Truth, myth, risk, responsibility, opportunity and hope. These six words will help unpack the future of the most miraculous but toxic and indestructible material of the 20th century. Sian Sutherland , Co-founder of A Plastic Planet, will explains why, where there is change, there is always opportunity. She will explain what materials and system innovations will help wean us from plastic and change how we take, make and waste forever.

This session will explore some initiatives that can enable companies to tackle their supply chain emissions successfully and why economics should not present a barrier to achieving net-zero supply chain emissions.

9:45 - 10:10:  Net Zero Logistics: from mitigation to sequestration - Alan McKinnon 

• Many companies are now aiming to make their logistics operations ‘net zero’ by 2050 or earlier, but what does net zero mean in the context of logistics? By how much can we realistically reduce logistics emissions by 2050 and how can the logistics sector support ‘negative emission’ efforts to remove greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere? Professor McKinnon’s presentation will discuss both the mitigation and sequestration sides of ‘net zero’ from a logistics perspective.

10:10 - 10:25:  What does the Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan mean for you? - Dr Bob Moran

10:25 - 11:00:  Why it’s important to be ambitious on the road to net zero - Gabrielle Ginér, Sonya Bhonsle, Catherine Westoby

• This presentation from Gabrielle, Catherine and Sonya will focus on the role and importance of supply chain collaboration in getting to zero. Hear from BT, CDP and BEIS on their initiatives and how collaboration between businesses, NGOs, investors, policy-makers and others is key to engaging with suppliers (large and small) to achieve net zero.

In this session, we will investigate how through the use of IoT, AI and Blockchain, companies can reduce GHGs, optimise routes, reduce waste, ensure efficient transactions with suppliers, improve worker safety and mitigate risks.

11:15 - 11:40: The role of logistics in Arla’s ambition to lead sustainable dairy in the UK - James Pirie

• As the UK’s biggest dairy company and the nation’s fourth-biggest food company, Arla Foods recognises that it has a big responsibility when it comes to the environment. It is committed to achieving net zero right across its supply chain by 2050, and a key element in achieving that ambition is sustainable logistics. In this presentation James will set out what his team is doing to transform the impact of their operations including through the use of innovative technology.

11:40 - 12:05: Electrifying the UK road freight system - David Cebon

• his presentation will discuss the results of a recent study into electrifying UK logistics operations.  If is fair to say that the main challenge is not in the vehicle technology, but in the electrical charging systems.  So what sort of charging infrastructure would be needed for electric HGVs to provide the same logistics services as the existing diesel fleet in the UK?  Attend this talk and find out!

 

The electrification of road transport and zero emission cars and lorries will not solve all our problems, but they will help a great deal. Getting there is another matter entirely. Fleet operators must make purchasing decisions soon for the vehicles in operation beyond 2030. Is a lack of credible vehicle solutions and refuelling/charging infrastructure preventing operators from fulfilling their commitments and delivering their agreed strategies? This session will look at the challenges that remain in this shift and explore how government can ease the transition.

This session will demonstrate examples of how embedded sustainability efforts result in a positive impact on business performance.

13:45 - 14:10: What Maplin is doing to be more sustainable, differentiated and profitable - Ollie Marshall & Matthew Barrie

• Ollie’s presentation will focus not only on the distributed supply chain model (overall less transportation of goods within its supply chain), but also on e-commerce packing/ship-in-own container and how Maplin is using packaging that can go straight into the courier network without an outboxing (i.e. less wasteful packaging), and finally instant and sustainable delivery (Gorillas & Quiver), working with partners that only use electric bikes/vans/mopeds/vehicles to deliver its orders and in less time (differentiation). These initiatives combined have allowed Maplin to transition from the High Street to one of the fastest-growing e-commerce brands in the retail market.

