Tag Archives: Products of Change

Sustainable fashion brand Supacult to debut at Licensing Expo

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Supacult, a new sustainable fashion brand targeting the consumer-savvy and on-trend Gen Z consumer, will launch next week at Licensing Expo 2022 in Las Vegas. 

Lines from the Supacult range will be unveiled in the Products of Change Business Lounge over the course of the three-day show.

Supacult aspires to be a brand that is as sustainable as possible, focusing on the fashion conscious consumer who wants high-quality jersey-wear apparel that’s been ethically and responsibly produced. There will be six tees and sweats capsule ranges per year for men and women in a target age group of 15-35.  Supacult launches with its own DTC website and a select number of curated wholesale fashion accounts including Next and Zalando.

The designs are intended to be bold and bright, fusing the iconic artwork of pop culture with the world of on-trend fashion wear that is sustainably produced and easy to wear. Drawing upon the existing strong licensor partnerships already in place, Supacult designs will feature some of the world’s largest entertainment properties from Disney, Warner Bros. and global music artists in capsule collections that are both iconic and classic.

The product itself is at the heart of the Supacult brand. Blanks are sourced from a leading supplier which has been licensed under the Global Organic Standards (GOTS) since 2007 and manufactures organic, ethical and climate-neutral product produced exclusively from Indian cotton. With every item labelled as organic, the product blanks are produced in facilities powered by green renewable energy from low-impact raw materials, which adds to their sustainability manufacturing chain. Supacult’s exclusive product supplier has been the largest organic textile licensee of the Soil Association for the past five years, giving consumers the assurance and confidence that Supacult has sourced the best-in-class partner for its brand.

Once the blanks arrive at Supacult’s London production facility they are printed using water-based inks and printed as made-to-order garments.  Beyond this, all Supacult products are shipped using sustainable packaging, creating an entire process that is as sustainable as possible.

Commenting on the launch, Supacult managing director Rick Lowe says: “This is an exciting new move in the growth of our licensed fashion business; Supacult enables us to leverage our core business expertise and relationships, with a sustainable product offering for the discernible trend-led consumer. Our objective is to continually evolve our sustainability offering in line with market developments and consumer demand.”

Licensing Expo and Products of Change reveal sustainability agenda

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Licensing Expo and Products of Change (POC) have revealed a jointly-produced sustainability agenda comprising turnkey education and product showcases for the upcoming trade show slated for May 24-26 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

The strategic partnership is designed to bring sustainability to the forefront and spotlight issues embedded within the licensing industry to bring real change to brands’ socially responsible and inclusive practices across cross-categories.

“No matter the industry, environmental protection is an increasingly important value to customers and shareholders; it is woven into mission statements and serves as a guiding principle for all major business decisions,” says Anna Knight, SVP of the Global Licensing Group. “Progress beings with industry-wide education – we are so proud to partner with Products of Change to spotlight the many brands at Licensing Expo that are taking impressive steps toward eliminating waste and inequality across their value chain and are now taking the next step in showcasing their work to inspire others.”

Sustainability-focused educational programming is free for all registered event participants and held in the Licensing U Theater, with topics encompassing newcomer education, sustainable manufacturing, and applying socially responsible practices in licensing. Senior-level experts from Products of Change, The Smiley Company, Lego, Formula E, Natural History Museum, Piping Hot, Greenre, Beanstalk, and The Smurfs are confirmed to lead sustainability sessions.

Linda Morgenstern, Vice President of Brand Management at Beanstalk and prominent speaker addressing Sustainability 101, says: “In keeping with Beanstalk’s best-practices model, we have established a global, cross-functional Sustainability Team. The key goals of Beanstalk’s sustainability initiatives are to align our clients’ sustainability initiatives with licensees’ efforts and capabilities and to share information across clients, licensees, and industries. From the start, we have wholeheartedly supported the leadership of Products of Change as the sustainability authority for the licensing industry.”

The sustainability-focused sessions delivered by Licensing Expo and Products of Change are as follows:

