Helena Mansell-Stopher on what to expect from next week’s Products of Change Conference

Helena, always great to catch up. To kick us off, how has 2025 been for Products of Change?
2025 has really been a year of momentum for Products of Change. It hasn’t been an easy backdrop – the political and economic challenges earlier in the year definitely slowed global progress in this space – but what’s been inspiring is how determined our community has remained. The businesses already on the journey haven’t stepped back… In fact, their commitment has deepened.

After a few years of laying the groundwork, this year’s really been about action and implementation. We’ve trialled and are due to launch the POC Maturity Index, which helps companies benchmark their progress. We’ve also continued to develop our Scope 3 Carbon Methodology with South Pole and the World Resource Institute – a big step in helping the licensing industry understand and measure its true impact.

Elsewhere, we’ve expanded our collaboration with The Mills Fabrica, supporting new innovators and our Young Green Leaders initiative, which is about building the next generation of change-makers. Altogether, it’s felt like the year everything we’ve been building started to really click into action, and that’s been hugely rewarding to see.

I bet. And the POC conference is taking place next week. For anyone new to the event, can you tell us a bit more about it and what delegates get out of attending?
Yes, absolutely! The POC Conference began back in 2020 as is still the only event dedicated to the brand and licensing industry that truly focuses on education, collaboration and practical steps for sustainability. It brings the full value chain together – from brand owners to manufacturers, agents, and retailers – to learn, connect, share and take action in reducing their environmental impact.

The day is designed to help businesses understand what they need to do and how to navigate that journey. This year we have attendees from The Walt Disney Company, The LEGO Group, Paramount, BBC Studios, Tottenham Hotspur Universal Music Group and their merchandising arm Bravado, and so many more – all coming together to connect and advance the industry forward.

It’s always a packed day, but both physical and digital attendees go home energised, full of ideas, insights and new connections to help drive real change within their business.

What are some notable sessions for this year?
There are so many great sessions this year, really highlighting the ‘how to’ from within the industry via The Lego Group, RDP Creative, Tesco and UMG. But I must say, it’s always a special moment when we bring experts in from other industries to share their learning.

This year, I’m especially proud to welcome IKEA, smol and The Mills Fabrica to the conference. These companies are doing phenomenal work in driving innovation and embedding sustainability into their business models and really funding future innovations.

What advice would you give attendees looking to make the most event? Especially considering the amount of Incredible useful information being shared – bring a pen and paper?
Well, they don’t even need to bring a notebook! We’ve got that covered!

Ah!
Every delegate will receive one made from fashion waste, kindly provided by the wonderful team at Teemill – of course it had to be sustainable and circular option. But do bring a pen and more importantly, an open mind.

What we’re really showcasing is the future of how this industry can operate and together, we’ll explore how to get there. The good news is, we’ll be showing plenty of practical ways to make it happen!

Terrific. And how do you assess the licensing industry’s attitude and appetite when it comes to getting itself ready for different pieces of legislation?
Engagement across the community has really increased this year – it’s been incredible to see. From record attendance at our webinars to the number of resources being downloaded, there’s a real hunger to understand and act. Even our Legislation Look Books had completely gone by day two of BLE, which says a lot about the appetite to learn.

Many brand owners are now setting clear sustainability targets, and the focus has shifted to how we enable delivery – giving businesses, especially manufacturers and licensees, the tools and knowledge to align with those goals.

The industry is excelling in awareness and collaboration, but there’s still work to do in translating ambition into measurable outcomes. That’s exactly where Products of Change comes in, helping to bridge that gap between intent and action.

Looking at best practices, what recent product would you point to as a great example of sustainable licensing?
There are so many great examples emerging, but I’d say Lush really stands out. As a brand, they’ve truly embraced the licensing industry with creativity, storytelling and sustainability running right through their DNA, they’re best in class.

Universal Music Group is another great example, they’ve been working closely with partners to reduce product impact, whether that’s creating cut-and-sew pieces from old stock or recycling existing materials into new products.

We’re also seeing incredible innovation across packaging and materials, like the work Moose Toys are doing, and exciting progress around digital product passports, something we showcased last year through Pure Table Top, Fabacus and Dayrize.

The industry is genuinely embracing transformation across all areas. What we need now is for more companies to adopt these new ways of working, that’s how we’ll scale the impact and build a truly sustainable future for licensing.

Last question! How can folks book into next week’s POC conference? Where shall we point them?
It’s really easy, just head to the Products of Change website here and you can book your ticket directly there. And if you’re a POC member, don’t forget you receive a 20% discount on conference tickets. We can’t wait to welcome everyone, it’s going to be an inspiring day!

Thanks again Helena!