In partnership with Ecologi, we will be offsetting all carbon from the SILC event. Gold Standard are a governing body of NGO’s who ensure projects that reduce carbon emissions feature the highest levels of environmental integrity
Sustainability In Licensing Conference 2020
Breaking new ground in the licensing industry, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2020, to be staged digitally over a two day period on 24 – 25 November 2020, is aimed at everyone in the licensing arena, from retailers to licensors, licensees to trade suppliers.
To future proof your business and the industry we have to develop sustainable strategies that foster company longevity. This requires a business approach that creates long-term value, taking into consideration how a given organisation operates in the ecological, social and economic environment.
Being launched by Max Publishing (owners of Licensing Source Book, Licensing.Source.net, The Licensing Awards and the B&LLAs) and Helena Mansell-Stopher, experienced licensing executive and founder of the Products of Change group, the Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SILC 2020) will inspire and inform as to how our dynamic sector can continue to innovate and grow commercially while not costing the planet.
“Sustainability is so much more than a buzzword, it is and will continue to be, a vital driver of business decisions,” states Helena, conference director and curator. “To drive sustainable growth within the licensing industry over the next few decades will require a radical approach to business practices be it through embracing new materials and production techniques, re-engineering packaging or adopting new marketing methods, all without sacrificing financial growth. Our aim with SILC 2020 is to help both future-proof our industry and our world.”
The jam-packed agenda will see leading lights and visionaries from outside and within the industry as well as retail experts, all sharing their inspiring achievements and demonstrating the gains, both environmentally and financially, that can be made.
“The licensing industry is huge and multi-farious – generating US$272 billion at retail at the last count. The brands and properties that feature on all manner of consumer goods across the whole retail spectrum bring so much pleasure to millions of people,” says Helena. “I have every confidence that the learnings shared at the Sustainability in Licensing Conference will see some significant gains being made on the environmental front too. We’re all on this journey together, but ensuring we establish a more sustainable footing is no distant wish, it’s very much a necessity.”
The digital conference (split over two sessions, over two days – see agenda) will provide a framework and understanding to start your sustainable journey. Sustainability is not only about the materials the we use but the waste from the manufacturing process, the transportation of goods, the wellbeing of staff and the coming together of an industry to drive systemic change.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
The agenda of the Sustainability in Licensing Conference (SiLC) has been curated to both inform and inspire those from the licensing community,
whether from a retailing, licensee, licensor or trade supplier perspective.
The keynote speeches, insightful talks and panel discussions will cover what we in the industry can do to further improve our activities with our plan for a more sustainable future. Leading names across the fashion, toy, publishing and other sectors, from both within and outside the industry are scheduled to share their insights. New innovative technologies will be explained that go to prove that change is possible (and profitable), financial institutions will present how sustainable finance is available to you to implement sustainable change while pointers on how to ‘design out waste’ on the product development front as well as how to market brands to future generations who are ever-more environmentally-conscious, will also be covered.
The conference – with registration from 8:45am and ending after 5pm – will deliver a packed agenda that will serve to provide a clear pathway on the industry’s sustainable journey, which in turn will drive systemic change in our sector.
DAY 1
TUESDAY 24 November 2020
09:30AM
Opening statement
Outlining the need for change and showcasing solutions, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and just what they mean for the licensing industry.
Presenter: Helena Mansell-Stopher - SILC Conference Director and Founder of Products of Change
09:40AM
Sustainable Insights
Unveiling fresh new consumer research insights on sustainability and future forecasting trends which are highly relevant to the licensing industry.
Presenter: Jonathan Watson – Chief Product Officer – Kids Insights
10:05AM
The Circular Economy
Why the circular economy is integral to sustainable growth within the licensing sector as well as the need to move to a business model aimed at eliminating waste through a continual use of resources.
Presenter: James George – Network Development Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
10:35AM
Innovation Within Fashion Manufacturing And Retail
How a British upstart forged a sustainable fashion revolution integrating a ‘give back’ scheme into its online sustainable fashion business. Utilising new technology to build efficiencies into the company’s framework enabling a drive towards a sustainable business model.