  • Sustainability 101 | Tuesday, May 24 from 12:00-12:45 p.m.
    Speakers: Helena Mansell-Stopher, POC; Andrea Green, Globally Green; Simon Gresswell, SGLP; Jakob Hamann, Lego; Charlotte Hughes, Formula E; and Maxine Lister from the NHMA deep dive into the science behind why sustainable transformation is vital for business future prosperity. Products of Change, Lego, Natural History Museum, SGLP, and Formula E take you through why sustainability is key to business success.
  • Brands with Purpose: Sustainable Manufacturing | Wednesday, May 25 from 10:15-11:00 a.m.
    Speakers: Amy Low, Piping Hot; Stan Wan, Piping Hot; Keith Loiselle, Greenre; Brenda Seto, POC;  and Helena Mansell-Stopher, POCPiping Hot, the purpose-driven fashion brand, and Greenre, a global producer of sustainable stationery, join POC’s founder Helena Mansell-Stopher and Brenda Seto, POC’s Ambassador for Canada and consultant to Greenre, to discuss their sustainable journey so far.
  • Sustainability in Licensing | Thursday, May 26 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
    Speakers: Lee Grace, The Smiley Company; Ben Parker, Beanstalk; Sebastien Dumont, IMPS The Smurfs; and Helena Mansell-Stopher, POCJoin Smiley, Beanstalk, and The Smurfs to discuss how licensors and agents embrace sustainable change within the business and benefit from this.

NEW Sustainability Business Lounge

In addition to a highly curated educational program, Products of Change selected brands to showcase their products and business approach to introducing and sustaining a socially responsible business that balances the needs and health of the planet with that of their customers.

Brands across categories were chosen based on their proven ability to roll out sustainability and equality initiatives at scale. The brand-led presentations are held in the Sustainability Business Lounge located on the show floor (booth #N216) and feature must-attend showcases from cross-category brands, each focusing on a different area of expertise.

  • FOCO – A leading manufacturer specialising in sports licensing and working with some of the biggest names in sport. The team will be showcasing its new, recycled licensed backpacks and lunch bags.
  • Formula E – Will showcase its newly launched Formula E KIMOA sunglasses made with a sustainable recycled PET frame. Formula E’s vision is to accelerate sustainable human progress through the power of electric racing. The sunglasses are designed for people that love the electric motorsport series and what it stands for.
  • Manchester City FC and PUMA – The Premier League football club will be showcasing an innovative new partnership with PUMA’s Re:Jersey platform, a system that recycles old kits and jerseys to produce current season players’ shirts.
  • The Natural History Museum – Will be showcasing their fashion range from Desmond and Dempsey as well as their sustainable stationery range from Blueprint Collections.
  • Greenre – Will be showcasing its sustainable, licensed stationery. The team’s environmentally conscious products consist of recycled, natural materials, recyclables, non-toxic, post-agricultural bio fibers, and new-age bioplastics.
  • Piping Hot – All Piping Hot products are made with recycled, recyclable, renewable, or biodegradable materials. They have eliminated virgin polyester from their supply chain and prioritize recycled materials to reduce waste and tackle plastic pollution. Their approach is science-based and design-led; they will be showcasing their latest collection.
  • Brands In – Will be showcasing for the first time their new sustainable fashion clothing line, Supacult.

Enjoy dedicated sessions and free consults with experts – visit the Sustainability Business Lounge to book a clinic. View the full programming schedule here.

Furthermore, learn how to lead with intention to build purpose-driven licensing programmes focused on social good from Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Ms. Opal Lee and impact changemakers Anita Castellar and Genna Rosenberg in a must-attend educational session held in the Licensing U Theater. Join the three women on Tuesday, May 24 from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. for their session titled “The Upside of Licensing: Leading with Intention for Social Impact” and walk away inspired to begin, or continue, weaving purpose and social good into your licensing programmes.

Licensing Expo 2022 delivers on commitment to sustainability with Products of Change

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The Global Licensing Group, organisers of Licensing Expo, today announced a continuation of its strategic partnership with Products of Change (POC), a global educational hub aimed at driving sustainable change across the consumer product markets and beyond.

Returning as an instrumental partner following last year’s successful implementation at Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) Europe and Brand Licensing Europe, the expanded initiative represents an ongoing commitment to facilitate industry-wide change and help as many as possible across the industry to take the first steps into their sustainability journey.

Licensing Expo and Products of Change will be delivering two free-to-attend sessions in the live theatre:

  • Sustainability 101: A deep dive into the science behind why sustainable transformation is vital for business future prosperity. Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO at Products of Change, and Andrea Green, Principle at Globally Green and POC’s US Ambassador, will explain why we need to transition business and fundamental guiding principles to build a sustainable framework.
  • Sustainability in Licensing: Manufacturers and brand owners will share their sustainability journey thus far, their strategic plans, and areas of collaboration to move the industry forward.

Furthermore, all attendees and exhibitors have access to the Sustainability Business Lounge to arrange 121 Clinics with Products of Change experts and consultants and receive free counsel on where to focus their long-term sustainability efforts. Meetings will be scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis and can be booked in the dedicated Meetings Platform available to all registered attendees – the online platform will be accessible from April 11.

