Sustainability Meets Innovation in Brand & Licensing Industry: Insights from 2025 Products of Change Conference

On 5 November 2025, London hosted the annual Products of Change (POC) Conference at the Royal Geographical Society, convening over 400 industry leaders from brand, licensing, and retail sectors, alongside United Nations representatives. The event underscored the critical integration of sustainability into business strategies as essential not only for environmental stewardship but also for long-term commercial success.

Embedding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Core of Business

Speakers from global brands such as IKEA, LEGO, Tesco PLC, and Open Planet emphasized that aligning operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) delivers tangible benefits for both planet and profit.

Caroline Petit, Deputy Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC), highlighted the importance of collaborative creation:

“Create products with people and the planet, not just for them. The greatest impact comes when consumers and communities are genuine partners in shaping them.”

Partnerships and Small Actions Driving Systemic Change

The conference showcased that effective sustainability requires both robust partnerships and consistent small-scale actions. Notably, smol, a UK homecare company, demonstrated innovation with its plastic-free laundry and dishwasher capsules launched in 2020, inspiring industry-wide change. With the average UK household running 208 washing cycles annually, smol’s model exemplifies how everyday consumer choices create ripple effects toward sustainability.

Meanwhile, IKEA reported remarkable achievements between 2016 and 2024, including 23.7% business growth coupled with a 30% reduction in absolute carbon footprint. IKEA’s unique approach involves mandating each retail manager to also act as a chief sustainability officer, cementing environmental responsibility into managerial roles globally.

Storytelling as a Catalyst for Environmental Action

As a member of the SDG Media Compact, Open Planet leverages storytelling to communicate climate issues effectively. Kate Goldman-Toomey, Executive Director of Partnerships at Open Planet, addressed the conference:

“The climate crisis is a communication crisis.”

Open Planet provides an open-source library of environmental footage freely accessible to educators and changemakers, amplifying visual narratives that inspire actionable change.

Sustainability in Heritage and Licensing Sectors

Heritage-focused organizations like the Natural History Museum, Eden Project, RSPB, Curating Cambridge, and ZSL London Zoo shared strategies integrating sustainability into their licensing programs. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) highlighted its partnership with Cornwall-based Chocolarder to produce artisan chocolate made from shade-grown cocoa sourced sustainably from the Gola Rainforest. This initiative supports conservation efforts linked to the rainforest’s UNESCO World Heritage status and promotes sustainable community farming.

Recognizing Excellence: 2025 Products of Change SDG Awards

The POC Conference honored companies making significant strides toward the SDGs with specially designed trophies crafted from traceable marine plastic by Waterhaul, reflecting sustainable product design and circular economy principles.

2025 Award Recipients by SDG Category:

• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Eden Project, Dayrize, Pure Table Top, Fabacus
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: RDP Creative x LEGO Group
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Moose Toys
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Universal Music Group & Bravado

In closing, Caroline Petit reiterated the urgency and collective responsibility to accelerate sustainability:

“With five years to go until 2030, we must act with urgency and unity to transform lives everywhere. Together, let’s continue shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and hopeful future.”

For more insights on sustainable innovation and how brand industries are advancing the SDGs, follow the United Nations Information Centre for Western Europe updates.

Design Delight Studio curates high-impact, authoritative insights into sustainable and organic product trends, helping conscious consumers and innovative brands stay ahead in a fast-evolving green economy.