Presenter: Martin Drake-Knight – Co-founder of Rapanui Clothing and Teemil Tech
11:05AM
How Can Business Contribute Towards A Sustainable Future?
Reviewing key learnings from business and understanding further how to implement sustainability into your organisation.
Presenters: Phil Russell – R&A (The Open) Sustainable sporting events - The Governing Body’s Assistant Director of Sustainability and David Noble, PR & Communications Director at the Bluewater Group
12:00PM
Sustainable Design And The Supply Chain
Deepen your knowledge of effective supply chain management as well as integral design metrics for a better sustainable output.
Presenter: Jason Beckley – Chief Brand Officer
12:30PM
The Importance Of Change Within The Toy Sector
How a global toy manufacturer is leading change within its core toy business and implementing this through to its licensed business including a significant reduction in packaging.
1:00PM
Plastic Innovation - Change Plastic for Good – The Future is Biodegradable!
Insight into new innovations within plastic technology and how this can be one of a number of solutions for the future.
Presenter: Peter Rooke, Breakdown Plastic
1:50PM
Panel Discussion – How To Make Change Happen
James George – Network Lead for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Martin Drake-Knight – Co-Founder at Rapanui Clothing and Teemil
Philip Russell – Assistant Director of Sustainability at the R&A
David Noble – PR & Communications Director, Bluewater Group
Jason Beckley – Chief Brand Officer and Sustainable Business Investor
DAY 2
WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2020
Designing Out Waste
Designing Out Waste
Design plays an integral role in the sustainability journey and as such must be part of the process from the very beginning to reach your preferred goals. Producing products through this lens can benefit the environment and save money.
Presenter: Paul De’Ath – Course Leader of Product Design at Central Saint Martins, University of The Arts London
10:00AM
The Evolving Journey of Plan A at Marks and Spencer
Reviewing the last decade of evolution for Plan A and what is still required to continuously transform retail to a more sustainable future.
Presenter: Jessica Palalagi, Head of Resource Management at Marks and Spencer
10:30AM
Collaborations
Why sustainable collaborations are key to driving change across the licensing arena, NGOs and retail. The Extended Plastic Partnership for Innovation in Circularity, working closely with UK-based global educator Wastebusters, are bringing the first licensed, educational, plastic recycling solution to the UK.
Presenter: Katy Newnham, Founder of Wastebusters
11:00AM
Making It Pay
Focusing on the importance of sustainable insights in the retail sector, trends and unlocking sustainable finance
Presenter: Richard Lim – Chief Executive Officer of Retail Economics
11:40AM
Tesco Present Sustainable Materials and the Supply Chain
Tesco present their F&F journey so far with sustainable materials, reduction of packaging and outline their future ambitions.
Presenter: Joe Little, Head of Technical, Fabric, Colour, Sustainability and Technology at F&F, Tesco
12:10PM
Marketing and Communications
How to communicate effectively through a sustainable lens and the most effective ways of communicating with the next generation of consumers.
Presenter: Ben Poate, VP Sustainability and Innovation, The Marketing Store
12:40PM
ASDA/Walmart – George for Good
How major grocer, Asda is driving sustainable change across its business.
Presenter: Jade Snart – Senior Sustainability Manager, George at Asda
1:20PM
Retailer Panel With Q&A
Richard Lim, Chief Executive Officer at Retail Economics
Jessica Palagi, Head of Resource Management at Marks and Spencer
Joe Little, Head of Technical Technology F&F at Tesco
Jade Snart, Senior Sustainability Manager at George at Asda
2:20PM
Conference Closing Statement
Helena Mansell-Stopher, SILC Conference Director and Founder of Products of Change brings the digital conference to a close.
THE SPEAKERS
The speaker line-up for the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2020 includes true leaders from the retail world, pioneering licensees, trailblazing manufacturers and inspiring opinion formers from both within and outside the industry, each playing a part in the journey to become more sustainable.
The speakers will each share experiences, facts and ideas which will collectively serve to future proof your business and the industry of which we are all a part, enabling sustainable strategies to be developed that take into consideration how a given organisation can operate commercially as well as ecologically.
