Agenda
The 2026 conference will shine a spotlight on the businesses, brands and retailers who are stepping up to the challenge of building new systems for our industry.
We will showcase practical, repeatable examples of what’s working – from materials and design, to data, circular models, supply chains and retail execution — and celebrate those already proving that progress at scale is possible.
8:30 AM
Registration & networking breakfast
Setting the scene for the day ahead: where are we as an industry, what has changed, and what do the next four years require from us? A look at how Products of Change is evolving to help industry move from individual action towards greater alignment, shared infrastructure and collective impact.
9:30 AM
Welcome to the Products of Change Conference
Setting the scene for the day ahead: where are we as an industry, what has changed, and what do the next four years require from us?
Full Details
A look at how Products of Change is evolving to help industry move from individual action towards greater alignment, shared infrastructure and collective impact.
Speaker:
Helena Mansell-Stopher
Founder and CEO - Products of Change
9:50 AM
Keynote | State of our planet: Why action cannot wait
An engaging and thought-provoking comedic take on the environmental realities shaping our future, why the direction of travel for business is changing and the opportunity industry has to be part of building a more resilient future by climate comedian, Stuart Goldsmith.
Full Details
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).
Stuart performs his climate comedy at eco festivals and at corporate events, to organisations of all sizes. The purpose is to engage attendees in the important issue of sustainability and climate change; to send out a call to action and alleviate our collective dread by using comedy to tackle a very serious subject.
Speaker:
Stuart Goldsmith
Climate comedian, keynote speaker and podcaster.
10:05 AM
Sustainability at scale
A practical look at how Decathlon is embedding sustainability and circularity into its retail model, products and customer experience – and why this is increasingly important to the future of its business.
Full Details
Through both in-store and online, Decathlon has brought its second-life products directly into the consumer shopping experience, while supporting its customers with repairs and maintenance to prolong the life of their equipment and gear. Chris will dive into how exactly Decathlon whet consumer’s appetite for circularity, getting them to listen and change habitually.
Speaker:
Chris Allen
UK Director of Sustainability - Decathlon
10:25 AM
Turning regulation into opportunity
A practical example of sustainability meeting commercial reality. The Works shares how it has been working with its buying teams and suppliers to mitigate EPR costs, rethink packaging and use changing regulation as a catalyst for innovation across a mass-market retail business.
Full Details
Rather than focusing solely on regulatory compliance, the Works share how requirements such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are acting as catalysts for wider business improvement.
Ultimately, the session is about demonstrating how sustainability can create commercial value when it is connected to business strategy rather than treated simply as a compliance obligation.
Speaker:
Matthew Graham
Head of Quality Assurance, Sourcing & Sustainability - The Works
Sam Meyrick
Sustainability Manager - The Works
10:45 AM
Global data readiness
A fast-paced update on the changing global data landscape, digital product passports and the infrastructure businesses need to start preparing for the next era of commerce.
Full Details
Speaker:
Wajih Rehman
Chief Visionary Officer - Fabacus
11:02 AM
Unlocking circularity at retail
We’ve heard what individual retailers are building – now, what needs to happen collectively?
Full Details
Leading retailers come together to explore what it will actually take to unlock circularity at scale; what needs to change across product design, infrastructure, partnerships and customer engagement – and what do retailers need from brands, manufacturers and suppliers to make circular business models work?
Speaker:
Dylan Ross
Business Process Lead
- H&M
11:35 AM
Networking session #1
An opportunity to make new connections, find potential collaborators and meet others tackling similar challenges.
12:00 PM
Paper, creativity & circularity
A story of business transformation through reshoring, manufacturing and clever paper engineering. UK Greetings shares how it is rethinking production and design across greetings cards, bags and gift wrap – demonstrating how reducing impact can unlock innovation, create new opportunities and strengthen UK manufacturing.
