Sustainable Supply Chain & Circular Economy

In order to make supply chains more sustainable and responsible, organizations need to take a life cycle perspective. In session 1, we will look at what is shaping supply chains today, including the areas of most concern, such as labor conditions, resource consumption, pollution, and human rights abuses.

→ Trends and technologies in supply chains and logistics

→ Social impacts of supply chains

→ Environmental impacts of supply chains

In session 2, we look at fair and inclusive supply chains that take into account the social impact of producing or extracting resources, processing them and turning them into products, selling and consuming the products or services, and disposing of any residual waste. By diving into the case of fair trade Belgian chocolate, we will examine what it means to be ‘slave free’ and responsible in sourcing agricultural commodities.

→ Fair trade and social inclusion

→ The access and sharing economy

→ The challenge of conflict minerals

In session 3, we look at circular and sustainable supply chains that take into account the environmental impact of economic activities. In particular, we examine how to move from a linear to a circular economy approach to product or service design. With an exercise in circular fashion and textiles, we will examine what it means to be ‘zero waste’ and ‘climate positive’ in the production of clothes and accessories.

→ Circular business models

→ Waste, material and energy flows

→ The challenge of industrial packaging

In session 4, we look at the emerging management systems for fair and circular supply chains. For example, what are the implications for purpose, strategy, stakeholder relationships, revenue models, cost structures and finance? We also answer the question about how to measure and report on performance for fair and circular supply chains. With an exercise in circular economy reporting, we will unpack the challenges of fair and transparent supply chains.

→ Supply chain management systems

→ Social and circular metrics and reporting

→ Partnerships for fair and circular supply chains

At the end of this module you will be able to:

• Understand the major trends that are shaping supply chains globally and how they impact society and the environment
• Recognize and discuss the role of responsibility and circularity for companies and its relevance to sustainable supply chains
• Identify, discuss, and apply relevant concepts, methods and tools in the area of fair and circular supply chains
• Reflect on management systems in place to support fair and circular supply chains, including how to measure and report performance