Alongside the robust education made available to all event participants, Licensing Expo and Products of Change are dedicating significant resources to bring sustainability and DEI to the forefront to drive long-lasting change, encompassing:

  • Measuring and reducing carbon footprint: Top-line commitments for 2023 include managing waste streams, from significantly reducing carpet on the expo floor to identifying digital alternatives to signage and printed materials.
  • Hosting activations that showcase real-world examples of how licensed products can be produced ethically and using sustainable methods while remaining visually stimulating, on-brand, and commercially viable.
  • Providing a platform to amplify diverse voices, working in tandem with Black Lives Matter Licensing, Products of Change, Women in Toys, and other relevant organisations
  • Holding the License This! competition at Licensing Expo and BLE to elevate voices and brands that lack the investment or experience needed to broker licensing deals.
  • Running a Retail Mentoring Program for junior retail buyers. A year-long program that consists of seminars, coaching and mentoring, brand owner site visits, and expo passes to encourage the younger generation to pursue future career opportunities in the retail space.

“Sustainability and DEI are top of mind for us as leaders in the trade show sector; its critical to model behavior that drives real progress and deeply roots sustainable practices in the industries we serve,” says Anna Knight, SVP of the Global Licensing Group, Informa Markets. “We are so proud to renew and strengthen our partnership with Products of Change to, first, spread awareness of the long-lasting impact each individual can have on our planet’s health, followed by instilling sustainability into the core of each business’ operations. Our ambition is for the licensing industry to lead by example, encouraging others to follow suit, and we look forward to laying the foundation at Licensing Expo.”

Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO, Products of Change adds, “With the lack of in-person events over the last two years, Licensing Expo is going to be a celebration of the industry coming back together globally, pivotal to this is how we future proof the industry as consumers mindset shifts and technology advances. Because of this, POC is proud to partner with the Global Licensing Group to highlight the importance of transitioning the industry to a sustainable future. Attendees can join the POC team for 121 in-person clinics in the Sustainability Business Lounge to see how the industry is advancing and take advantage of a variety of panels and debates on the Licensing University theatre throughout the three days. Sustainability is a global challenge, and I can’t wait to see how we can advance the industry together.

“It’s been great to work with the Global Licensing Group on ways they can make their events – Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Brand & Licensing Innovation Summits – more sustainable. From the ‘Better Stands’ initiatives to a reduction in printed materials, through to the significant reduction of carpet at Licensing Expo, this year is a huge step in the right direction for the events’ industry and one that we highly commend Informa Markets for taking as market leaders.”

In 2021, B&LIS Europe and Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) welcomed POC as a strategic partner to the Global Licensing Group to promote actions the broader licensing community has already taken. The joint efforts included:

  • Producing a 2,000 square foot Sustainability Activation Feature – the activation was the single most visited stand at the event.
  • Elevated notoriously unsustainable categories within the licensing industry, using real-world illustrations and products to showcase progress in these groups. An example included showing how an apparel company could switch from producing fabric samples to using 3D modeling.
  • POC experts ran a 121 Sustainability Clinic to provide strategic guidance on how attendees and exhibitors alike can take a more sustainable-focused approach to business.

“We’re conscious of the various societal concerns that the licensing and trade show industries, often unconsciously, contribute to and recognise the value of working with our peers to solve big challenges,” says Anna Knight. “We invite you to join us at Licensing Expo this May and engage with the education available, learn about sustainable and inclusive practices, and reflect on what you can do to drive progress. In time, our collective efforts will catalyse real progress.”

To learn more about the sustainability and DEI initiatives at Licensing Expo and secure a free visitor pass for the upcoming event held May 24-26, visit www.licensingexpo.com.

 

Licensing Expo 2022 delivers on commitment to sustainability with Products of Change

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The Global Licensing Group, organisers of Licensing Expo, today announced a continuation of its strategic partnership with Products of Change (POC), a global educational hub aimed at driving sustainable change across the consumer product markets and beyond.

Returning as an instrumental partner following last year’s successful implementation at Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) Europe and Brand Licensing Europe, the expanded initiative represents an ongoing commitment to facilitate industry-wide change and help as many as possible across the industry to take the first steps into their sustainability journey.

Licensing Expo and Products of Change will be delivering two free-to-attend sessions in the live theatre:

  • Sustainability 101: A deep dive into the science behind why sustainable transformation is vital for business future prosperity. Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO at Products of Change, and Andrea Green, Principle at Globally Green and POC’s US Ambassador, will explain why we need to transition business and fundamental guiding principles to build a sustainable framework.
  • Sustainability in Licensing: Manufacturers and brand owners will share their sustainability journey thus far, their strategic plans, and areas of collaboration to move the industry forward.

