Nadia Delanoy, PhD

Scope 3 emissions reportedly account for more than 70% of businesses’ carbon footprints. That huge percentage gives an indication of just how critical supply chain sustainability efforts are to the planet. Thankfully, a growing number of eco-friendly innovations are helping reshape global supply chains. Supply Chain Sustainability: An Industry Imperative in a Changing World It is becoming increasingly important for companies to accurately calculate their supply chain emissions and create an information-sharing ecosystem, according to Matthew Gardner, co-founder and managing partner of Sustainserv, a consulting firm that helps businesses implement sustainability strategies. Gardner said accounting for supply chain-related greenhouse gas emissions includes such challenges as: Data gathering of “materials, manufacturing processes, activities of second- and third-tier suppliers, and overall data governance and quality.” Calculation methodology that “reflects the realities of raw material sourcing, product manufacturing, transportation and distribution, and other life-cycle impacts that may affect reported greenhouse gas totals.” Supplier relationships, which can be strained as a result of emissions assessments. Businesses also need to keep in mind their relationships with consumers. PDI Technologies said 80% of U.S. consumers it surveyed were willing to pay more for sustainable products. “Between these statistics and the regulatory conversations that are happening in…

At the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver, Scott Luton sat down with Caglar Ozdag, a supply chain leader at ZS. Known for its deep analytics and technology expertise across industries such as life sciences, airlines, consumer goods, and agriculture, ZS has become a trusted partner for organizations looking to elevate their planning and manufacturing performance. Ozdag leads the firm’s supply chain practice with a focus on planning from detailed forecasting through detailed scheduling. As a former practitioner himself—having led planning operations at large global enterprises—he brings a grounded, real-world perspective to the challenges facing today’s supply chain leaders.   Old Problems Persist—and New Ones Are Emerging When asked about classic and emerging challenges in planning, Ozdag didn’t hesitate: firefighting isn’t going away. From supply planning disruptions to last-minute schedule changes, firefighting remains a daily reality. “Life happens,” Ozdag noted. Plans rarely match reality, and organizations must constantly adjust. But today, a new layer has been added: AI uncertainty. Everywhere he goes, leaders are asking the same questions: “Is AI the right investment?” “Will the ROI materialize?” “Are we adopting the right tools, or just chasing hype?” This blend of enduring complexity and emerging skepticism has become a defining…