David Noble
PR and Communications Director, Bluewater.
David Noble has worked as PR and Communications Director at Bluewater since the company was founded in 2013. Previously he worked for eight years as head ion communications for Blueair, a sister organisation to Bluewater that was sold to Unilever in 2016. A committed environmentalist after reading Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ in the mid 1960s, Dave (as he prefers to be called), has spent five decades in the media sector, as a journalist, broadcaster, author, and international public relations consultant and business communications strategist. After working as a journalist with organisations such as the BBC, Sveriges Radio, ABC (USA), ABC (Australia), The Guardian, International Herald Tribune, Chicago Daily News, Toronto Globe and Mail, and others, authored a book on disarmament at The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and then from 1982 Dave ran his own PR company in London for some 20 years, partnering clients such as Volvo, Electrolux, Scandinavian Airlines System, Renault, ABB, and SKF. Dave’s favourite quote is ‘Earth is my country and humanity my family’ by Khalil Gibran.
Jonathan Watson
Chief Product Officer, The Insights People.
Jonathan was part of the founding team at innovative market intelligence company, Kids Insights. Since launch, Kids Insights expanded their reach across 11 countries on 5 continents and have worked with brands including the Amazon, Crayola, F1, LEGO, Ofcom, Pokémon, SEGA, Turner and Warner Bros. Now working as Chief Product Officer, Jonathan leads the global product team who provide some of the biggest brands in the kids industry with data & insights to help them with their strategies.
Sine Klitgaard Møller
Licensing Sustainability transformation lead, LEGO®.
Sine started her Lego career as Global Licensing Creative Director over 15 years ago, and is now leading the change towards their strategic ambition to have a fully sustainable portfolio for the LEGO Licensing portfolio by 2030, starting with packaging transformation by 2025. So basically fixing the problem she helped create for the planet over the past many years. Attacking the problems in a playful way with her deep knowledge in many industry categories and new sustainability experts friends. "Children are our role models in the LEGO Group and it is their planet we are using, we must protect their future."
JASON BECKLEY
A global brand executive who brings over 20 years experience working in leadership positions for some of the worlds most famous and powerful brands across the sport, fashion and luxury industries, including YSL, Nike, Ralph Lauren, dunhill, Puma, Clarks and Alexander McQueen. A proven merchant and marketer who combines innovation, creativity and vision with data and insight to deliver powerful development and growth strategies. Jason has held senior positions in the USA, Asia Pacific as well as Europe bringing a unique and obsessive consumer perspective and global market knowledge which in turn ensures relevance, relatability and long term sustainability for the brands he manages. An early pioneer of digital, content and social marketing as well as leading many innovative brand collaborations, has given Jason a global voice as a consumer thought leader which resulted in him being chosen as a Forbes world CMO summit speaker on content marketing. Twice speaking at the Diageo world brand conference, delivering the keynote at China world luxury as well as being a Drum grand-prix award winner and independently voted as one of Europe’s top creative leaders in 2019 by the Creative Review.
BEN POATE
VP Sustainability and Innovation, The Marketing Store.
Ben is responsible for leading Sustainability and Innovation at The Marketing Store (TMS), with a current priority focus on their work with McDonald’s. Ben’s background is in Design Engineering, and his career has covered almost all aspects of toy design, development and production. He has also led a global network of client-facing Account teams, Licensing/Brand partnerships and the Product Creative and Innovation teams that design and develop Happy Meal programs and toys. Understanding consumer insights and expectations around play values drives innovation and sustainability considerations in our effort to maintain excitement and loyalty from the core consumers, kids and families.
JADE SNART
Senior Sustainability Manager, George at Asda.
Jade Snart, Senior Sustainability Manager at George at Asda has a Bachelor of Arts in Contour Fashion and over 15 years of experience in technical design across retail. Jade has been leading the ‘George for Good’ sustainability pillar and has successfully achieved 100% sustainably sourced school wear for BTS20, with 55% of the George clothing line sustainably sourced for AW20 and more sustainable concepts launching over the coming months. George at Asda is a leading retailer in the field of sustainable production.
