Some of the world’s biggest brands gathered in London on 5 November alongside representatives from the United Nations to explore how businesses can drive the sustainability transition.
The annual Products of Change (POC) Conference at the Royal Geographical Society brought together more than 400 participants from the brand, licensing, and retail industries. The event highlighted that sustainability is more than just a moral responsibility, it is key to long-term success.
From IKEA and LEGO to Tesco PLC and Open Planet, speakers emphasised that integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into strategy is both good for the planet and good for business.
Partnerships at the heart of change
In a keynote address to the conference, Caroline Petit, Deputy Director of UNRIC, praised the business community present for its vision and leadership in advancing sustainability across the brand and licensing sectors.
“Create products with people and the planet, not just for them,” Caroline Petit told delegates. “The greatest impact comes when consumers and communities are genuine partners in shaping them.”
Small actions, big change
Speakers throughout the day underscored that sustainability depends not only on large-scale initiatives but also on small, consistent actions that can create ripple effects across industries.
Smol, a UK-based homecare company, illustrated this principle to delegates with its world-first plastic-free laundry and dishwasher capsule packs, launched in 2020. Founded on the belief that “something as small as a laundry capsule matters,” smol’s innovation prompted major brands to follow suit. With the average UK household running a washing machine 208 times per year, the company’s model shows how everyday actions can drive systemic change.
IKEA meanwhile showcased how sustainability can be embedded across large, complex operations. Between 2016 and 2024, the company achieved 23.7% business growth while reducing its absolute carbon footprint by 30%, IKEA announced at the conference. Every IKEA retail manager also serves as a chief sustainability officer in their respective country, to help ensure environmental responsibility shapes every decision.
Telling stories with impact
As an SDG Media Compact member, a UN alliance of media and entertainment companies that champion the SDGs, Open Planet highlighted the power of storytelling in driving environmental change. The organisation maintains an open-source library of world-class environmental footage, making it freely available to anyone who can use it to inspire action.
In her keynote, Kate Goldman-Toomey, Executive Director of Partnerships at Open Planet, emphasised that “the climate crisis is a communication crisis.” She illustrated how powerful imagery – when shared with educators and changemakers – can spark the conversations and decisions needed to accelerate environmental progress.
Sustainability in the heritage sector
Heritage brands also showcased at the conference how they are embedding sustainability into licensing programmes. Representatives from the Natural History Museum, the Eden Project, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Curating Cambridge, and ZSL London Zoo shared how their licensing strategies not only generate revenue but also promote environmental and social responsibility.
The RSPB highlighted its partnership with Chocolarder, a Cornwall-based chocolate maker, to produce licensed artisan chocolate made from shade-grown cocoa sourced from the Gola Rainforest. The initiative reflects the RSPB’s 30-year involvement in conserving this newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, working with forest-edge communities to restore sustainable cocoa farming.
2025 POC SDG Awards
The Products of Change SDG Awards were presented to companies driving progress on the SDGs. The trophies themselves, made from traceable marine plastic by the British social enterprise Waterhaul, embodied how meaningful change begins with the way products are designed, made, and packaged.
“Your achievements so far show that change is possible – and that it matters,” said Ms. Petit, in her closing remarks. “But with five years to go until 2030, we must act with urgency and unity to transform lives everywhere. Together, let’s continue shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and hopeful future.”
2025 Products of Change Award recipients
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Eden Project, Dayrize, Pure Table Top, Fabacus
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: RDP Creative x LEGO Group
- SDG 13 – Climate Action: Moose Toys
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Universal Music Group & Bravado