The popular Slide & OTS Winter Sustainability Breakfast will take place once again this year. For 2026, the breakfast will be a combination of 30 minutes of speakers, followed by a new sustainability workshop, to support all attendees in starting or progressing their sustainability journey.
The breakfast takes place on Wednesday 7th January 7.30am – 9am, at the show venue.
Programme:
7:30 to 7:55am – Breakfast and networking
7:55 to 8:00am – SIGB Welcome and Introduction
8am to 8:15am – speaker – Michael Jennings, Policy & Public Affairs Advisor, Beyondly
Packaging is everywhere! If you sell or buy a product there is a good change it’s in some form of packaging. Working for a Yorkshire-based packaging compliance scheme, Michael will run through the current state of play regarding the revised packaging regulations (pEPR), explain what businesses need to do to meet their reporting obligations and protect their bottom line, and we’ll finish by looking to the future of packaging recyclability in the UK.
8:15m to 8:30am – speaker – Charles Ross, textiles and sustainability expert
Charles will update us on conversations around biogenic versus ancient carbon and the potential impact on the Higg Index (the suite of self-assessment tools developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition/Cascale to measure environmental and social sustainability impacts). He will also update us on latest EU regulations, covering what is new and still current, what has been simplified, and looking at proposed upcoming legislation, especially focusing on ESPR and PEFs.
8:30 to 9am – Sustainability Workshop – Hosted by Dominic Winter, Climate Action Consultant, OIA, and Head of Advocacy, Protect Our Winters UK.
Feedback from previous editions suggest that there is more value when attendees can participate, not just listen. So, for 2026, we are moving to a more interactive workshop format for the second half of the sustainability breakfast. Making use of the table layout, we will offer a choice of themed discussion groups, to make sure all can focus on the topic they need to make progress on – from introductions to climate reporting, to building sustainability into everyday business decisions. Each table will be facilitated, creating a space to learn from our peers on sustainability problems we have that others may have solved, or any that we can solve only through collaboration. Ahead of the session, take a moment to reflect on: Where do you need the most help in sustainability, and in what area do you have experience you can share with others?
All are welcome to attend, but breakfast will be first-come first-served, and registration is recommended via the form below, so that we can send you the presentations following the event (please note: registration priority will be given to exhibiting brands, retailers and press).