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  1. Global challenges
  2. Supply chains

Supply chains and livelihoods

It shouldn’t cost the earth for supply chains to meet our needs. Yet entrenched in many global supply chains are environmental abuse, poor working conditions, unequal distribution of profits, and inefficient use of resources.

Shifting these complex problems requires us to collaborate, remove barriers to progress, coordinate our efforts and innovate solutions in the face of disruptive change. Only then can we secure sustainable supply, viability and fair livelihoods across global industries.

What are our goals?

  • Engaging brands, retailers and consumers in buying sustainably sourced products.
  • Transforming supply chain business models to distribute value more equally.
  • Addressing barriers to transparency.
  • Identifying and building opportunities for sustainable jobs and livelihoods, and growing the resilience of farmers, workers and communities.

Talk to Charlene Collison, our Associate Director, Sustainable Value Chains and Livelihoods, or see more of our work below.

We're tracking this challenge live on the Futures Centre, head over to see what #signalsofchange we're spotting.

Beauty and Personal Care Sustainability Project

Beauty and Personal Care Sustainability Project

Demand for sustainable products is growing, and calls for safe and sustainable products, with transparent and clear ingredient lists, are increasing. So, how do we get more sustainable products on retailers’ shelves? Read more

Published: 29th November, 2017

Updated: 15th March, 2021

Author:

Circular Leap Asia

Circular Leap Asia

A new Forum report shines a light on the huge untapped potential of fashion manufacturers to contribute to the fashion sector’s circular transformation and highlights the opportunity to recalibrate industry power dynamics as the industry emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. Read more

Published: 1st September, 2020

Updated: 29th January, 2021

Author: Madeleine Wild

Consumer Futures 2020

Consumer Futures 2020

A practical tool based around four future scenarios to help consumer goods organisations plan for the years ahead. Read more

Published: 17th September, 2018

Updated: 15th June, 2020

Author: George Harding-Rolls

Cotton 2040

Cotton 2040

Cotton 2040 aims to create a resilient cotton industry in an increasingly climate-disrupted world by bringing together stakeholders across the value chain. Read more

Published: 29th November, 2017

Updated: 1st March, 2021

Author:

Cotton 2040: aligning sustainability impact metrics

Cotton 2040: aligning sustainability impact metrics

As part of Cotton 2040, we are working with the major sustainable cotton standards, programmes and codes on greater alignment of sustainable cotton impact metrics. Creating more credible, consistent and comparable data will help brands and retailers to more confidently track the impact of their sustainable cotton sourcing decisions. Read more

Published: 23rd September, 2020

Updated: 8th January, 2021

Author: Ulrike Stein

CottonUP guide

CottonUP guide

Together with the partners in the Cotton 2040 coalition, we are calling on brands and retailers to radically increase their sourcing of sustainable cotton and have launched a digital guide to support them with fast-tracking their sourcing strategies Read more

Published: 26th June, 2018

Updated: 15th March, 2021

Author: Madeleine Wild

Creating sustainable value chains

Creating sustainable value chains

Resources for organisations working to pilot and scale alternative business models that have the potential to balance nature, people and economy. Read more

Published: 17th February, 2020

Updated: 15th March, 2021

Author: Maria Powazka

Decent Rural Living Initiative

Decent Rural Living Initiative

Identifying, supporting and scaling solutions that improve the lives of rural workers in Indonesia. Read more

Published: 26th November, 2018

Updated: 15th March, 2021

Author: George Harding-Rolls

Eliminating single-use plastics with Asian food delivery companies

Eliminating single-use plastics with Asian food delivery companies

Promising convenience, affordability and choice for busy consumers, food delivery services have burgeoned in recent years, particularly in Asia. In 2015, the Asia Pacific region accounted for nearly half the total value of global home food delivery, and it’s expected to be the industry’s fastest growing region in the next 2 years. Read more

Published: 25th September, 2018

Updated: 15th June, 2020

Author: Madeleine Wild

Envisioning the future of Man-made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF)

Envisioning the future of Man-made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF)

Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) – including viscose, rayon, modal and lyocell – have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable future. The MMCF 2030 Vision outlines how it could build a more resilient apparel and textile industry and contribute to regeneration across its value chain. Read more

Published: 17th June, 2020

Updated: 8th September, 2020

Author: Lucinda Thurmer

Fashion Futures 2030

Fashion Futures 2030

An interactive toolkit exploring how current trends - from climate change to nationalism and AI - could shape fashion in 2030 Read more