Furthermore, all attendees and exhibitors have access to the Sustainability Business Lounge to arrange 121 Clinics with Products of Change experts and consultants and receive free counsel on where to focus their long-term sustainability efforts. Meetings will be scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis and can be booked in the dedicated Meetings Platform available to all registered attendees – the online platform will be accessible from April 11.

Alongside the robust education made available to all event participants, Licensing Expo and Products of Change are dedicating significant resources to bring sustainability and DEI to the forefront to drive long-lasting change, encompassing:

  • Measuring and reducing carbon footprint: Top-line commitments for 2023 include managing waste streams, from significantly reducing carpet on the expo floor to identifying digital alternatives to signage and printed materials.
  • Hosting activations that showcase real-world examples of how licensed products can be produced ethically and using sustainable methods while remaining visually stimulating, on-brand, and commercially viable.
  • Providing a platform to amplify diverse voices, working in tandem with Black Lives Matter Licensing, Products of Change, Women in Toys, and other relevant organisations
  • Holding the License This! competition at Licensing Expo and BLE to elevate voices and brands that lack the investment or experience needed to broker licensing deals.
  • Running a Retail Mentoring Program for junior retail buyers. A year-long program that consists of seminars, coaching and mentoring, brand owner site visits, and expo passes to encourage the younger generation to pursue future career opportunities in the retail space.

“Sustainability and DEI are top of mind for us as leaders in the trade show sector; its critical to model behavior that drives real progress and deeply roots sustainable practices in the industries we serve,” says Anna Knight, SVP of the Global Licensing Group, Informa Markets. “We are so proud to renew and strengthen our partnership with Products of Change to, first, spread awareness of the long-lasting impact each individual can have on our planet’s health, followed by instilling sustainability into the core of each business’ operations. Our ambition is for the licensing industry to lead by example, encouraging others to follow suit, and we look forward to laying the foundation at Licensing Expo.”

Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO, Products of Change adds, “With the lack of in-person events over the last two years, Licensing Expo is going to be a celebration of the industry coming back together globally, pivotal to this is how we future proof the industry as consumers mindset shifts and technology advances. Because of this, POC is proud to partner with the Global Licensing Group to highlight the importance of transitioning the industry to a sustainable future. Attendees can join the POC team for 121 in-person clinics in the Sustainability Business Lounge to see how the industry is advancing and take advantage of a variety of panels and debates on the Licensing University theatre throughout the three days. Sustainability is a global challenge, and I can’t wait to see how we can advance the industry together.

“It’s been great to work with the Global Licensing Group on ways they can make their events – Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Brand & Licensing Innovation Summits – more sustainable. From the ‘Better Stands’ initiatives to a reduction in printed materials, through to the significant reduction of carpet at Licensing Expo, this year is a huge step in the right direction for the events’ industry and one that we highly commend Informa Markets for taking as market leaders.”

In 2021, B&LIS Europe and Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) welcomed POC as a strategic partner to the Global Licensing Group to promote actions the broader licensing community has already taken. The joint efforts included:

  • Producing a 2,000 square foot Sustainability Activation Feature – the activation was the single most visited stand at the event.
  • Elevated notoriously unsustainable categories within the licensing industry, using real-world illustrations and products to showcase progress in these groups. An example included showing how an apparel company could switch from producing fabric samples to using 3D modeling.
  • POC experts ran a 121 Sustainability Clinic to provide strategic guidance on how attendees and exhibitors alike can take a more sustainable-focused approach to business.

“We’re conscious of the various societal concerns that the licensing and trade show industries, often unconsciously, contribute to and recognise the value of working with our peers to solve big challenges,” says Anna Knight. “We invite you to join us at Licensing Expo this May and engage with the education available, learn about sustainable and inclusive practices, and reflect on what you can do to drive progress. In time, our collective efforts will catalyse real progress.”

To learn more about the sustainability and DEI initiatives at Licensing Expo and secure a free visitor pass for the upcoming event held May 24-26, visit www.licensingexpo.com.

 

Character World to continue sustainability drive in 2022 and beyond

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Leading manufacturer and distributor of licensed home textiles and accessories Character World has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability in 2022 and beyond. 

For the past two years the company has been working on and delivering against its sustainability plans, looking at all aspects from product to packaging, shipping to consumer care.

Adam Howarth, Character World’s Supply Chain Director, says: “We believe that a good night’s sleep doesn’t have to cost the earth. Sustainability is not just something that we have approached from a single angle or for a single range, we are looking at it across the whole business… We know that this is an ongoing project and a journey that will continue to develop and evolve in collaboration with our partners.”

Some key changes that Character World has made start with the products themselves. The company now uses only responsibly sourced BCI cotton, plus it is offering retailers the option of recycled polyester for their polyester and polycotton bedding products.