14:10 - 14:35: Where Is the Intersection of Environmental and Operational Efficiency? - Eva James

• How can we simultaneously prioritise end-to-end costs, time constraints, and now carbon efficiencies? They are all critical factors in our supply chain management strategies, but is there a barrier to bringing carbon into the discussion? Will emissions considerations negatively disrupt the operational status quo? Sustainable solutions are collaborative and data-driven by nature; it is important to realise how they will contribute to your existing, decision-making processes. This presentation will explore the challenges and benefits of integrating and aligning your company’s environmental and business performance goals to build up and maintain a sustainable supply chain.

This session will explore how to balance sustainable environmental protection with economic considerations.

14:50 - 15:15: Re-wind not rewind: a vision of shipping 4.0 - Gavin Allwright

• Gavin will discuss how the integration of wind propulsion technologies into global shipping could effectively finance the full decarbonisation of shipping over the next three decades. His presentation will reveal a more holistic approach to both shipping and how that integrates into the global supply chain. This has the potential to move shipping from a hard-to-abate sector towards a decarbonisation pioneer.

15:15 - 15:40: Modal Shift - overcoming the challenge of decarbonising trunk haulage - Julian Worth

• Transport decarbonisation focusses very largely on reducing CO2 emissions from individual modes, but this misses the point that switching mode can produce substantial carbon savings, not only in the future but today. Electrically-hauled trains are a fully proven, mature technology for moving freight, in volume, over long distances with near-zero carbon emissions, given renewable or nuclear energy. Carbon reductions of 60-70% compared with HGVs can be achieved within weeks using existing diesel locomotives. Julian will discuss how modal switch to rail is already occurring in the UK and highlight considerable scope for the future.

The warehouse is a vital element of an efficient, sustainable supply chain. Regardless of what industry a warehouse serves, companies utilising warehouse logistics will do well to not view warehousing as simply a means to store raw materials and finished goods. This panel discuss will feature leaders discussing approaches including but not limited to automating both warehouse solutions and management processes, increasing energy efficiency within a warehouse, and optimising warehouse design.

In a world in which we all need to do everything we can to combat climate change, greenwashing is a massive environmental issue. It makes it harder for consumers to make eco-friendly decisions and in the long run erodes trust in genuinely eco-friendly and sustainable brands. This panel will involve companies that not only talk the talk but walk the walk – brands that aren’t using sustainability as a buzzword but are publishing details of (and results from) valid initiatives, outlining how they’re reducing their carbon footprint as well as how they’re working towards a better and more sustainable tomorrow.

This session will look at how experts and retail industry is trying to confront the issue issue of reverse logistics.

9:45 - 10:10: The Role of Advanced Technology in Sustainable Supply Chains - Ben Ramsden

• Advanced Digital Technologies are coming of age at just the right time. Creating a new infrastructure for unprecedented levels of collaboration, these technologies offer us the potential to build dynamic new markets that reverse climate change rather than become overwhelmed by it. In this session Ben will present a vision for sustainable supply chains and demonstrate how this is not only achievable, but that funding is available to make it happen.

10:10 - 10:35: The financial and environmental costs and logistical challenges of processing returns - Daniel Peach

• Product returns have long been a sustainability challenge, but the growth in e-commerce and changing shopping behaviours are adding environmental, financial, and logistical challenges for companies and suppliers. Daniel will highlight the scale of the problem and highlight examples of how to influence buying behaviour through tools like education, process transparency, restocking costs, and more.

This session will explore how some retailers are innovating not only in product design but also their manufacturing processes and business operations as a mean to clean-up and ‘circularise’ their value chains.

11:15 - 11:40: Beyond planting trees – an insight into strategies for a sustainable operation - Lewe Goldman

• Newly planted trees cannot offset any carbon emissions, so more is needed to reduce carbon footprints immediately. CLOUD NINE is kinder to the environment by implementing sustainable strategies beyond the planting of trees, strategies that include waste reduction, carbon reduction and offsetting as well as introducing eco-friendly packaging options. Lewe’s presentation will highlight the different strategies in place as well as give actionable advice on to start the journey to a sustainable operation.