ELLIOT COAD
Co-founder, Ecologi.
Elliot Coad is the co-founder of Ecologi. Ecologi was set up last year to improve access for individuals and businesses to access tools that will supercharge their ability to contribute to the climate emergency. Prior to this Elliot spent over 10 years leading engineering and product teams, while worrying about the planet.
PAUL DE’ATH
BA product design and course leader, Central Saint Martins.
Paul De-Ath has been proactive in evolving the role of design in business, with a career that has been equally split between global design consultancies and corporate in-house cross disciplinary teams. With 12 years consulting and 11 years leading design teams for Samsung and Telefonica, he now has the responsibility as a design educator at Central Saint Martins, guiding the next generation of creative minds to address the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
MART DRAKE-KNIGHT
Co-Founder, Teemil / Rapanui.
Mart Drake-Knight has built and is scaling a circular economy for fashion. An engineer with a passion for renewable energy, Mart decided to build a business solving the issues in fashion supply chains. Mart works from the Teemill campus on West coast of the Isle of Wight with some one hundred employees using organic materials and modern technology.
JAMES GEORGE
Network Development Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
As part of the business team at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, James George's role is to engage with the broad business community for the foundation and stimulate holistic network development across all levels and programmes. Working with team leads and executive leads, James is lucky enough to influence the foundation’s network strategy, develop pursuit strategies and look for opportunities for collaboration with the foundation – with an expert eye for spotting opportunities for organisations to advance the transition to a circular economy.
RICHARD LIM
Chief Executive Officer, Retail Economics.
A city of London resident with a keen interest in behavioural game theory and its application on consumers, Richard Lim is chief executive officer of Retail Economics, an independent economics research consultancy focused on the consumer and retail industry. He also sits on the Strategic Advisory Board at the University of East Anglia’s School of Economics, ranked in the top ten departments in economics in the UK. Previously, Richard held the position of chief economist at the British Retail Consortium before heading up the Retail Insight and Analytics team - having previously worked in mergers and acquisitions for Citi. Richard has a wealth of experience in data analytics, retail insight, economics and consumer research.
KATY NEWNHAM
Founder and CEO, Wastebuster CIC.
Following an early career as a commercial underwater photographer, and having documented the impact of El Niño, climate change and pollution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Katy Newnham, founder and ceo of Wastebuster moved into conservation and education. Working with partners ranging from international corporates, NGO’s, Governments and the UN to deliver education and awareness programmes that support development of the circular economy, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
JESSICA PALALAGI
Head of Resource Management, Marks and Spencer.
Jessica Palalagi boasts an MA in Art History from Auckland University and balances out her career in sustainability within the business sector with her creative practice of facilitating an art space in London. This intersection of sustainability and identity is now made more tangible with the real impacts on landscapes forced by climate change - especially in the Pacific. However, Jessica’s work within M&S is more focused on material journeys, their impact along the value chain, the desire to design-out surplus and ensure sustainable methodologies are constantly employed.
PETER ROOKE
Chief Marketing Officer, Breakdown Plastic.
As a client at BAT and Gillette, a consultant at Clarke Hooper, owner at The Pea Green Boat and The Yellow Submarine, Peter Rooke has led the growth of hundreds of brands. Guinness, Mattel, Hasbro, Kraft, Sony, Heinz and a number of government departments are just a few who have valued Peter’s creativity. Art + Science International was founded in 2004 to help share Peter’s experience with other like-minded entrepreneurs. As part of his role at Art + Science he is now the Chief Marketing Officer for the pioneering technology group Breakdown Plastic and wants to change the world’s perception and use of plastic products.
PHILIP RUSSELL
Assistant Director – Sustainability, The R&A.
A graduate of the University of St. Andrews with a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Development, Philip Russell has studied topics including climate change, renewable energy, biodiversity loss and natural resource management. Philip’s principal focus is currently GreenLinks, the strategy for enhancing the environmental and social benefits of staging The Open.
