If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others. Lingering thought after a provocative chat with James George, previously at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and now in a new role at PYXERA Global!We explore a breadth of topics to redefine systems for sustainability, equity, and circularity-> starting … Read more
“We all agree…someone needs to do something about ocean plastic. This is the something, you are the someone.” David Katz, CEO of Plastic Bank. Today is World Oceans Day, observed by United Nations member states to bring discussions, policies, and people impacted by ocean and coastal degradation worldwide. In Episode 58, Sheri Hinish (SupplyChainQueen) chats … Read more
Freedom. We all want it, even in our supply chains to unlock visibility and truth. People often have a will to fix problems tied to transparency and traceability but don’t know how. Slavery affects over 40 million people and another 85 million children under the age of 11 work in hazardous labor conditions. Yet despite … Read more
In Latin, the word Circulor means ‘to form groups’. Doing business responsibly is now a business imperative and enabling the network effect through sustainable supply chains and circular economy is Circulor’s unique mission.In episode 57, host Sheri Hinish (SupplyChainQueen) chats with Veera Johnson – supply chain extraordinaire, woman of many trades including owning a retail … Read more
We all have a role to play in the decade of our lives to reach the 2030 SDG vision. Procurement professionals though have a unique opportunity controlling about $8.3T of world trade in materials flow and services annually. In one of the most inspiring episodes to date, Thomas Udeson, Chief Procurement Officer at Bayer and … Read more
Think about the journey of a coffee bean from East Africa to the consumer. Thousands of miles away in the 1 sip to field wrapped in a complex, and often unsustainable, inequitable supply chain. There are 25 million people living in the coffee ecosystem, and 2.5 billion coffee drinkers worldwide, and that number is expected … Read more
Traditionally, supply chains are one directional, linear and strive for incremental improvements. But through the lens of blockchain + sustainability + circularity, supply chains truly become an ecosystem with endless possibilities, connections, collaboration in an ocean of abundance, as opposed to closed, point to point processes. Think open. Think ecosystem, don’t think closed and incremental. … Read more
Imagine a world with total resource efficiency that leaves no one behind, allowing organizations to better visualize, quantify, and share assets across global supply chains. By connecting leading research institutions, Fortune 500 companies, government, school systems, nonprofits, startups, and other organizations in between, Chicago-based start-up Rheaply is creating a shared economy for innovation. This is … Read more
We’re in the midst of a significant transformation regarding the way we produce products thanks to the digitization of manufacturing and the convergence of tech. This transition represents a change in global supply chains, the fourth revolution that has occurred in manufacturing. Quality, harmonization across processes, leveraging data for insights in industry 4.0, all still … Read more
This is an episode where purpose and product meets sustainable + circular supply chains. From the amazing stories and use cases of AllBirds, Grove Collective, RareForm, and e-commerce brand Parker Clay who asked “…could we bring these beautiful products to the world, create jobs to empower vulnerable women in Ethiopia to become economically independent, and … Read more
The business case for diversity is stronger than ever. According to McKinsey’s latest research, 2019 analyses find that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability up from 21% in 2017 and 15% in 2014. Yet gender equity in STEM and supply chain has … Read more
Did you know that human-made materials now outweigh Earth’s entire biomass? The human footprint in the world in 2020 is greater than the impact on the planet of all other living things, research suggests. 2020 has been the “Year of the Pledges”. From setting 2030 to 2050 goals and claiming carbon-neutrality, one thing is for … Read more
This is a story that is unique and one that needs to be evangelized. Layla Shaikley, co-founder of a tech start-up that has seen explosive growth in logistics tech and AI-driven optimization within last mile stumbled into supply chain. She actually has a background in architecture and design. As an Iraqi woman, she wanted to … Read more
This is an ACTION-PACKED EPISODE! Epsiode 47 is part 2 of a series where Sheri Hinish (SupplyChainQueen) chats with a thought leader and supply chain advocate, Dr. Yossi Sheffi from MIT who has been teaching, learning, building, authoring many publications, including a new book ‘the New (Ab) Normal’ in a conversation that pushes boundaries highlighting areas that many in … Read more
Excellence does not happen by accident. Supply chains are answering the call during COVID and will continue to do so as a new vaccine comes to market. But how do we keep the momentum of speed, flexibility, without cutting corners? In a 2-part series, Sheri Hinish (SupplyChainQueen) chats with a thought leader and supply chain advocate, Dr. … Read more
Did you know that investors put $45.6B into funds focused ESG in Q1 2020 alone? And Fortune’s 2019 ‘Best Companies to Work For’ have ESG scores 14% higher than the global average. In a recent session with GiveWith, I explored how 88% of consumers will be more loyal to a company that supports social or … Read more
Dr. Garry Copper, neuroscientist turned sustainability technologist and circularity advocate had a pivotal moment – that our field is one-noted and we need to build a reuse bridge to capture value left in materials to transition to a sustainable world, a fly-wheel of wealth for communities who have been left out in the linear economy. Led … Read more
The wastes from plastics and electronics are putting increased pressure on the recycling industry and reverse supply chains. Despite massive initiatives by public and private organizations, recycling rates remain low and progress remains slow. Estimates suggest there are 400 million tons of plastic produced each year, which is projected to more than double by 2050. … Read more
Experts predict that retail ecommerce sales will reach $4.13 trillion in 2020 and it is expected that mobile commerce will take a market share of e-commerce of 72.9% by 2021. As we enter the holiday season navigating COVID, retailers face unprecedented opportunities to reimagine brand experiences and bridge the storefront’s physical to digital continuum. While adapting … Read more
Every tech company wants to tell you what their AI can do. Patterns help us make sense of the world and can help us overcome the impossible tasks we face each day in supply chain orchestration. From understanding gaps and influences, AI creates more intelligence in how to detect, understand, and pull parts of the … Read more
The purpose of a supply chain is to move goods and services around the world to meet user demand. And over decades, we’ve built coupled-networks based on principles of regionalization or centralization of function, location, and cost efficiency. COVID is an example of the uncertainty supply chains face on a day-to-day basis derived from old-school … Read more
Did you know that if you add up the cats and dogs in the United States, they’d represent the 5th largest population of protein consumption in the world? When it comes to pet supply chains and sustainability, there is typically 1 sector called “pet services and products”. This one sector, encompasses dozens of other industries … Read more
You think your supply chain is complicated? Think again. Did you know 70% of global production of natural rubber goes into tires, and 85% of the world’s natural rubber is produced by 6-7 million smallholders? Global economies depend on these industries, critical to many other industries and supply chains, but how do we make them … Read more
Networks are all about meaningful connections. When we think about the future of digital supply chains and ‘the network of networks “ powering the world, it’s just as much about connecting people with accurate information, partners, and ideas, as much as it is about connecting people with opportunities across plan, source, make, deliver, and reimagining … Read more
“The only way to end systemic inequality is to invest in minorities, the underrepresented, and women.” Access to education, healthcare, clean water, and economic development opportunities remain key priorities for many countries. Entire populations and children are being left behind and marginalized through climate change, disruptions, and globalization. Addressing generational poverty and transformation can take decades. How might … Read more