocks both environmental and financial value.
Speaker:
Christian Lanckman
Sustainable Packaging Manager - The LEGO Group
12:10 PM
RDP Creative’s journey to lighter, smarter solutions
Discover how RDP Creative has transformed its packaging strategy to cut waste, lower carbon impact, and stay ahead of tightening regulations. RDP will share the practical steps, lessons learned, and measurable results from its multi-year effort to reduce packaging footprint.
Full Details
Speaker:
Wendy Mather
CEO - RDP Creative
12:20 PM
Small things, big impact: How smol is redefining homecare
Full Details
What if small changes could completely disrupt a market? smol has done just that. As the first brand to remove all single-use plastic from its detergents, smol has combined smart design with a direct-to-consumer model that puts sustainability and convenience at its heart.
The results speak for themselves: delivering over 1 million washes per week across the UK, achieving 37% revenue growth to £43.5 million in the last year alone, and steadily grabbing market share from FMCG giants. Beyond innovation in packaging, smol has become a bold advocate for the environment, proving that purposeful business can scale fast – and win consumer trust along the way.
In this session, discover how a challenger brand is reshaping homecare, driving both environmental progress and commercial success.
Speaker:
Hilary Strong
Chief Marketing Officer - smol
12:40 PM
Celebrating changemakers: The POC SDG Awards
Across the POC community, more than 1,500 individuals are driving sustainability action within their businesses. But who is going above and beyond? Join us as we celebrate the pioneers, the innovators, and the leaders who are shaping the future of our industry.
1:00 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
From flat-pack to front-runner in sustainability
Since FY16, IKEA has cut its climate footprint by 28% while continuing to grow globally. This session explores how a retail giant is building a low-impact, future-fit model – showing that what’s good for the planet can also fuel commercial success.
Full Details
IKEA is proving that sustainability and business growth can go hand in hand. Since FY16, it has cut its climate footprint by 28% while continuing to grow globally. From major investments in renewable energy and recycled materials to phasing out plastics and piloting second-hand marketplaces, IKEA is embedding circularity and innovation at the heart of its business.
This session explores how a retail giant is transforming operations to build a low-impact, future-fit model – showing that what’s good for the planet can also fuel commercial success.
Speaker:
Thomas Suchy
Sustainability Transformation - IKEA
2:25 PM
The demand evolution: Redefining consumer value
Join Nicolai Broby Eckert, co-author of The Demand Revolution, as he explores how changing consumer expectations are reshaping the rules of business. Nicolai will unpack why demand-driven growth is the future – and what it means for brands, licensees, and retailers.
Full Details
Join Nicolai Broby Eckert, co-author of The Demand Evolution, as he explores how changing consumer expectations are reshaping the rules of business.
From sustainability to transparency, Nicolai will unpack why demand-driven growth is the future – and what it means for brands, licensees, and retailers.
Expect fresh insights, practical takeaways, and a glimpse of how businesses can thrive by putting evolving consumer values at the centre of strategy.
Speaker:
Nicolai Broby Eckert
Senior Partner - Simon-Kucher & Partners
2:35 PM
Next-gen business models: Reducing impact, building strength
This session brings together leaders from LEGO Group, Tesco, IKEA, the PDS Group, and former ASOS buying leadership to explore the new business models needed to build resilience and long-term value.
Full Details
Speaker:
Julia Redman
Founder - Buyers Eye
Nicolai Broby Eckert
Commercial Partnerships and Licensing Manager - Simon-Kucher & Partners
Christian Lanckman
Sustainable Packaging Manager - The LEGO Group
Simon Platts
Chief Implementation Officer - CircKit
Thomas Suchy
Sustainability Transformation - IKEA
Paul Wright
Group Executive Director - ESG - PDS Group
3:20 PM
Break
3:40 PM
The sound of social transformation
In this session, discover how collaborations with leading talent such as Billie Eilish are amplifying the message of change, and why the convergence of music, culture, and sustainability holds the key to shaping a better future.
Full Details
Music has always been a catalyst for cultural and social change – and today it’s becoming a powerful driver of sustainability. Universal Music Group, through its global merchandising arm Bravado, is harnessing the influence of artists to transform how products are designed, produced, and consumed.
From championing circular innovation to reimagining fan experiences, UMG is embedding responsibility at the heart of culture.
In this session, discover how collaborations with leading talent such as Billie Eilish are amplifying the message of change, and why the convergence of music, culture, and sustainability holds the key to shaping a better future.
Speaker:
Olivia Kelly
Director, Product Development & Production - Bravado, UMG
4:00 PM
From old tees to new threads: Organic Sound and Bravado’s circular merch with Billie Eilish
Organic Sound has teamed up with Bravado and Billie Eilish to prove that music merch can go circular. session shows how collaboration can turn waste into opportunity and set a new benchmark for sustainable merchandise.
Full Details
Following on from last year’s Products of Change Conference – where Universal Music Group shared its sustainability targets – we now welcome one of its key partners delivering innovation in action. Barcelona-based Organic Sound has teamed up with Bravado and Billie Eilish to prove that music merch can go circular.
Nearly 400,000 unsold T-shirts were recycled into 280,000 new garments, with the rest repurposed as insulation – saving over 4.2 million litres of water. This session shows how collaboration can turn waste into opportunity and set a new benchmark for sustainable merchandise.
Speaker:
Laura Bonareu
Co-Founder - Organic Sound
4:20 PM
Investing in tomorrow: Innovation driving sustainable change
Products of Change is proud to partner with The Mills Fabrica to bring its latest innovators to the POC Conference. Together, these trailblazers will showcase the technologies reshaping how consumer goods and licensed products are made.
Full Details
Looking ahead to future innovations is vital for the industry. That’s why Products of Change is proud to partner with The Mills Fabrica – a global investor in sustainable technologies – to bring its latest innovators to the POC Conference.
Joining the session are Colorifix, pioneers in using natural microbes to radically reduce the water and chemicals in fabric dyeing; Nanoloom, which is replacing traditional synthetic materials, such as elastene, with the non-toxic, chemically recyclable graphene; and Sparxell, innovators of biodegradable pigments inspired by nature’s structural colour.
Together, these trailblazers showcase the technologies reshaping how consumer goods and licensed products are made.
Speaker:
Jennifer Parratt Lewis
Events and Operations Manager- The Mills Fabrica
Benjamin Droguet
Founder and CEO- Sparxell
Sophie Vaud
Chief Technology Officer- Colorifix
Victoria Mataczynski
Co-founder - Nanoloom
5:05 PM
Networking & Drinks
Didn’t make it to the Conference this year and having a spot of FOMO?
You can still buy a digital Conference ticket to watch it all back in full.
