With sustainability very much at the top of the agenda for everyone, in their business and personal lives, not surprisingly this week’s Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SILC), which is to take place digitally on Thursday and Friday (24-25 June), has some top attendees, speakers and supporters.
Among those in the audience for SILC 21 will be representatives from UK Greetings, Danilo, Museums & Galleries, Moonpig, IG Design Group, Hallmark, Carousel Calendars, GB Eye and Amscan who will be all ears to hear all about the developments and expectations from retailers, including Tesco and Asda as well as breakthroughs and best practices on the sustainability front across the business spectrum.
It is not just the involvement and endorsement from The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, The Eden Project and Recoup which sets SILC 21 apart as it has been given the furry thumbs up by the original eco activists – The Wombles!
Click below to see a special Wombles welcome…
SILC 21 is owned and organised by Products of Change, an online membership platform which is affiliated to the Max Media group (which owns Progressive Greetings and PG Buzz).
“The sustainability agenda for the greeting card industry has moved on significantly since we hosted the augural SILC in November 2020 and so this year’s agenda includes an incredible line-up of qualified experts who can offer the really vital knowledge that publishers and retailers will absolutely need to know, now,” commented Jakki Brown, editor/co-owner of Progressive Greetings/PG Buzz.net and co-organiser of SILC 2021.
While the conference was born utilising Max Publishing’s licensing audience, the content is applicable and relevant to all consumer products companies, trade suppliers, as well as retailers (high street and online).
The two-day SILC 21 agenda will see insights and developments being shared by leading lights from Asda, Buyers Eye, Character.com, Dayrize, The Eden Project, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Hannah Mills, Hubbub, The Insights Family, LEGO, Pack IDS, Recoup, Retail Economics, Sail GP, Tesco, UKIE and ZURU.
Take a look at the agenda…
THE 2021 CONFERENCE AGENDA – DAY ONE
09:30 OPENING STATEMENT
Outlining how the industry has moved forward since SILC 2021 and the continued need for change, whilst showcasing solutions and business models that can enhance and better the licensing industry.
Speaker: Helena Mansell-Stopher – SILC Conference Director and Founder of Products of Change.
Having lived through a period of time like no other, The Insights Family will showcase how the pandemic has moved things on significantly on the business/sustainability front. The research experts will share insights on the increase in youth advocacy and how the consumer is voting with its wallet. Building sustainability into your business not only results in an increase in brand advocacy and financial growth, but also saves the planet.
Speaker: Jonathan Watson – Chief Product Officer, The Insights Family.
Having just hosted the G7 summit in Cornwall in its Biomes, the Eden Project will open SILC21, outlining how as an industry we can work together to halt the extensive biodiversity and plant species decline we are currently experiencing to build a better future together.
Speakers: David Harland – Interim CEO, Eden Project, Dan Ryan – Learning Curator, Eden Project.
Hubbub is a marketing specialist for brands that want to drive societal change through their marketing campaigns. Having launched successful campaigns such as Tesco’s food waste initiative; the ‘grab your cup’ impact initiative with Starbucks and ‘The Million £Pound Challenge’ with Waitrose, Hubbub will showcase how we as an industry can use our brands to build a better future.
Speaker: Gavin Ellis – Director and Co-Founder, Hubbub.
As the third largest retailer in Europe, there is no doubt that Tesco impacts the environment. However this grocery giant is implementing aggressive targets to reduce this. Here’s your chance to learn about the great initiative the retail group is driving and what it requires from suppliers as well as its own action to meet both its self-imposed targets and new government legislation.
Speaker: Paul Earnshaw – Senior Packaging Manager, Tesco PLC
Join our panel of experts as they discuss the latest legislative changes both in the UK and Europe that will impact on the consumer goods sector. The panel will focus on the latest packaging and EPE scheme as well as outlining the road ahead.
Speakers: James George – Network Development Lead, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Mike Swain – Director, Pack IDS, Stuart Foster – CEO, Recoup.
