Licensing Source Book Summer 2021

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34-35 LSB POC 2021.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 31/07/2021 16:25 Page 34

SILC 2021

Inset: Significant gains have already been made by the licensing industry since SILC20, says Helena.

Transforming the industry Following the second successful Sustainability in Licensing Conference in June, Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder of Products of Change and conference director of SILC, looks back at the two-day event and how the licensing industry is continuing to work towards a more sustainable future.

I

sit down to write this piece at a hotel in Battle, a small town in East Sussex that houses the broadcasting studio where we have just wrapped up the final day of the Sustainability in Licensing Conference 2021. I had thought I would be in a swanky London bar celebrating our first physical SILC with the amazing individuals that were due to attend, but alas that was not to be due to Covid. However, I do sit here reflecting with great pride on the amazing journey and progress the industry has made over the last two years. During SILC20 only 22% of the audience were aware of the 17 sustainable development goals. Fast forward to SILC21 and 75% of attendees now have a team dedicated to driving sustainable practices within their business, and a further 73% were aware of the up and coming packaging and extended producer responsibility tax (EPR) due in April 2022 and 2023.

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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2021

At the heart of our industry is the brands we represent, with the latest McKinsey study stating that 86% of consumers feel that it’s the responsibility of business to build sustainable products. This was a key priority for us to highlight during the conference and we were so lucky to learn how Hubbub, an impact marketing agency, brought to life the latest food waste campaign with Tesco and the wonderful Lagom initiative with Ikea.

Toy momentum We are also seeing great momentum in the toy space, with the top three global toy companies committing to reducing their packaging, committing to 100% renewable energy, to reduce waste to landfill, to source more sustainable plastics (recycled or sustainably sourced bio-based). Zuru revealed plans during the conference to make its two largest global brands - Mini Brands and Mini Toys - to be 100% virgin plastic free through certified, traceable recycled plastic. Co-founder and ceo, Anna Mowbray stated that the move will prevent an estimated 180 tonnes of virgin plastics from entering the environment and will match the recent environmental moves made across its wildly popular Bunch O Balloons brand. Combined, the latest measures will prevent around 3,000 tonnes of virgin plastics from entering the environment.


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