PSC LIVE Dubai: Sustainable Supply Chains Panel
In the closing panel session at Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE Dubai, senior leaders from across the procurement and supply chain space gathered to examine the reality of, and increasingly urgent need for, sustainable supply chains.
Panellists included:
- Aurangzeb Baig, Head of Procurement at ENGIE
- Anderson Bernal, Head of Supply Chain EAMEA, Russia and Belarus at Takeda
- Kanishk Negi, Sustainable Procurement Director at Schneider Electric
- Alena Kavalchuk, Director of Supply Chain at Adcoop
From electrification and human rights to SME engagement and circularity, the panellists explored the strategies companies must embrace to embed sustainability deep within their operations and supply networks.
Staying the course despite headwinds
The conversation began by confronting the current state of sustainability in 2025 – a year of geopolitical disruption, environmental pressures and growing stakeholder scrutiny.
“Supply chain is highly exposed to disruptions but we must stay the course,” said Anderson, who urged businesses to align with science-based targets and adopt a long-term mindset despite trade and policy volatility.
Kanishk echoed that sentiment, warning against short-term thinking.
“Six out of nine planetary boundaries have been breached; we will be forced to act, even if there are headwinds,” he said.
Kanishk called out cosmetic sustainability efforts as counterproductive and emphasised the importance of systemic, consistent action: “An ad hoc approach will never truly let a company realise the benefits.”
Alena reinforced the business value of resilience.
“Sustainable supply chain is the supply chain that brings opportunities to the companies, that reduces cost and is a driver for business growth,” she said. “It’s where efficiency is action.”
More work ahead: from easy wins to systemic impact
With many companies already years into their sustainability journeys, the discussion turned to whether the ‘low-hanging fruit’ had been picked. The consensus? Not even close.
“We have barely scratched the surface,” said Kanishk, citing Schneider Electric’s Zero Carbon Project, which achieved a 42% reduction in carbon intensity among their top 1,000 suppliers.
But scaling this across industries remains a challenge.
“Greater investment is needed in emerging economies to realise their energy efficiency potential,” he added.
Alena noted that while multinational corporations have made headway, their due diligence and supplier oversight still lacks depth.
“Many have a code of ethics, but how many really do audits on a regular basis?” she asked. For SMEs, she said, even having sustainability on the strategy agenda is rare.
Anderson warned of ‘ESG lies’ and greenwashing, where companies make claims without measurable outcomes.
“It’s not just a matter to say that our supply chain is sustainable, we must track and monitor our third parties,” he said.
Carbon offsetting without real emissions reduction, he argued, is a false shortcut.
Including SMEs: from education to partnership
The panel dedicated time to addressing how SMEs can be brought into the sustainability fold – something many large companies struggle to do effectively.
“SMEs are the backbone of global value chains,” said Kanishk.
“We need to help them with technical assistance, practical guidance and most importantly, follow up on our asks.”
He emphasised the importance of clear communication and supporting suppliers in the trenches, not from the boardroom.
Alena pointed to common SME perceptions that sustainability is “complicated, expensive and only for big corporates.”
Her advice was to start with clarity, education and achievable targets.
She added: “Each action will influence sustainability. But we must make it relatable and not overly complex.”
Anderson stressed the power of quantifying impact in financial terms.
“When we show the P&L savings from reducing fuel use or optimising delivery routes, it becomes a business conversation,” he said. ESG, he added, must be democratised within organisations and beyond.
Unlocking growth: data, equity and circularity
In closing, each panellist shared where they saw the most growth potential. Anderson spotlighted electrification and regional optimisation of logistics.
“We must engage our logistics partners to accelerate adoption of electric fleets and multimodal transport,” he said.
Kanishk called for greater action on human rights, particularly beyond tier-one suppliers, and a shift toward circularity.
“We’re using the resources of 1.7 Earths – we only have one,” he said.
Alena’s priorities were data transparency and talent attraction.
“We must bring more women into supply chain,” she added. “That will increase talent, equity and innovation.”
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