Join the George@Asda team to learn about their latest initiatives to reduce their environmental impact.
Speakers: Melanie Wilson – Senior Director Sustainability and Ethical Global Sourcing, ASDA, Jade Snart – Sustainability and Compliance Expert, ASDA.
THE 2021 CONFERENCE AGENDA – DAY TWO
Join Hannah Mills, Olympian and founder of The Big Plastic Pledge, along with Kate Worlock from Sail GP and Simon Gresswell, Founder of SGLP Licensing to discuss how sport can drive social change and how licensing plays a pivotal role.
Speakers: Hannah Mills MBE – Olympic Medal Winner and Environmental Advocate, Kate Worlock – Head of Licensing and Retail, Sail GP. Simon Gresswell – MD, SGLP.
Retail Economics takes us through its latest market data, focusing on key retail, shipping and sustainability themes and trends from 2021 as well as share their future forecasting.
Speaker: Richard Lim – CEO, Retail Economics.
Zuru, one of the fastest growing toy companies globally, will present its current sustainability strategies and future ambitions to build a more sustainable toy industry.Speaker: Amelia Jory – Global Marketing Manager for Seasonal, Preschool and Celebrations, Zuru.
Following on from Lego’s presentation at the SILC20 conference, the Lego team will share how its sustainability story has gained momentum and focus over the last year, sharing key themes and deadlines that we must hit as an industry if we are to meet our 2030 goals.
Speakers: Sine Klitgaard Moller – Licensing Sustainability Transformation Lead, LEGO, Michael Thejl Nielsen – Business Development Director, The Lego Group.
With the global gaming industry worth over $300 billion (more than the combined markets for movies and music), the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge in mobile gaming as well as an emphasis on social interaction. We talk to a leading group of trailblazers within industry who are driving both sustainable change within the product as well as using the gaming platforms to drive social change.
Panellists: Daniel Wood – Special Projects Lead, UKie and Games Associate, Creative England, Jane Campbell – Studio Operations Lead, ustwo games, Jude Ower – CEO and Founder, Playmob, Sam Barratt – Chief of Youth, Education and Advocacy, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Miles Jacobson – Studio Director, Sports Interactive.
With global e-commerce sales jumping to $26.7 trillion, fuelled by COVID-19, and 60% of consumer reporting that they made more environmentally-friendly, sustainable, or ethical purchases since the start of the pandemic, we hear from the founders of Dayrize, a new tech start-up that has built a sustainable ecommerce platform that scores the sustainability and ethicality of the products they sell.
Speakers: Bart Nollen – Co-Founder, Dayrize, Austin Simms – Chief Operating Officer, Dayrize.
With over 70% of a product’s environmental impact wrapped up in its Scope 3 emissions (factory and transportation of goods), it’s imperative that we understand how to build a more sustainable manufacturing base if we are to meet our sustainability goals.
Speaker: Julia Redman – Owner, Buyers Eye.
Leading tech star-up, Brands Conscience showcases the latest technology in building transparency into your business from the factory through to the consumer. This is the future of transparency within the industry.
Speaker: Carrie Lomas – Founder, Brands Conscience.
Join our leading panel of experts as they discuss how to create a more sustainable future within licensed fashion.
Panellists: Melanie Wilson – Senior Director Sustainability and Ethical Global Sourcing, ASDA, Jade Snart – Sustainability and Compliance Expert, ASDA, Julia Redman – Owner, Buyers Eye, Ryan Jesse – Founder and CEO, Change Plastic for Good, Karen Hewitt – Co-Founder and Buying Director, Character.com.
Tickets to SILC are just £100 (+VAT) and are available from www.sustainabilityinlicensing.com, or from Clare Hollick of Createvents (event support) on clare@createvents.co.uk or by calling 0118 334 0085.
As well as access to the two-day conference, delegates will also be able to check out the content on-demand for 30 days afterwards.
Meet The SILC 21 Speakers…
Top: The Wombles will be appearing in some specially made animations at SILC 21.
