Blue Yonder's Simple Secret to Supply Chain Sustainability
We live in the era of globalisation, where nothing has ever been so interconnected. Trade links wrap and weave around the world like a ball of yarn, holding together industries of all kinds, whether that's food, energy, construction or healthcare.
It probably comes as no surprise, then, that supply chains contribute so greatly to global carbon emissions. Research conducted by Accenture recently found that emissions related to worldwide supply chains makes up 60% of all greenhouse gas pollution, which speaks to the dual positive and negative impacts of trade.
Nonetheless, there is substantial evidence indicating that organisations are taking action. According to Deloitte's 2024 CxO Sustainability Report, 85% of organisations have increased their sustainability investments in the past year, a rise from 75% in 2023.
That same report reveals that seven out of 10 executives anticipate that climate change will significantly impact their company's strategies and operations within the next three years, showing just how ubiquitous sustainability concerns are.
This growing focus on sustainability has led to an increased demand for technological solutions. One company to step up to the plate is Blue Yonder, which is quickly emerging as a leader in the supply chain sector.
Under the leadership of CEO Duncan Angove, Blue Yonder provides assistance for companies looking to implement eco-friendly practices throughout their value chains. The company's tools not only help to reduce environmental impact but also enhance operational efficiency.
What is Blue Yonder and what does the company do?
In short, Blue Yonder helps big brands and companies increase the sustainability of their supply chains.
In essence, its purpose is digital supply chain transformation, providing innovative solutions to retailers, manufacturers and logistics service providers.
AI is increasingly important in Blue Yonder's offering too and its used to help businesses improve the transportations of goods around the world, from fulfilment to delivery to returns.
By using tech like this, Blue Yonder hopes to help organisations simplify their value chains, many of which are these huge, sprawling webs, prone to confusion and tangling.
The team's mission is to empower every individual and organisation to fulfil their potential by creating resilient and sustainable supply chains that enhance customer satisfaction and drive profitable growth.
What drives Blue Yonder?
Blue Yonder's commitment to helping clients remain at the forefront of sustainability is driven by three primary factors:
- Meeting Regulatory Reporting Requirements: New regulations and increasing stakeholder pressure require companies to produce detailed, standardised ESG reports. Blue Yonder advises that businesses implementing proactive data collection and reporting systems can better navigate regulatory changes and maintain a competitive advantage.
- Achieving Public Sustainability Goals: Many prominent organisations set publicly accessible sustainability targets. While some focus on improving energy efficiency in daily operations, Blue Yonder notes that a select few are addressing waste and carbon emissions across their entire supply chain—critical steps for meaningful progress.
- Responding to Shareholder and Consumer Pressures: Companies face mounting pressure from shareholders and consumers to adopt sustainable practices. By prioritising sustainability, businesses can bolster the resilience of their supply chains, gain a competitive edge, and create long-term value.
Supply chain sustainability from end to end
Blue Yonder's platform is designed to foster a sustainable supply chain from supplier to customer. Major retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers around the world are benefiting from:
- Optimised Forecasting: Intelligent planning helps businesses avoid overproduction and associated waste.
- Preferred Vendor Selection: Automation facilitates selecting vendors with better environmental practices.
- Efficient Manufacturing Planning: Coordination at the manufacturing stage reduces waste by minimising changeovers.
- Optimised Network Design: Tools for efficient network design help reduce transportation emissions.
- Avoiding Split and Expedited Shipments: Strategic order timing reduces carbon emissions.
- Low Footprint Returns: Smarter pick-up and drop-off strategies lower last-mile transportation emissions.
The importance of transparency and traceability
Blue Yonder has conducted extensive research into sustainability. Its third annual Consumer Sustainability Survey revealed that over three-quarters (78%) of consumers consider sustainability important when shopping. However, there is scepticism about corporate sustainability claims, with nearly half (48%) of consumers only sometimes trusting these claims based on brand reputation and history.
In the October edition of Supply Chain Digital, Saskia van Gendt, CSO at Blue Yonder, discussed how organisations can integrate transparency and traceability into their supply chains for enhanced sustainability:
“Most organisations lack the systems to track their full value chain,” she said. “Retailers and manufacturers often only have visibility for and influence on tier 1 suppliers, whereas traceability requires n-tier accountability.”
“Blue Yonder can support traceability and chain of custody for all trading partners on a single platform, maintaining a real-time single version of the truth for supply chain management. This means end-to-end visibility of raw materials, across all tiers of supply and across all modes and legs of the supply chain," Saskia explained.
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