SECURE YOUR DELEGATE PLACE(S), BOOK NOW
You can book and pay for your digital delegate place(s) for SILC 2020 by heading to the platform – click HERE.
The cost of an individual delegate place for the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2020 is £95 + VAT.
Your ticket(s) covers full access to the conference including all speakers and talks.
Once booked and paid you will receive immediate confirmation, which will also include a full VAT receipt. Our event organising company (Createvents) will help with any online access issues.
A digital ticket/access will be sent to you in due course.
If you would prefer to book a delegate place by phone, or have any queries about the day, please call Clare Hollick on 0118 334 0085 or email clare@createvents.co.uk – or contact the SILC 2020 organising team by clicking here
EVENT SPONSORS
The Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2020 has been received widespread support from the industry with leading businesses and brands keen to pledge their commitment, sharing in the belief that together real progress can be made in the sector on this vital issue.
HEADLINE SUPPORTER
PRODUCTS OF CHANGE
The Products of Change Group was founded in July 2019 with a handful of industry professionals wanting to drive sustainable change within the Licensing Industry. Within six months the group has grown to sixty individuals from different areas of the industry such as retail, licensees, licensors through to agents. Spanning fashion, toys, publishing and FMCG.
Our ethos is to ‘learn from each-other’ and Educate to Inform Change across the wider industry and transfer our knowledge across sectors.
With Ten years to transform society and limit our impact on climate change its a hard task, but with an extremely dynamic industry and a willingness to change, I do feel that together we can make a difference.
OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS
More consumers than ever before are making an effort to buy greener, healthier, ethically sourced and more environmentally sustainable products, which is great.
Sustainability is a huge priority for me personally, as well as BBC Studios as a business, and I believe the licensing industry must work together to identify more ways to make a positive impact. We as an industry need to ensure we adopt a deliberate and ambitious approach toward forging a sustainable future for our consumers by coming together to help bring more eco-friendly products to market. Climate change isn’t going away and SILC is launching at a crucial time. I think the conference will be a great platform for industry members to learn more, share best practice and collaborate on solutions that can help enable companies work towards producing more sustainable products.
https://www.bbcstudios.com
MDR Brand Management is the first brand management business to be launched by a leading law firm in the UK, and the fourth non-legal business within The Mishcon De Reya Group, sitting alongside MDR Cyber, MDR Discover and Mayfair Private.
It was created in 2018 to address the growing complexity that brand owners face in the global marketplace, and to deliver a unique brand of brand management. It is boutique and recognises that there has never been more overlap between creative, commercial, regulatory, digital and the law.
MDR Brand Management highly supports projects with a truly sustainable vision. Working closely with environmentally friendly brand owners and properties, MDR aims to create ethical licensed products and develop brand extension programmes, with a commitment to the environment, something that is becoming more important by the day.
Sustainability is at the forefront of several of MDR’s ventures, including the recently launched canned water brand, PURENorway Water, which is responsibly produced and packaged in recyclable aluminium cans. MDR has also been appointed to represent a classic, unique, and eco-friendly family of characters which will soon be relaunched in the UK. Given the challenges our planet is facing today, it is the perfect time to revive a positive message about how we can make a difference through simple actions.
For more information about MDR Brand Management, please click here:
https://mdrbrand.com
We are facing a planetary emergency. Our future depends on the natural world, but we are not combating our own destructive impact on the planet. Understanding life on Earth is the greatest scientific challenge of our age.
We cannot hope to develop solutions without research that unlocks the underlying biology and applied science. Alongside the science, all of us need hope: hope that there is a future where both people and the planet thrive. Building and spreading this hope through evidence and action will be the foundation of the Museum’s strategy in the coming decade. In today's challenging times, we will create advocates for the planet: individuals who feel sufficiently informed, confident and motivated to make wise decisions, to get involved, and to use their influence and actions to make a positive difference to the global future. To achieve this, we will harness our collection, our research and our reach. Alongside our ambitious outward reaching targets, we are also looking inwards, challenging ourselves to create a more resilient and sustainable organisation, one that strives towards financial and environmental sustainability. This vision is mirrored in our approach to the Museum’s licensing programme, creating meaningful products in a responsible way that encourage a shared respect for the natural world.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/
Sustainability and ESG at ViacomCBS
ViacomCBS is committed to building sustainability and corporate responsibility into the way we do business. We actively use sustainability as a lens to evaluate our most material impacts with the goal of becoming one of the most environmentally and socially responsible media company globally.
