Sustainability LIVE Returns to London with Senior Executives from Toyota, eBay and BBC
Major corporations confirm attendance at September 2026 sustainability forum
Sustainability LIVE: The London Summit will take place on 8 and 9 September 2026 at the QEII Centre in Westminster. The event brings together senior executives from Toyota Motor Europe, eBay, and the BBC to discuss net zero implementation, circular economy models, and decarbonisation strategies.
The summit targets sustainability, procurement, and supply chain leaders. It runs alongside Procurement LIVE and Supply Chain LIVE at the same venue. Organizers have confirmed sessions on automotive decarbonisation, AI applications in sustainability, and circular commerce.
This follows an earlier Sustainability LIVE event in March 2026. Together, they form part of a year-long program addressing sector-specific climate transition challenges. The September summit focuses on practical implementation rather than general commitments.
Confirmed sessions cover automotive, AI, and recommerce applications
The agenda includes four main streams. Sessions titled "The Future of Net Zero Automotive" and "Global Decarbonisation Strategies" address emissions reduction across operations and supply chains. "The Sustainability Strategy Forum" examines business model shifts required for climate compliance. "The Future of AI in Sustainability" explores how artificial intelligence supports environmental decision-making.
Toyota Motor Europe participates through Leon van der Merwe, Vice President of Energy Business. He joins an automotive panel alongside representatives from Constellation Automotive Group, HellermannTyton, and Formula E. The session examines how manufacturers can cut emissions while maintaining production capacity and market competitiveness.
Renée Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer at eBay, represents the recommerce sector. She stated that "the role of recommerce in driving a more circular economy has never been more important." Her participation highlights the growing recognition of resale platforms as tools for waste reduction and resource efficiency.
The BBC contributes through Danielle Mulder, Chief Sustainability Officer. She speaks in the AI and sustainability stream. This session considers how media and service organizations use technology to measure, report, and reduce environmental impact across complex operations.
Other confirmed organizations include BT Group, VodafoneThree, Experian, International Workplace Group, Merck Life Science, and Huhtamaki. The mix spans telecommunications, financial services, manufacturing, and packaging. Consequently, the event addresses sustainability challenges across multiple sectors rather than focusing on a single industry.
Format designed for senior executive engagement and peer exchange
The QEII Centre in Westminster provides space for keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and structured networking. The venue seats up to 1,400 delegates in plenary format. It has hosted government conferences, industry summits, and international policy forums.
Sustainability LIVE operates as a hybrid event. Attendees can participate in person or access sessions remotely. This format emerged during 2020 and has since become standard for business conferences addressing international audiences. However, the emphasis remains on in-person interaction for senior executives seeking peer connections and operational insight.
The co-location with Procurement LIVE and Supply Chain LIVE creates opportunities for cross-functional discussion. Many sustainability decisions depend on procurement choices and supply chain structures. Therefore, running these events together allows delegates to address interconnected issues without attending separate conferences.
Previous Sustainability LIVE events have attracted leaders from multinational corporations, public sector bodies, and industry associations. The London Summit continues this approach. Registration typically opens six months before the event date, with early-bird pricing for organizations booking multiple delegate places.
Key details for businesses considering attendance
- The summit takes place on 8 and 9 September 2026 at the QEII Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE.
- Confirmed speakers include representatives from Toyota Motor Europe, eBay, BBC, BT Group, VodafoneThree, Experian, and other major organizations.
- Sessions cover net zero automotive strategies, circular commerce, AI applications in sustainability, and global decarbonisation approaches.
- The event runs alongside Procurement LIVE and Supply Chain LIVE, allowing delegates to address sustainability, procurement, and supply chain issues in one location.
- The hybrid format supports both in-person and remote participation for organizations with budget or travel constraints.
Corporate focus shifts from pledges to operational delivery
The speaker lineup and session topics indicate a shift in corporate sustainability priorities. Organizations now focus on implementation rather than target-setting. Automotive manufacturers address production line emissions and energy infrastructure. Retailers examine circular business models and product lifecycle management. Media companies explore data systems and reporting frameworks.
This reflects a broader pattern across UK and European business. Many companies set net zero targets between 2019 and 2022. By 2026, the challenge has moved to delivery. Executives need methods for measuring emissions, identifying reduction opportunities, and reporting progress to stakeholders.
