Sustainable Supply Chain

• Fixing Scope 3 with AI: Supplier Engagement, Data Accuracy, and Decarbonisation Levers

  Send me a messageIn this week’s episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I sat down with fellow Irishman Paul Byrnes, CEO of Mavarick AI, to explore how manufacturers can use AI and data to tackle the notoriously difficult challenge of Scope 3 emissions.Paul brings a unique perspective, rooted in both deep data science and hands-on manufacturing experience, and he didn’t shy away from the hard truths: most companies still struggle with messy, unreliable data and limited supplier engagement. We unpack why primary data will soon become table stakes, why spend-based estimates can be 40% off the mark, and how engaging suppliers requires a simple but often overlooked question, what’s in it for them?We also discussed where AI genuinely moves the needle:Boosting confidence in data accuracy by identifying gaps and “contaminated” entriesProviding personalised training to help suppliers meet sustainability requestsUncovering and prioritising decarbonisation levers with clear ROIPaul shared real-world examples, from medical devices to automotive, that show how targeted projects, rather than trying to tackle all 15 Scope 3 categories at once, deliver the best results. We also touched on the environmental footprint of AI itself, energy, water, rare materials, and how responsible computing and smaller, purpose-built models can reduce the impact.For leaders wrestling with emissions strategy, Paul’s advice is simple: start by mapping your data landscape. Know where you’re rich, where you’re poor, and build from there.This is a practical, candid conversation about making sustainability and profitability work hand-in-hand, and why efficiency wins are so often sustainability wins.Elevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain’ podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

  --------  

  42:38

  --------

  42:38
• Smart Supplier Relationships: The New Engine of Sustainable Supply Chains

  Send me a messageIn this week’s episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I sit down with Sam Jenks, Chief Revenue Officer at Kodiak Hub, to explore why supplier relationship management (SRM) is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a mission-critical capability.Sam shares his journey in procurement technology and explains why traditional supplier management approaches, spreadsheets, siloed systems, tick-box compliance, are no longer fit for purpose in today’s volatile, uncertain, and sustainability-driven landscape. He makes a compelling case for treating supplier relationships as strategic assets, not transactions, and shows how stronger data, collaboration, and lifecycle thinking can unlock resilience, innovation, and measurable sustainability impact.We talk about how poor quality directly undermines sustainability, why procurement must think beyond ROI to the “cost of inaction,” and how AI, particularly agentic AI, will reshape the way organisations capture insights, manage risk, and reduce emissions across complex supply bases. Sam also points out that most procurement teams still only secure a fraction of the technology they need, and offers advice on building the business case for smarter SRM.If your organisation is serious about Scope 3 emissions, resilient sourcing, or extracting real value from supplier collaboration, this conversation is for you. It’s about moving past compliance checklists and building supplier partnerships that deliver long-term advantage.Tune in and discover why SRM might just be the most powerful lever in your supply chain strategy.Elevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain’ podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

  --------  

  40:58

  --------

  40:58
• How to Decarbonise a Fleet: The Playbook You Actually Need

  Send me a messageFleet sustainability isn’t just about going electric, it’s about smart planning, cultural buy-in, and tackling operational friction head-on. In this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I’m joined by Steve Saltzgiver, Director of Fleet Success at RTA Fleet, who brings over 40 years of public and private sector experience in managing and modernising fleets.We get into the real-world obstacles holding back fleet decarbonisation - politics, procurement cycles, and the ever-persistent myth that owning a car qualifies someone to manage a fleet. Steve talks about how electrification is progressing unevenly across the US, why right-sizing and right-typing fleets are essential first steps, and how even basic maintenance practices can yield massive emissions savings.We also touch on the growing role of data in fleet operations - how VMRS codes, utilisation metrics, and carbon baselining can turn strategy into action. Steve shares stories from his time working with governments, utilities, and large enterprises, and reflects on the cultural transformation needed to make sustainability stick.Whether you manage a municipal fleet or oversee logistics in a Fortune 500 company, this episode is packed with grounded, practical advice for making fleets leaner, cleaner, and smarter.🎧 Listen now - and if you’re enjoying the podcast, consider becoming a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber to unlock the full back catalogue and shape future episodes.Elevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain’ podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

  --------  

  34:57

  --------

  34:57
• Beyond Compliance: The Business Case for Measuring Scope 3 Emissions

  Send me a messageIn this week’s episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I’m sharing a replay of one of my favourite conversations—my chat with George Wade, co-founder of Zevero. George’s story is a fascinating one: he began in waste management, only to realise that the biggest opportunities to cut emissions weren’t in bins or pallet wrap, but deep within supply chains. That insight led him to co-found Zevero, a carbon accounting company now operating globally.We unpack why Scope 3 emissions—those hidden in supply chains—are the toughest to measure yet the most crucial to tackle. George explains how Zevero helps organisations unlock data that would otherwise sit unused in ERP systems, turning it into actionable insights. He shares how even small companies can start the emissions journey without drowning in complexity, and why measurement isn’t just about compliance—it’s also about competitive advantage, customer trust, and employee engagement.George highlights success stories from clients like Jubel, a drinks brand that discovered its products had 67% fewer emissions than competitors—a powerful figure when selling into major retailers. We also discuss surprising benefits of emissions tracking, from reduced costs and new innovation pathways to improved staff morale and retention.Looking ahead, George predicts carbon accounting will become more collaborative, with data-sharing frameworks enabling companies to finally compare “apples with apples.” The future, he argues, belongs to those who measure accurately, act decisively, and communicate transparently.If you’re grappling with Scope 3 or looking for practical ways to reduce emissions across complex supply chains, this episode offers both clarity and inspiration.Listen in and discover why accurate data is the missing link in building truly sustainable supply chains.Elevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain’ podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

  --------  

  42:14

  --------

  42:14
• The Silent Risks Hiding in Your Supply Chain (and How to Spot Them)

  Send me a messageIn this week’s episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I’m bringing you a replay of my conversation with Rhea Rakshit, VP of Product at Sayari. While I’m away on holidays, it felt like the perfect time to revisit one of the most insightful discussions we’ve had this year, on ESG, supply chain transparency, and the shift from “tick-the-box” CSR to something far more strategic and impactful.Rhea and I unpack how regulation is reshaping corporate behaviour, forcing ESG out of the sidelines and into the core of business strategy. She explains why ownership of ESG can’t sit in a silo, it needs cross-functional alignment, from procurement to compliance to operations. A key theme we explore is the balance between scope and scale: start small, win trust, then expand. Trying to boil the ocean from day one is a recipe for inertia.We also dive into what true visibility looks like in supply chains. It’s not just about mapping suppliers, it’s about tracing to raw materials, exposing risks like forced labour, deforestation, and climate impacts, and most importantly, creating data that is decision-ready. Rhea argues that the real test of ESG isn’t reporting, it’s remediation. If a supplier is found to be linked to harmful practices, what happens next? Do companies walk away, or work to improve conditions? That’s where the real impact lies.We bring in perspectives from the Global South too, where the social dimension of ESG is often most acute, and Rhea shares why, despite the challenges, she’s optimistic about the ability of businesses to build resilient, transparent, and ethical supply chains.If you’re looking to understand how ESG in supply chains is evolving, from compliance headache to strategic advantage, this episode is well worth your time.Listen now and let me know what you think.#SustainableSupplyChain #ESG #SupplyChainTransparency #ForcedLabour #Deforestation #SustainabilityElevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain’ podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

  --------  

  38:31

  --------

  38:31

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Sustainable Supply Chain

Sustainable Supply Chain: Podcasts in Family