As predicted, it has been a busy week all round at POC!
We started off strong at London Packaging Week, an event we have partnered with for this year to explore how we can bring the conversation of sustainability and the achievements of our Membership to the show, as well as sharing insights from the event to our Community.
This meant us hosting a live episode of the POC Podcast From Intent to Impact on the London Packaging Week Podcast Studio stage, and who better to have a conversation with than the wonderful Steve Sheffield from Lush.
Lush has always established itself as a rule breaker and a pioneer when it comes to the little matter of sustainability and ethical practice, using its reach to spotlight important social campaigns as well as encouraging its customers to rethink how (if) products actually need to be packaged.
And with its exploration of brand licensing, Lush has managed to push this even further, and bring entirely new audiences into its stores, producing incredible product and POS that completely immerses the customer in the licensed brand, with its uncompromising sustainability and ethical ethos at its centre.
I don’t want to give too much away as you will be able to listen to the full conversation between Helena Mansell-Stopher (POC founder and CEO) and Steve in the next episode of the POC Podcast in the coming days.
And it is not one to miss, as the audiences at London Packaging Week attested to, filling every available stool and then crowding around standing at the back to listen to the discussion – even utilising every headphone set so there were several people presumably relying on their lip reading skills!
London Packaging Week clearly demonstrated that the appetite is there for using sustainability as a springboard for exciting, fresh, and engaging product packaging – something Lush is doing by the spadeful.
Look out for the new podcast episode so you can catch up when it goes live!
(Top image: Helena and Steve Sheffield at London Packaging week).
(Above: The Root Cause Exhibit).
While in London, Ruby, our newest team member, and I took the opportunity to check out the new exhibition at our partner The Mills Fabrica. Poignantly held concurrently with London Fashion Week.
The exhibition, Root Cause, was put on by upcycled fashion company, Exiled, which takes unwanted stock from high street’s and luxury houses, and its skilled makers transform them into new garments for sale.
Approximately 92 million tons of textile waste is generated globally each year, and Root Cause serves to address just that – the root cause – which is discarded garments with plenty of wear left in them.
“While the fashion industry chases the new on runways across the capital this week, this space asks you to consider what is left behind.” – Root Cause.
The exhibition is on through this weekend, even hosting sewing, customisation, and leather-making workshops for visitors to get involved in. Check it out here.
(Above: Nicola and Julia Redman at Real Circularity Summit).
Meanwhile, Nicola, our community manager, joined Julia Redman, POC’s fashion ambassador, at the Real Circularity Summit, a day to accelerate circular impact in the fashion industry. Held at the stunning Treo House, the day was a combination of roundtables, workshops and chance to connect.
“A common theme of the day was belief. In Ken Alston’s opening remarks, he reminded us that beliefs determine the decisions we make, and that decisions determine outcomes. And in all the sessions I took part in, everyone was sharing what they believed was the right thing to do.
“The belief that an alternative system is possible. The belief in circular design systems. The belief in infrastructure change. The belief that if we don’t at least try to push boundaries, we’ll never know what could have succeeded.
“The belief that our collective actions today will shape a better future.”
And if that’s not a good thought to end on this Friday I don’t know what is!
Happy Friday everyone and enjoy your weekends.
Kathryn, Ruby, Nicola, and Team POC
