Redefining Sustainable Business at the Products of Change Conference 2025
On November 5, 2025, the Products of Change (POC) Conference took place at the Royal Geographical Society in London, gathering leaders and innovators from the brand, licensing, and retail sectors to accelerate sustainable business practices. The event focused on practical "How To" methods and demonstrated commercial benefits aligned with the global push towards ambitious 2030 sustainability goals.
Keynote Highlights and Industry Calls to Action
Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and CEO of Products of Change, opened the conference alongside Caroline Petit, Deputy Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre. Petit emphasized the industry’s critical role in driving "real, lasting, and widespread" sustainability. She urged attendees to design products mindful of both people and planet, positioning products as catalysts for positive change.
Consumer Insights on Sustainable Fashion
Tamara Sender Ceron, Associate Director for Fashion and Retail at Mintel, presented data signaling significant consumer engagement potential in second-hand and circular fashion markets:
- 64% of women aged 16-34 consider the resale value of clothes during shopping.
- 22% engage in repair services to extend garment life or prepare items for resale.
Ceron highlighted the importance of closing the "say-do gap" by making repair and resale services more accessible and rewarding. Her recommendations included:
- Offering value-oriented sustainable options and viewing resale as an opportunity—not a threat—with 50% of consumers willing to pay more for quality.
- Building consumer trust in repair services, as 40% are ready to pay a premium for trusted brands.
- Enhancing convenience around circular fashion services to drive adoption.
Hilary Strong, Chief Marketing Officer of smol, reinforced the necessity of broad accessibility in sustainability efforts, advocating for collective imperfect progress over perfection. "Progress is better than perfection," she affirmed.
Spotlight on Sustainable Packaging and Corporate Integration
Multiple speakers, including Paul Earnshaw (Tesco), Wendy Mather (RDP Creative), and Christian Lanckman (LEGO Group), challenged the misconception that sustainable packaging must be costlier, encouraging industry players to push suppliers for innovation.
IKEA’s Thomas Suchy described embedding sustainability deeply within the company, notably training all country managers as chief sustainability officers, symbolizing a top-to-bottom commitment.
Sustainability as a Consumer Movement
Nicolai Broby Eckert from Simon-Kucher Strategy Consultants declared sustainability as "hands down the biggest consumer movement of the 21st century," citing that 78% of consumers rank it among their top five purchasing criteria. He cautioned that companies treating sustainability solely as compliance risk falling behind.
Industry Optimism and Recognition
Steve Manners, Vice President of Global Marketing and UK Managing Director for Licensing International, praised the conference’s upbeat tone. Far from the typical doom and gloom narrative, he noted the palpable progress and shared commitment within the community.
The conference culminated in the presentation of the annual POC SDG Awards celebrating exemplary efforts in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals within the industry:
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Conclusion
The Products of Change Conference 2025 reinforced the transformative power of sustainability as a central business imperative. By combining consumer insights, corporate commitment, and collaborative innovation, the brand, licensing, and retail industries are making tangible strides toward a resilient and responsible future.
About the Author
Ian Hart is Senior Digital Editor for the U.K. and EMEA at License Global, with a background in sports, entertainment, and B2B digital publishing. He has been with Informa since 2018 and brings a passion for brands that inspire people and support sustainable innovation.
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.
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