We identify, measure, and map our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts across our global operations, and have a team dedicated to driving our ESG and sustainability strategy forward. We are working to manage and report our material impacts and transparently address them with our stakeholders. We believe this work strengthens our ability to innovate and better serve our partners, audiences, and shareholders. Transparency is a value inherent to our sustainability strategy: we are working to understand, and make public, our greatest risks and opportunities as we continue to grow, looking at everything from our consumer products’ supply chains, to the content we produce for our networks, to the footprint of our television and movie productions across the globe.
From our LEED®-Certified headquarters building in New York City, to our companywide diversity and inclusion initiatives, to our commitment to strong corporate governance practices, we will continue to manage the impact of our economic, environmental, and social value across our brands and businesses.
Character World have been working on an important project over the last 12 months focusing on how as a business they can be more sustainable. Their plan is clear, simple and concise but it is a journey. Instead of focusing on individual elements, Character World have taken a holistic approach to sustainability throughout the entire business.
This holistic approach covers everything from using more sustainable and recyclable materials in their product, packaging and shipping cartons to the post-consumer care through their partnership with WRAP. Character World have also joined OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label) scheme enabling more consumers to recycle more material correctly, more often.
Sustainability is at the forefront of Character World’s future plans with everything from new innovations to being vigilant about new processes and techniques being developed in production capabilities.
Danny Schweiger, Joint Managing Director:
“It would have been easy to just look at a single product, but we wanted to do something meaningful and impactful throughout the business. We can’t do this on our own, we are working with retailers, licensors and factories to tackle sustainability. We have clear and ambitious plans for the future. We firmly believe a good night’s sleep shouldn’t cost the earth.”
For more information please visit https://www.characterworld.com/index.php/wecare/
https://www.characterworld.com
At TDP our approach to sustainability has seen work across many areas. Our commitment is to make changes wherever and whenever possible, in order to achieve our goals, not just for headlines but for the right reasons.
In manufacturing, our plant in India has its own water treatment facility and at the start of this year we made the investment in renewable energy. This work was completed in the Spring and we are now 100% solar powered at our facility in Tamil Nadu. In 2019 we appointed a Director of Corporate, Social Responsibility, part of whose brief is to continually monitor working conditions and achieve best practice so our staff and the community they work within, are well treated and kept safe.
We are committed to continually improve our own packaging solutions, to use recycled materials, be recyclable and drive out waste at every opportunity.
Real change will only be achieved through collaboration and we call upon all partners to embrace and activate the vital changes needed.
https://www.tdptextiles.com
According to the UN, we have just 10 years to save our planet from disastrous climate change. Our world requires urgent action, and consumers are rightfully demanding that businesses become part of the solution. As a progressive, innovative industry, we know that licensing can make a difference.
That's why Brandgenuity is delighted to support SILC in its inaugural year. We're excited to bring best practices in sustainability to our clients, and to work with our colleagues to reduce the environmental footprint of our industry.
https://brandgenuity.com
We knew we had to do something; we had to change plastic for good.
The technology Breakdown Plastic, BDP™ is an organic polymer that is added into the manufacturing process of plastic, rubber, foam...even fabric. Products made with BDP™ maintain all the same properties as regular plastic. The shelf life, appearance, clarity, recyclability and strength all remain. Once the product is discarded into landfill, oceans and soil the microbes utilise the plastic as a food and energy source, accelerating the biodegradation process. What used to take thousands of years, now takes only a few years as microbes consume the entire product. The only thing that remains are the same by products as decaying organic matter; humus, CO2 and CH4 that can be captured to produce clean energy.
Paladone has been one of the pioneers of the technology with 75% of its current gift ranges using the technology with Mainetti, Hairitage by Mindy (sold in all Walmart and Target stores in the US), Ripcurl, MCM, The Reformation, Kristen Ess Cosmetics and National Flexible among the other companies adopting it too.