Character World’s latest development, Coverless Carefree Bedding, uses recycled plastic bottles for the filling, helping to reduce plastic waste and the subsequent amount of plastic in our oceans.

The company has also collaborated with Lego and JYSK for sustainable packaging options. The packaging for the Lego City bedding was developed using recycled card, is fully recyclable and contains no single-use plastic.

Mark Champkins, Learning Lead, LEL Sustainability Transformation at Lego, says: “Character World has been proactive in supporting us to work toward our aim that by 2025 all LEGO packaging will be made from renewable or recycled materials and will be easy for consumers to recycle, to avoid it ending up in landfill. We look forward to continue working with Character World towards our 2025 goal.”

In addition, Character World is committed to driving post-consumer purchase developments via its partnership with WRAP, who make it easy for customers to easily find their local recycling banks.

The company is also proud to be a member of Products of Change and one of the sponsors of the Sustainability in Licensing Conference, and is working within the licensing community to drive sustainable change by championing ideas and best practices across the industry.

“Character World is committed to helping make the world better for future generations, and we look forward to working in partnership with suppliers, licensors, retailers and consumers on the journey,” concludes Adam Howarth.

 

 

Brand and Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 adds new Sustainability category

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The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 has introduced a new category – The Sustainability Brand Licensed Range award – into the awards’ line-up.

The new accolade will recognise and reward the sustainable credentials of a brand licensed product or range. Entries can be for a single product or range, of any type. It can involve collaborations, but a brand licence (non-entertainment) has to be part of this.

The product or range must have been on sale or visible in the UK between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, though it can have had a presence elsewhere in the world, too. Products/ranges can be entered into this award as well as into another category.

Like the other B&LLAs 2022 categories, entry for The Sustainability Brand Licensed Range is completely free of charge. You can enter by clicking on this link.

The deadline for entries and nominations into all categories is Tuesday 8 March.

“Sustainability and success are becoming almost interchangeable for business and something that all brands will have to embrace in the future,” says Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and CEO of Products of Change, which is sponsoring the award. “That’s why we are extremely pleased to be partnering with The B&LLAs team to showcase the progress and innovations of the brand and licensing industry within the space of sustainability, and inspire others to take that first step.”

The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2022 will take place on Wednesday 27 April at a lavish afternoon event at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

For ticket and table information for The B&LLAs awards event, please click here.

 

Kids Industries to reveal new research on sustainability at Brand Licensing Europe

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Family-focused marketing agency Kids Industries (KI) is launching a new report today at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) exploring the relationship children and their parents have with the environment.

Hot on the heels of COP26 and the announcement that Government is planning to change the primary curriculum to include climate change science and sustainability studies, the survey of 2,001 children and parents in the UK and US shines a light on current perceptions today and what families would like to see change.

It showed that the current understanding of climate concerns and topics is limited:

  • 65 percent of children aged 5-15 do not know what ‘sustainability’ means – this includes 80 percent of 5–7-year-olds and 50 percent of 12-15 year olds
  • 65 percent of children aged 5-15 do not know what ‘sustainability’ means – this includes 80 percent of 5–7-year-olds and 50 percent of 12-15 year olds
  • 87 percent of UK children don’t know what ‘greenwashing’ means
  • 86 percent don’t understand the term ‘bioplastic’
  • 42 percent of UK children are confused about environmental issues (this confusion reduces with age) – this rises to 53 percent amongst US children

Children do think the environment is important: 

While 63 percent of UK children (67 percent in the US) aged 5-15 believe our impact on the environment and wildlife is the most important issue we face today, the specifics vary by country.

In the UK, they are:

  1. Plastic waste (53 percent)
  2. Climate change (50 percent)

In the US, they are:

  1. Pollution (41 percent)
  2. Saving endangered species (39 percent)

Children are trying to do their part – even if it is small: 

  • 94 percent of UK children (92 percent US) have done something for the environment, most commonly recycling (63 percent UK, 36 percent US).
  • 83 percent of UK and US children US agree everyone can be environmentally friendly if they try hard enough.
  • 70 percent of UK children (76 percent US) agree it is important to them that their lifestyle is more environmentally friendly.
  • 69 percent of UK children (77 percent US) would do more for the environment if they had more time and money.

The circular economy and product reuse, recycle, repurpose

 It’s clear that plastic is still king, but planet-friendly toy options are catching up.

Plastic toys were the most popular toy category purchased in the past 12 months by UK parents (40 percent) and US parents (52 percent), followed by second-hand toys in the UK (37 percent) and wooden toys in the US (38 percent)

In the US, plastic toys are also the most frequently bought (32 percent) but in the UK, more parents buy second hand (25 percent) over plastic (22 percent).