For UK SMEs, this creates both pressure and opportunity. Large corporations increasingly require suppliers to demonstrate carbon reduction and environmental management. Public sector procurement follows similar patterns, particularly after requirements such as PPN 06/21 established carbon reporting as a tender qualification. Smaller businesses therefore face questions about measurement, reduction plans, and supply chain transparency.
At the same time, companies that develop sustainability capabilities early gain competitive advantages. They qualify for tenders that exclude less prepared competitors. They reduce energy costs and waste disposal expenses. They attract customers and employees who prioritize environmental performance. The summit's focus on practical tools and sector-specific strategies reflects this commercial reality.
AI's inclusion as a major theme signals another shift. Early sustainability efforts relied on manual data collection and spreadsheet analysis. Modern approaches use software platforms to track energy use, calculate emissions, and identify efficiency opportunities. Artificial intelligence automates much of this work, allowing smaller organizations to access capabilities previously available only to large corporations with dedicated sustainability teams.
Automotive sector faces acute decarbonisation pressure
Toyota's participation highlights challenges specific to vehicle manufacturing. The automotive industry contributes approximately 9% of global carbon emissions when production, supply chains, and vehicle use are combined. Electric vehicle adoption addresses tailpipe emissions but introduces new challenges around battery production, charging infrastructure, and grid capacity.
Manufacturers also face emissions across their operations. Stamping plants, paint shops, and assembly lines consume significant energy. Supply chains span multiple countries and hundreds of tier-two and tier-three suppliers. Consequently, automotive companies must address Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions simultaneously.
Leon van der Merwe's role as Vice President of Energy Business suggests Toyota's focus on power systems and charging infrastructure. The company has invested in hydrogen fuel cell technology alongside battery electric vehicles. This diversified approach reflects uncertainty about which technologies will dominate different vehicle segments and geographic markets over the next decade.
Formula E's involvement adds another dimension. The electric racing series serves as a testing ground for battery technology, energy management systems, and lightweight materials. Lessons from motorsport often transfer to consumer vehicles. Therefore, the session likely examines how competition accelerates innovation and how manufacturers translate racing technology into production models.
Circular commerce gains recognition as emissions reduction strategy
eBay's participation represents the growing importance of recommerce in corporate sustainability strategies. Resale platforms extend product lifespans, reducing demand for new manufacturing. This cuts emissions, raw material extraction, and waste generation.
The recommerce market has grown significantly since 2020. Consumers increasingly buy secondhand clothing, electronics, furniture, and other goods. Younger demographics show particular willingness to purchase used items, driven by environmental concern and cost savings. As a result, resale has shifted from niche activity to mainstream retail channel.
For businesses, this creates new opportunities and challenges. Brands that once discouraged resale now launch their own secondhand programs. Retailers integrate used goods into their product mix. However, circular models require different logistics, quality control, and customer service approaches than traditional retail.
Renée Morin's emphasis on circular economy importance suggests eBay will share data and case studies from its platform. The company processes millions of secondhand transactions annually across multiple product categories. This generates insights into consumer behavior, product durability, and market dynamics that other organizations can apply to their own circular initiatives.
Where to find additional information and registration details
The official Sustainability LIVE website provides full agenda details, speaker profiles, and registration information. Organizations can book individual delegate places or group packages. Early registration typically offers reduced rates.
The QEII Centre website includes venue information, accessibility details, and accommodation options. Westminster has extensive public transport connections via underground, rail, and bus services. Several hotels within walking distance offer corporate rates for conference attendees.
Businesses evaluating whether to attend should consider their current sustainability priorities and capability gaps. The automotive and circular economy sessions suit manufacturers and retailers. The AI stream applies to organizations beginning digital transformation of environmental management. The strategy forum addresses senior leaders developing long-term climate commitments.
For UK SMEs working toward carbon reporting compliance and net zero programs, the summit offers insight into how larger organizations approach implementation challenges. Supply chain requirements often flow down from major corporations to smaller suppliers. Understanding customer expectations helps businesses prepare for future tender requirements and partnership criteria.
Companies can also explore training resources on sustainability topics to build internal knowledge before attending industry events. This preparation allows delegates to engage more effectively with speakers and peers, ask informed questions, and identify relevant contacts for follow-up discussions.