Products of Change Conference 2025: Redefining Sustainable Business

The Products of Change Conference 2025 happened at London’s Royal Geographical Society on November 5. Leaders in brand, licensing, and retail came together to change business practices for a greener future. They focused on practical steps and clear benefits, as we face 2030 environmental goals.

Industry Leaders Advocate for Purpose-Driven Products

Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO and founder of Products of Change, opened the event with Caroline Petit, Deputy Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre. Caroline Petit stressed that the license and retail groups must act now. She urged product makers to design for both people and planet.

“Products can be catalysts for change,” said Petit. She urged all companies to build sustainability into every step.

Consumer Insights Signal a Shift to Circular Fashion

Tamara Sender Ceron, Associate Director at Mintel, shared clear facts about shoppers:

• 64% of women aged 16-34 look at a garment’s resale value.
• 22% use repair services to keep clothes useful.
• 50% of consumers will spend more on high-quality, sustainable items.
• 40% will pay extra for trusted brands and circular services.

Tamara urged closing the gap between claim and action by making resale and repairs smooth and rewarding. Hilary Strong, CMO of smol, added that real sustainability comes when millions choose small, imperfect changes instead of a few perfect actions.

Packaging and Operational Innovations

Panelists Paul Earnshaw from Tesco, Wendy Mather from RDP Creative, and Christian Lanckman from LEGO Group pushed back against myths about high sustainable packaging costs. They called on companies to work closely with suppliers for new ideas. Thomas Suchy from IKEA highlighted a broad approach: his team builds a culture of green practices and trains local managers to lead as chief sustainability officers. This shows that every level of a company must take part.

Sustainability as a Consumer Imperative

Nicolai Broby Eckert of Simon-Kucher made it clear that sustainability is the biggest consumer trend of our time. He noted that 78% of buyers now list sustainability among their top five reasons to purchase.

“If you treat sustainability as a mere duty, you are missing the chance to lead,” warned Eckert.

Steve Manners, VP Global Marketing at Licensing International, said the mood was positive:

“Real progress is happening. It is not doom and gloom—it is shared success.”

Recognition of Industry Champions: POC SDG Awards

The event ended with the Products of Change Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Awards. These awards honored groups that excel in areas such as:

• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13 – Climate Action
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

They celebrated teams steering brand, licensing, and retail into a stronger, greener future.

About Products of Change

Products of Change leads the way by linking brand and licensing with bold environmental and social targets. The group builds an innovative industry that is strong and committed to green solutions.

For updates and expert views on organic and sustainable business trends, please stay tuned to our blog.

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.