We have made it our mission to help change plastic for the future through BDP™ technology but are also donating a portion of our profits to clean up efforts on behalf of our clients. Ours is an amazing story of responsibility for past, present and future plastic products
- Peter Rooke BDP EMEA
Boutique bedding specialist Dreamtex Ltd demonstrated its commitment to sustainability when it partnered with National Geographic in 2019 to launch a recycled bedding collection in support of the iconic brand’s ‘Planet or Plastic?’ mission.
In this innovative market-first, Dreamtex worked with Repreve®, the leading performance fibre made from recycled plastic bottles, to apply National Geographic designs across its bedlinen range and introduce this unique, ethical material exclusively into the UK market. Up to 12 recycled bottles are used to make a single duvet and up to 18 to make a double, plus, in a move to be even more environmentally responsible, the product is sold in recycled packaging with no polythene bags. The response from retailers, media and consumers to the beautiful “Save Our Oceans” inspired bedding has been phenomenal and more National Geographic designs will be launched this year. Dreamtex is proud to be supporting SILC and raising awareness of eco-friendly materials in the manufacture of home textiles and is excitedly looking forward to extending the Repreve® product to other licenses in the near future, including current collaborations with Life Magazine, BBC Earth and in the longer term popular children’s bedding collections such as L.O.L. Surprise! and PJ Masks.
http://www.dreamtexltd.com
GB eye is delighted to be an official supporter of the very first Sustainability in Licensing conference, helping to raise awareness and encourage change within such a diverse industry.
Our sustainability journey started in 2019 when we began work towards the whole company becoming zero to landfill, we achieved this in 2020 and it was the first step on a very long road. Since then we have solidified three key areas within our strategy; sustainable, ethical and conscious. Ethical working practices have been at the heart of everything we do for a very long time so this is a natural progression for us, our focus now is to ensure our products and processes are sustainable and we deliver what the conscious consumer requires.
A key aim is to use local suppliers and in-house manufacturing to reduce the reliance on overseas supply however we understand the need to have a balance of products to meets the demands of a fast moving industry, so ensuring imported products meet our sustainability criteria is essential to making this work but there is so much more.
Our latest product launches include environmentally friendly drinks bottles and tote bags featuring some of the biggest and most popular brands. They are all ethically sourced and printed within our local area, fully recyclable and with minimal packaging this range has been incredibly well received.
Nicola Hallam, head of product at GB eye. “The eco-range has been a core focus for us throughout 2020, as we continue to look at ways in which to reduce our carbon impact on the environment, Expanding our product ranges to include more sustainable products is the first step in exploring new ways to better protect the world around us. We look forward to adding to the collection in 2021 with further internationally recognised licensed names.”
Considering everything from product design and packaging to green energy and recycling is a challenge, but its one we are ready for. We have received great support from licensors, customers and business partners and look forward to a sustainable future.
http://www.gbeye.com
Those Licensing People is a boutique independent agency based in Leeds. Representing some of the industries most iconic properties as well as being the owners of amongst others, the KidsCast OTP Platform, Stories for Stars and a partner in Two Near the Bone.
Established by veteran Licensing professional Russell Dever the company operates on both a B2B and D2C basis. In recent years the business has been moving closer to a fully sustainable model and is intending to be carbon neutral by 2022. During 2019 the company helped to preserve several hundred hectares of virgin rainforest in South America creating a corridor where Jaguars could move from traditional hunting grounds to a nearby lake for fresh water. In 2020 the company intends to continue to extend this work by helping NGO’s to buy and preserve natural habitats and to reforest areas decimated by logging. TLP is calling upon the industry, as a whole, to establish a far more responsible approach to licensing and as Agents for ‘The Little Prince’ who is already a world Ambassador for sustainability and climate change TLP is working to develop eco-friendly products with licensees, refusing to license product made from single use plastics and palm oil. The intention is to extend sustainable criteria much further over the next two years.
http://thoselicensingpeople.com/
Sustainability is an increasingly important area of focus for Oxford Limited across all areas of the business including its retail and brand licensing programmes.
