Supply chains: critical to global ESG imperative

Circular and sustainable supply chains must be on the agenda of all organisations aiming to future-proof their businesses. So says SAPICS, the Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, in the lead-up to the 2023 SAPICS Conference.

This challenge, which is a critical part of the global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) imperative, is one of the important topics that will be in the spotlight at the upcoming conference, Africa’s leading event for the supply chain profession.

Hundreds of supply chain practitioners from around the world will gather in Cape Town from 11 to 14 June 2023 for this annual event. Experts will examine diverse issues ranging from carbon mapping of international fruit distribution to global health supply chains’ impact on climate change.

Emissions impact of fresh fruit distribution

The emissions impact of distributing goods such as fresh fruit is attracting increasing attention due to the heightened awareness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, despite the environmental impact of transporting, handling, and storing goods, assessing the carbon emissions of these activities is a largely underdeveloped field. This is according to Dr Martin du Plessis, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University under the guidance of Professor Joubert van Eeden (Department of Industrial Engineering) and Professor Leila Goedhals-Gerber (Department of Logistics).

Du Plessis contends that this state of affairs is predominantly the result of a lack of practical industry guidance. The distribution of fresh fruit exported from South Africa is one such process that requires a standardised and accurate method to determine GHG emissions.

Du Plessis is one of the compelling presenters on the programme at the 45^th annual SAPICS Conference. Co-presenting with Van Eeden, he will introduce conference delegates to an important carbon mapping framework and associated emission intensity factors. These were developed specifically for the South African fruit export sector to determine logistical emissions. “This framework and emission intensity factors have been developed to calculate logistical emissions. The framework serves as a comprehensive and useful standard for all logistical activities,” expands Du Plessis.

He notes that the distribution of fresh fruit, like all other goods, is a carbon-intensive process, and that logistical decisions significantly impact the carbon footprint of said goods. In this presentation, Du Plessis and Van Eeden will also share research results and explore the potential for collaboration between industry partners.

Climate change and healthcare supply chains

Climate change and healthcare supply chains are inextricably linked. Climate variability and more frequent extreme weather events not only disrupt healthcare supply chains but may also trigger diseases and humanitarian crises. According to JSI health logistics director Edward Wilson, there is no doubt that climate change is accelerating the need to redesign the global health supply chain.

“Key improvements, such as developing additional manufacturing and distribution resources from inception to delivery, in collaboration with government and business leaders, can ease disruption to life-saving health product and medicine delivery when it is needed most,” says Wilson.

Wilson will examine these issues in his presentation at the 2023 SAPICS Conference, as well as how global health supply chains are contributing to climate change. “Overall, we know that healthcare is responsible for 4 to 4.5% of global net emissions. The supply chain, from production to consumption to final disposal, accounts for 71% of them,” he stresses. “We can and must harness our experience and collective desire to stabilise the climate. We have the foundation for action today but must accelerate efforts to achieve greater resilience and reduce climate damage.”

This year’s SAPICS Conference features an exciting collaboration between SAPICS and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), which will co-host the event. The programme will, for the first time, include a track spotlighting global health supply chain management, as well as an all-new Warehousing Summit. 

For further information, or to register for the 2023 SAPICS Conference, call the Conference Secretariat at Upavon Management on 011 023 6701 or email info@upavon.co.za. Up-to the-minute information is also posted on the SAPICS Conference website: https://conference.sapics.org/