Published: 14th May, 2019

Updated: 15th June, 2020

Author: Ulrike Stein

Growing our Future

Growing our Future

A new Forum report reveals 16 systemic barriers to scaling regenerative agriculture and a seven-point-plan to overcome them. Read more

Published: 20th May, 2020

Updated: 4th December, 2020

Author: Maria Powazka

Tea 2030

Tea 2030

Tea 2030 was set up in 2013 to help deliver a sustainable tea industry, from crop to cup. To do that, we needed the cooperation and collaboration across the tea industry, from pickers and packers to producers and purchasers. Read more

Published: 29th November, 2017

Updated: 6th November, 2020

Author:

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Showing 10 of 13

Latest

  • Independent AAC Member

    We are looking for an independent member of our Audit and Assurance Committee (AAC) who believes, as we do, to accelerate the transformation to a regenerative and just future and who is keen to use their skills, experience and networks to help govern our organisation.

  • Hannah Cunneen

    Hannah Cunneen

    Principal Project Manager

  • Basecamp Europe Autumn 2021

    Basecamp Europe Autumn 2021

    A learning experience in partnership with DRIFT Transitions Academy kicking off in October 2021. Applications will be open from May 2021 to changemakers from all sectors who are looking to grow their impact. Sessions are planned around European time zones, but you can participate from anywhere

  • Renewable Energy to Responsible Energy Initiative: Call to Action Report

    Renewable Energy to Responsible Energy Initiative: Call to Action Report

    The Responsible Energy Initiative is a multi-year programme working to ensure renewable energy in Asia achieves its full potential for positive environmental and social outcomes.

Most read

  • The Five Capitals - a framework for sustainability

    The Five Capitals - a framework for sustainability

    The Five Capitals Model provides a basis for understanding sustainability in terms of the economic concept of wealth creation or ‘capital’. Any organisation will use five types of capital to deliver its products or services. A sustainable organisation will maintain and where possible enhance these stocks of capital assets, rather than deplete or degrade them.

  • Reinventing the way the world works.

    Reinventing the way the world works.

    Forum for the Future is a leading international sustainability non-profit. We specialise in addressing critical global challenges by catalysing change in key systems, from food to apparel, energy to shipping. We do this by convening transformational collaborations to drive change, by partnering with organisations to help them lead by example, and by building a global community of pioneers and change makers.

  • Jobs

    We are a growing organisation and we are regularly on the look out for new recruits to join our teams around the world.

  • Sustainability and system change

    Sustainability and system change

    Climate change, malnutrition, inequality, poverty, ecological degradation. The global challenges we face are so urgent and tricky that we need a solution to match their scale and complexity. This is where system change comes in. We use systems thinking to understand the web of interrelations that create complex problems, anticipate unintended consequences, and identify how and where to take action to meet the SDG goals.

  • What is a sustainable business model?

    What is a sustainable business model?

    What is a sustainable business model? The term signals the need to go beyond innovating products or services, and change the fundamentals of how a business makes money.

  • Pioneering sustainability strategies

    Pioneering sustainability strategies

    Leadership in the 2020s is about your organisation’s ability to positively influence its operating context. We help you to understand the opportunities, and then how to unlock them.

  • Protein Challenge 2040

    Protein Challenge 2040

    The Protein Challenge 2040 is the first global coalition of its kind, aiming to tackle the question: How do we provide up to 10 billion people with enough protein in a way that is healthy, affordable and good for the planet?

  • Fashion Futures 2025

    Fashion Futures 2025

    Working with Levi Strauss and Co using futures techniques to develop global scenarios for a sustainable fashion industry.

  • What is Net Positive?

    What is Net Positive?

    We reinvent strategies for a 1.5°C world. Our Net Positive approach helps business put back more into society and environment than it takes out. Unilever’s pioneering commitment to eliminate fossil fuels from its operations and directly support the generation of more renewable energy than they consume was driven behind the scenes by Forum.

  • Become a system change agent

    Become a system change agent

    Learn more about upcoming programmes and express your interest.

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The Forum for the Future is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales.

Registered office: Overseas House, 19-23 Ironmonger Row, London, EC1V 3QN, UK. Charity No. 1040519. Company No. 2959712. VAT Reg. No. GB 186 2230 12.