11:40 - 12:05: KinKind’s development journey to challenge the status quo - Victoria Coe

• Victoria will share the journey of KinKind – through the development of product and business operations – to create a business that challenges the status quo, minimising waste and carbon footprint versus the market.

Supply chains are responsible for around 80% of GHGs, so their role in the transition from linearity to a circular economy – and therefore in the successful implementation of a truly circular economy – is crucial. Here, we will hear from companies that are increasingly prioritising sustainability and circularity to eliminate ‘take, make, waste’ to engender a culture of enhanced agility, which is a prerequisite especially amid continuing massive supply chain disruptions.

This session will showcase some innovative propositions for energy-efficient last-mile fulfilment.

13:45 - 14:10: Employing deep learning to more effectively solve the sustainable last-mile delivery solutions of tomorrow - Dylan Johnson

• Dylan’s research focuses on finding more effective ways of finding solutions to what we believe are the sustainable last-mile delivery solutions of tomorrow. Those sustainable solutions he is looking at include the employment of (dynamic) micro-depots in urban areas, the use of quadrupedal robots for last-mile delivery, crowdshipping, the sharing of freight and passenger vehicles and drones. From the technical side, he is approaching his work from an artificial intelligence perspective, specifically if these logistics problems can be better addressed through deep learning methods – whether we can use graph neural networks to solve traditional operations research problems that typically are used to solve these optimization problems. In theory, this could enable algorithms that are more generalisable, scalable and accurate in solving these problems which require considerable computational power.

The session will explore the role of digital supply networks and why they have the potential to revolutionise global compliance and ethical standards.

14:50 - 15:15 A marketers’ easy guide to making your CSR greener - Frannie Santos-Mawdsley

• Having a career of more than 20 years in 360 Marketing with a focus on insight and product development, Frannie will share her experience in helping companies adopt policies and develop processes that are green ‘ticks’ to add to your CSR… or are those precepts actually an example of greenwashing? Find out more during this interactive presentation

15:15 - 15:40 River Island - achieving a sustainable and ethical supply chain - Adrain Stevenson & Peter Needle

• Customers expect products that are safe, sustainable and responsibly sourced and fashion retailer, River Island, is committed to ensuring that is exactly what it offers. This presentation from Adrian and Peter will explain how a simple-to-use, cost-effective software solution is providing the capability to manage and track orders, capturing key supplier data and in doing so mitigating risks and driving transparency. Segura provides next-generation supply chain transparency, to ensure suppliers are ethical, sustainable, efficient and compliant. The ultimate aim is that one day every product will come with provenance: accessible, trustworthy information about origin, journey and impact.

15:40 - 16:05: Closing the loop for plastic in electronic products – main drivers, challenges, and key success factors - Marta Jakowczyk

• At HP Inc, its experience in closed-loop recycling with ink cartridges started 18 years ago, but more recently the IT giant has established a commitment and challenged itself to expand this process to the hardware space. The plastics closed-loop system is a complex puzzle that requires high focus in all stages including channel partner relationships, take-back schemes from customers, conscientious consumers and recycling partners, recycling, compounding, moulding, product design, qualification, and manufacturing. HP joined partners with the same vision to develop an end-to-end solution. Like any other complex industrial process, the solution must define and scale up an economically beneficial outcome for all partners involved. Marta’s presentation highlights the drivers, challenges, success factors, and the continued learnings of this innovative, ground-breaking process.

16:05 - 16:30: Net Zero: A sustainability shockwave - Steve Malkin

• Net zero is sending shockwaves through supply chains. As companies set their net zero targets and plans to achieve them, they are turning to suppliers for data and solutions. For the unprepared it is causing confusion but those already on the journey it is providing alignment, creating collaboration and driving innovation. Steve will share insights into why net zero has momentum and how to put your business on the front foot by embracing sustainability.