What happens when toys outlive their use:

  • Thrown away and heading to landfill (14 percent UK/16 percent US)
  • Given to charity (32 percent UK/26 percent US)

Interestingly, 25 percent of UK parents said that they had bought a ‘sustainable’ toy in the past year (rising to 37 percent of US parents).

 What next? 

Parents want to see…

  1. Products that are easier to recycle (48 percent UK/41 percent of US)
  2. Cheaper sustainable product options (45 percent UK/32 percent US)
  3. Products that are easier to refurbish or fix (37 percent UK/35 percent US parents).

Gary Pope, CEO and Co-Founder at Kids Industries and Children’s Commissioner for Products of Change, commented: “The introduction of a new environment-based curriculum couldn’t come at a better time. Children need supporting in their knowledge of the issues at hand and what they can do to make a difference – never underestimate the power of collective responsibility. That said, parents don’t want more information, they want it to be easier and they’re looking for companies that can facilitate this.

“The demand for new solutions from children and their parents is evident – and just as recycling is at the forefront of children’s minds, it’s playing on their parents thinking, too, and best of all, it’s the easiest solution. There’s now a genuine desire too for toys that are produced more sustainably – a consciousness to see less waste. The toy industry has a responsibility to review these figures and adjust accordingly. The time to take action and listen to wants and desires in these areas is now.”

Meet Gary Pope at the BLE Sustainability Activation 17-19 November, ExCeL London. He is also presenting in the Retail Trends Lounge at 10am on Friday 19 November, which is accessible to retailers and press badge holders.

 

Scan the QR code to download the full report for FREE

BLE EXCLUSIVE: Sine Klitgaard Møller on the LEGO Group’s sustainability initiatives

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The LEGO Group is participating in the BLE Sustainability Activation in partnership with Products of Change at Brand Licensing Europe 2021. The event runs in person from 17-19 November with follow-up online content launching 22 November and online networking taking place 30 November – 1 December. Registration is free at www.brandlicensing.eu

Ahead of the event, Sine Klitgaard Møller, Director Licensing & Extended Line Sustainability Transformation, the LEGO Group, outlines the measures the company has implemented to reduce its environmental impact.

The LEGO Group is being praised for pushing the sustainability agenda in the toy sector. Tell us what you’ve done and still plan to do.

At the LEGO Group, we want to play our part in building a sustainable future and creating a brighter world for children to inherit. We are guided by our Planet Promise, an approach built on the idea of leaving a positive impact.

When it comes to the environment, the LEGO Group is working to minimise the environmental impact of our operations and to make our products and packaging from more sustainable materials. In 2018, we launched our first bio-based elements made from sustainably sourced sugar cane. In 2020, we revealed and started piloting our new paper bags that will hold LEGO bricks in product sets. And earlier this year, we unveiled a LEGO prototype brick made from recycled plastic.

Within our licensing function, we’re working closely with the licensing partners on sustainability initiatives. Our big focus right now is to make our packaging more sustainable and to remove all single-use plastic. One example is the development of packaging guides for our partners, which include material guidelines, inspiration and ideas on how to remove plastic from designs.

We started looking at our licensing portfolio in 2019. We spent a lot of time educating ourselves and hiring experts. Understanding what our environmental impacts were and their magnitude was the first step we took. We then had to prioritise our efforts, as the list of potential projects kept growing, and ultimately, we built a strategy.

Today, we’re at a point where our understanding is deep, and we have created a systematic approach to sustainabiltiy in our licensing portfolio. And we are bringing our partners along on the journey with us. For example, we’re asking them to report through CDP as part of the LEGO Group’s supplier Engage-to-Reduce programme. We are also looking to create more playbooks to help guide our partners on, for example, their product materials challenges.

Do you have key performance indicators that you can share with us?

The targets that are most relevant to my work are firstly, our ambition to remove single-use plastic and transition to more sustainable packaging by end 2025, and secondly, our science-based CO2 target to reduce emissions by 37% by 2032, compared with 2019, which not only covers our own operations but also the supply chain – and includes all of our licensing partners.

What can other brands, manufacturers and retailers learn from LEGO Group’s experience when it comes to sustainability?

I think we can all learn from each other, as it is such a complex agenda to grasp. One thing is for sure, no one can ignore the climate crisis and carry on with business as usual. We must each be open to learning new ways and challenge ourselves to find solutions to the changes we must implement.

My biggest learnings personally came through educating myself on climate change and circular economy principles and understanding the need to partner with environmental experts on my projects. I’m also lucky to work for a creative brand where creative thinking is baked into the way we work.

What will visitors to Brand Licensing Europe see from the LEGO Group in the Sustainability Activation? 