Full Details
Speaker:
Chris Shaw
Head of Sustainability & Safety - UK Greetings
Louise James
Head of Brand Product - UK Greetings
12:20 PM
Reimagining the future of uniform
What happens when you put the next generation at the heart of the design process? Girlguiding and Wayne Hemingway MBE share the journey behind its new uniform, developed alongside young people and with circularity, longevity and the future needs of its community in mind.
Full Details
Girlguiding shares the journey behind its new uniform, developed alongside young people and with circularity, longevity and the future needs of its community in mind.
Speaker:
Michelle Marley
Change Programme Buying Manager, - Girlguiding
12:40 PM
Products of Change Awards 2026
Celebrating the individuals, organisations, partnerships and innovations helping move the industry forward.
1:00 PM
Networking Lunch & Speed Networking #2
Time to eat, connect and continue the conversations from the morning, alongside a second opportunity for networking.
2:10 PM
Taking the pulse of industry: The POC Partner Maturity Index
What is the data telling us about where our industry really is?
An introduction to emerging insights from the Products of Change Partner Maturity Index – exploring where businesses are progressing, where the gaps remain and what this tells us about the support and infrastructure the industry needs next.
Full Details
An introduction to emerging insights from the Products of Change Partner Maturity Index – exploring where businesses are progressing, where the gaps remain and what this tells us about the support and infrastructure the industry needs next.
Speaker:
Josh Brocklehurst
Head of Research - Kids Industries
2:20 PM
Embedding sustainability into the business of licensing
How do you move sustainability from ambition to becoming part of the everyday way a licensing business operates?
Full Details
Rights & Brands shares how it is embedding sustainability across its licensing business, joined by Flowhaven to build the systems and infrastructure needed to enable change at scale. A practical look at how technology, partnership and better systems can turn sustainability commitments into business as usual.
Speaker:
Thomas Saurén
Sustainability and Content Director - Rights & Brands
Kalle Törmä
Founder and CEO - Flowhaven
2:40 PM
Collaboration in action
Meaningful progress rarely happens alone. BBC Studios and Moose Toys share how working together across brand, licensing, product development and sustainability has helped challenge conventional thinking, transfer knowledge and accelerate innovation.
Full Details
Speakers:
Anita Majhu
FMCG and Brands & Licensing Sustainability Lead - BBC Studios
Greg Simmons
Director of Sustainable Product Development- Moose Toys
3:00 PM
Break
3:20 PM
2030 starts now: Aligning an industry for change
The next four years will be critical for our industry. Join some of the world’s leading brand owners as they explore how sustainability and innovation are being embedded both vertically within their own organisations and across their global licensing partnerships.
Full Details
The next phase of progress cannot happen business by business. Through the Products of Change Leadership Council and closed EPR Working Group, these organisations are already coming together to share knowledge, align approaches and tackle common challenges – from EPR and packaging to data, materials, circularity and partner engagement.
This candid leadership conversation will explore what we can solve together, how we can make change easier for our partners, and where greater industry alignment can accelerate progress as we move along our pathway to 2030.
Because the next stage isn’t simply about individual leadership – it’s about turning individual progress into collective industry transformation.
Speakers:
Anita Majhu
FMCG and Brands & Licensing Sustainability Lead - BBC Studios
Greg Simmons
Director of Sustainable Product Development- Moose Toys
4:05 PM
Innovation showcase: The future starts here
Pioneering innovators take to the stage to showcase the materials, technologies and solutions helping businesses turn ambition into action.
Full Details
Fast-paced, practical and future-focused: what is the innovation, what problem does it solve and how could it help our industry move forward?
The session will conclude with a short reflection from Products of Change, bringing together the key themes from the day and looking at what we collectively take forward next.
Speaker:
Christian Lanckman
Sustainable Packaging Manager - The LEGO Group
4:45 PM
Closing reflections
Setting the scene for the day ahead: where are we as an industry, what has changed, and what do the next four years require from us?
Full Details
Speaker:
Helena Mansell-Stopher
Founder and CEO - Products of Change
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Networking & Drinks
If you believe our industry can do more – and do better...
we invite you to help shape what comes next with us at the Royal Geographical Society on 11 November 2026.