The University recognises that environmental sustainability is one of the most important and urgent issues facing society. Its True Planet initiative focuses on how the world around us is changing and Oxford researchers are at the forefront of trying to better understand the reasons for global temperature and sea level increases, extreme weather events, plastic waste proliferation and threats to biodiversity.
The Oxford licensing programme aligns with these concerns and has introduced sustainability due diligence into its licensing contractual process, to establish and verify that licensees manufacture product ethically and work with partners committed to reducing their environmental impact.
https://www.oxfordlimited.co.uk/
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains.
Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.
https://www.discoveryuk.com
Licensing International has been at the center of the multi-billion-dollar worldwide licensing industry for 35 years, helping companies profitably grow their businesses through an unparalleled network of information and membership.
As the leading trade organization for the brand licensing industry, Licensing International is deeply committed to helping the organizations and people we serve enhance their business practices and skillset to meet the needs of the day. Sustainability has become a business imperative, and we believe that companies are responsible for taking an active role in environmental protection and ensuring ethical manufacturing. Our members commit to engage in environmentally friendly practices across their operations and seek to continually improve their impact on the environment by applying increasingly sustainable business practices throughout their organizations. We help them do that by offering information, education and resources that empower companies to implement innovative business practices and build stronger, more engaged organizations that have a positive impact on the world. As such, we are proud to support the Sustainability in Licensing Conference, which will play a crucial role in moving the conversation about sustainability and responsible business practices forward.
https://licensinginternational.org
GET IN TOUCH
As is often said, there is no ‘I’ in team. Behind the scenes of The Sustainability in Licensing Conference is a close-knit team of people with complimentary skills and personalities, but who all share in the vision of ensuring this significant conference really hits the mark.
Owned by Max Publishing (the independently-owned media business that includes the Licensing Awards, Licensing Source Book, LicensingSource.net the B&LLAs among its crown jewels), the Sustainability in Licensing Conference benefits hugely from the partnership formed with Helena Mansell-Stopher.
Meet the team…
HELENA MANSELL-STOPHER
Curator and Director of SILC 2000
Founder of Products of Change (The Products of Change Group)
With a 20 year career in the licensing industry across media and lifestyle brands and a wealth of knowledge across all categories and retail. Helena, who was recently Director of Licensing at National Geographic UK has been driving sustainable change for the last two years. With a course in Business Sustainability Management under her belt, from the University of Cambridge Helena will continue to work with brand owners, retailers and category experts to drive change within the licensing arena.
JAKKI BROWN
Director of SILC 2020
As a co-founder of Max Publishing (which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary), Jakki has been at the forefront of driving the editorial side of the business as well as being heavily involved in the creation and evolution of the company’s well established and respected B2B awards programmes across both licensing and consumer products sectors.
IAN HYDER
Director of SILC 2020
Having made licensing the focus of his attention for the last 15 years at Max Publishing, of which he is Joint MD, Ian has very much been part of the industry’s evolution. Leading on the commercial front he has brought to life the Licensing Source Book, the Licensing Awards, the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (B&LLAs) and digitally LicensingSource.net.
ROB WILLIS
Director of SILC 2020
As a director and co-owner of Max Publishing, which includes The Licensing Source Book, LicensingSource.net, The Licensing Awards and the B&LLAs, Rob’s network spans widely across licensing and consumer products. This 20-year address book will be extensively utilised to ensure that SILC 2020 is a key discussion point not just for those in attendance, but the entire industry.
CLARE HOLLICK
Bookings and Event Organiser of SILC 2000
Director of Keystone Communications
Createvents is an established event management company, specialising in the organisation and delivery of corporate events, conferences and award ceremonies.
Quite simply they care.
With passion, drive and enthusiasm Createvents delivers professional and memorable events that exceed client and guest expectations.
Contact Clare for any or all ‘on the day’ questions such as dietary, accessibility, or anything else to ensure you are perfectly taken care of – it is Clare’s speciality.