We are excited to share the first brown reduced-print ADIDAS x LEGO shoebox, LEGO CITY bedding with no single-use plastic and a reduced-print packaging card, made by Character World for JYSK, and a LEGO Brick Backpack made from recycled PET plastic bottles, by Carry Gear Solution.

What’s the one message you’d like the licensing industry to take away from visiting you at BLE? 

We want to inspire others to get started on their sustainability journey if they have not already done so. We also want to encourage our peers to join forces and work together, so that we can all learn from one another. Sustainability will be the licence to operate and a requirement of how we do business in the future, which is why it’s so important for us to act now.

What’s the one message you’re sharing with kids – big and small – about sustainability through the LEGO Group? 

The LEGO Group have a responsibility to take urgent action and protect the world that children will inherit. And we’re working hard to play our part in building a sustainable future.

We also believe that children’s voices on sustainability need to be heard, and we want to help give children a greater platform. For example, at COP26, the LEGO Group shared Building Instructions for a Better World with decision makers, informing leaders what young people believe need to happen if we’re to tackle the climate crisis and create a more sustainable future.

 

Sky’s Obki ties up with Products of Change to launch sustainable character merchandise

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With Brand Licensing Europe just around the corner, Products of Change has announced the launch of a truly sustainable brand champion for the community and planet.

Obki on Sky Kids will be a leading force in driving the sustainability agenda on a global platform through a series of worldwide licensing deals via newly signed licensing agency the Radius Group. Launching at The Brand Licensing Europe Show on November 17, supported by Products of Change, Obki will bring together the most sustainable companies to curate a range of brand lifestyle products, including apparel, plush, toys, food, drink and publishing for children.

The cartoon series on Sky Kids features Obki, a loveable alien, on his journey to be a positive force for good on Earth. The show is part of Sky’s campaign to be net zero carbon by 2030 and its commitment to encourage its customers to #GoZero, by using its content and channels to raise awareness of the climate crisis and inspire viewers with actions they can take to protect the planet.

Products of Change is a global educational hub aimed at driving sustainable change across consumer product markets and beyond and will highlight the inroad that Obki on Sky Kids is making as a sustainable brand. With growing numbers of shoppers calling on retailers, brands and governments to implement change from Cop26, Obki is working with Sky Zero and Products of Change as part of its strategy.

Global licensing expert and CEO of the Radius Group, Damian Hopkins, says: “Obki has a unique ability to command the most sustainable licensing partners and influence what toys, clothes and food consumers buy and how they use their purchases at home. Obki will lead by example, driving change in the character licensing industry, by collaborating with licensees and partners to deliver products with sustainability at their core.”

Obki founder Amanda Evans coined the term “small step sustainability” – the notion that providing customers with a wide range of branded goods that they know and trust as being truly sustainable will make it easier and quicker for them to make multiple sustainable decisions, both in store and at home.

For 2022, Obki will focus on being the voice of positivity and proactivity in the face of climate change doom and gloom and communicate that small changes make a big difference. Customers will be able to view Obki on Sky Kids and obtain detailed information about the sustainability credentials of Obki’s food, clothing, toys or homewares that they are purchasing.

Amanda says: “We want to educate consumers about Obki’s sustainability principles and how they can shop more ethically and reach for the product that they know is better for the planet. Retailers will then be able to shift ethically minded consumers towards these products. Obki will become an active ambassador for climate change by inspiring the next generation to be environmentally intuitive in their thinking and decision making.”

Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO and founder of Products of Change, says: “Obki is an example of a brand that embeds sustainability into its thinking and operations. To see the ambitions of the team to build a truly sustainable licensed brand from content to product is pretty phenomenal, as well as incorporating a large proportion of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals within its sustainability framework. It is a real honour to be working with such a progressive team at Obki to bring this to life, and I am really looking forward to watching its success around the world.”

OBKI was screened at COP26 at a special event called ‘World Leaders Listen Up’ and Obki’s animator Simone Giampaolo was chosen as a UK Government ‘One Step Greener’ Ambassador.

 

Licensing Expo Virtual’s On Demand Content goes live ahead of show’s launch next week

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The on-demand content surrounding this year’s Licensing Expo Virtual has now gone live, with the show scheduled to take place only one week from now, when it will play host to some 3,000 confirmed digital meetings.

Slated to take place from August 24th to 26th and produced in partnership with the industry trade association, Licensing International, the latest exhibitors at the virtual event have also been confirmed, with the likes of Global Icons and Sportgear joining a line-up featuring ViacomCBS, Tokidoki, Crayola, Games Workshop, WWE, Activision, Warner Bros, and more.

