The 220 sq. m BLE Sustainability Activation in partnership with Products of Change will be front and centre on the show floor, featuring six unique zones to inspire the industry towards a more sustainable future.

The zones will highlight the inroads brands, retailers and manufacturers are already making in fashion, product, material and retail innovation. Plus, the impact this can have on the global licensing industry, consumers and beyond.

1. Fashion Innovation

• Sustainable fashion company and apparel licensee Teemill will showcase its circular innovation, ‘bringing to life’ the process of ‘shredding’ material to re-use. The award-winning manufacturer is an example of a business committed to making the circular economy a reality. Teemill’s shredder turns pre-loved clothing into yarn. This can then be reused to create recycled clothing, ready for a new owner.
• Brand Fashion Swap: To highlight the increasing popularity of fashion rental/clothes swapping, BLE organisers are asking visitors to bring an old item of branded clothing to the event, donate to industry charity The Light Fund, and swap it for another piece of apparel.

2. Material Innovation

The Material Innovation area will illustrate the processes behind recycling materials. For instance, plastic into new products, stone into handbags and also hay into lamps. Furthermore, the area will showcase the latest technology platform for material impact scoring from Brand Conscience.

3. Retail Innovation

Learn about Asda’s George for Good strategic approach to sustainable production. This includes its core sustainability pillars and licensed product ranges, as well as its 100% sustainably sourced school uniform ranges. Plus, its new 3D technology to heavily reduce waste in production.

4. Product Innovation

Visit the sustainable licensed products showcase featuring both brand owners and licensees from across the brand licensing industry, including Hasbro, Mattel, Lego, Keeleco, Character World, Dreamtex, Discovery and Tesco. The deadline to contact BLE about participating in the showcase is the end of September. Please contact ella.haynes@informa.com for further information.

5. Brands for Social Change

This area will highlight how brands are working together to drive social change. It will include a room set from The Eden Project – Cornwall’s eco visitor attraction – as well as inspiring products from The Natural History Museum and BBC Studios.

6. Products of Change 121 Clinics

Visitors to BLE are also invited to drop in for a free 1-2-1 clinic with the experts at Products of Change – including founder Helena Mansell-Stopher and a plethora of the POC Ambassadors – who will provide advice and guidance for every stage of the sustainability journey.

Furthermore, the Activation will host a Health & Wellbeing lounge for attendees.

On the outside walls of the Activation, BLE attendees can read up on the United Nation’s 17 life-changing Sustainable Development Goals. Supporting the graphics will be stats on why being sustainable makes sense for individuals, organisations and the planet, provided by Kids Industries. Plus, information about Informa Market’s own initiatives to be more sustainable.

Commenting is Anna Knight, VP of Licensing, Informa Markets. “Brand owners, retailers and manufacturers have all been making purposeful and practical commitments to improving the sustainability of their products, businesses and the sector as a whole through a range of initiatives focused on putting the planet before profit. We can’t wait to showcase these at BLE in November to inspire others on their sustainability journeys.”

Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and CEO of Products of Change, adds; “With both Covid and Brexit hitting business hard this year, it has been extremely encouraging to see the industry still focusing on transitioning to a more sustainable production model, as well as incorporating a large proportion of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals within their sustainability framework.

“I cannot think of a better place to celebrate the industry’s achievements than being able to physically show them at BLE this year. It is a real honour to be working with the progressive team at Informa to bring this activation to life. I’m really looking forward to inspiring more businesses to come on the sustainable journey with us.”

Attendees can obtain further information and register for free here.