Among the thousands of attending companies taking advantage of Licensing Expo Virtual’s rich content and networking offerings include Amazon, Bioworld Merchandising, Hot Topic, J&J, Microsoft, pocket.watch, PopSocket, Primark, Ross, rue21, Toys R Us, and Walmart.

Those interested in attending the virtual event can register here free of charge to schedule meetings with the world’s leading IP owners and sift through thousands of available IPs that are ripe for license.

“In addition to Licensing Expo Virtual’s endless networking opportunities, we are immensely proud to produce world-class education in partnership with Licensing International,” said Anna Knight, VP of Licensing.

“All on-demand sessions will be going live in the platform from Monday to give attendees the chance to enjoy some of the content ahead of the live event, understand the latest trends, and enjoy the Licensing U program in preparation.

“We are also thrilled to share the highly impressive lineup of live speakers that are a part of the all-new Retail ‘Ask Me Anything’ program, Digital Brand Roadshows, Live Keynotes, Licensing International Excellence Awards and new Sustainability Clinics – speakers, exhibitors and attendees alike are all eager to leverage the upcoming Expo as a platform to explore the many challenges we as an industry have faced over the past 18 months and provide expert-led direction on the new opportunities that have emerged as a result of adversity.”

Designed to serve the critical retail segment that fuels the $292.8 billion in sales of licensed merchandise, Licensing Expo Virtual launched a new ‘Ask Me Anything’ program to help retailers make the most of the opportunities that licensing can offer.

From creating unique product ranges to building a more substantial experience in-store, licensing can help retailers stand out amongst competitors. Key sessions include:

Retail – ‘Ask Me Anything’ live sessions

Ask a range of licensing experts ANYTHING about brand licensing & retail. All questions can be submitted anonymously and will be answered during live sessions at the event – registered attendees can add them to their diary from today.

Session one speakers include experts from Brand Liaison, ACI Licensing, pocket.watch, and License Global

Session two speakers include experts from Retail Monster, IT’SUGAR, and License Global

Retail sessions on demand (available to watch from today)

Licensing as a tool for growth and customer engagement in retail

This session, presented by Julia Redman, Buyer and Consultant at Buyers Eye, will cover what to consider when bringing licensing into retail and how a well-thought-through licensing strategy can enhance your engagement with the customer. As with any business strategy, if you are going to embark on including licensing in your plans, you must consider and pre-empt both the benefits and the possible pitfalls to ensure that you create a clear path to success. We will try and help you create that path.

The Experience Economy – from pause to fast-forward

As kids, parents, and families continuously change the way they work, learn, shop, and relax – it’s more important than ever to understand their attitudes, behaviors, and consumption patterns in real-time. In this session, Jonathan Watson, CPO at The Insights Family, highlights some popular properties, brands, and categories emerging as the world reopens. We’ll also be discussing the growing trend for the ‘Experience Economy.’ Our recent data shows that some of the most important values parents look to instill in their children is value experiences more than products. The session will explore how retailers can think of licensing from a more strategic approach, creating partnerships that provide more value and long-term retention.

Wayfair’s sustained growth powered by a customer-centric vision and focus on execution

In this session, Ankit Mangal, Director at Wayfair, will speak to Wayfair’s recent growth and how it will sustain itself in coming years due to its customer-centric vision that manifests in different facets of the organization and focus on flawless execution to continue to increase share in a highly fragmented market that’s everything home.

Complementing consumer trends that are turning toward sustainability, Licensing Expo Virtual rolled out all-new Sustainability Clinics, in partnership with Products of Change, providing attendees access to renowned experts who are eager to share advice on developing eco-friendly business practices.

“The Sustainability Clinics are an important addition to this year’s event, as they offer attendees real-world advice on how to navigate this continuing trend,” remarked Knight. “According to a recent report by Nielsen, the U.S. sustainability market is projected to reach $150 billion by the end of the year – those are figures retailers, and IP owners need to pay attention to.”

See below for a snapshot of participants confirmed for the Sustainability Clinics:

  • Andrea Green, Principle, Globally Green Consulting
  • Brenda Seto, Ambassador for Canada
  • June Kirkwood, Director, Nutmeg Licensing
  • Carrie Lomas, CEO, Brand Conscience
  • Leonora Aixas Otero, Ambassador for Spain

Sustainability clinics are now available to book – registered delegates can visit the Products of Change virtual book and book their meetings with the experts listed above.

To view the full 2021 Licensing Expo Virtual agenda, find out about the Keynotes, Licensing International Excellence Awards, License This! Finale, Digital Brand Roadshows, and more details on the above sessions, visit here. 

Educational offerings and meetings are available exclusively to Licensing Expo Virtual attendees;  register for free now to pre-book meetings and access this content at the event.

Press interested in attending the event can secure credentials here.