Supply Chain Collaboration for Waste Reduction

Are your procurement practices stuck in a "ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL" mindset? We’ve all seen it: A company with strong sustainability goals tries to enforce the same standards across every supplier, expecting one policy to work in vastly different environments. But when it comes to sustainable procurement, what if the key isn’t in replication but flexibility? Take Toyota Motor Corporation, for instance. Their long-standing relationships with suppliers show that collaboration and visibility drive better results than rigid rules ever could. In fact, they describe their interactions as “almost intrusive” but in the best way. This approach ensures both sides remain committed to shared goals, like reducing waste or enhancing resource efficiency, while allowing each partner to bring unique solutions to the table. Imagine this: Rather than prescribing exactly how each supplier should reduce packaging waste, set a shared target say, a 15% reduction. One supplier might use smaller boxes, another might swap materials entirely. Both achieve the goal, but each does it in a way that suits their specific setup. But here’s the trick: For this mindset shift to work, transparency is essential. It’s about creating a culture of openness, where every team and supplier feels empowered to innovate toward that common objective. Consider taking inspiration from the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Which aligns with your company’s values? Could you integrate these into your procurement practices to guide not just one supplier, but your entire supply chain toward a long-term vision? Switching from a prescriptive policy to a shared goal mindset doesn’t just drive sustainability it fosters trust, creativity, and results that everyone can own. So, Is it time to rethink how you define “BEST PRACTICES”?

What if the most effective way to reduce cost in the next decade is not to buy less, but to design procurement differently? Circular procurement is moving from a sustainability concept to a strategic imperative 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬. Recent global research reinforces this shift. Work from institutions such as the World Economic Forum 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐄𝐂𝐃 highlights that circular economy models are increasingly tied to supply resilience, resource security, and long-term competitiveness, particularly as regulatory pressure and material volatility increase. Organisations that embed circular principles into procurement are better positioned to manage resource constraints, reduce waste exposure, and stabilise supply in uncertain markets. Circular procurement changes how decisions are made. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. This reframes procurement from a consumption function into a value-retention system. This transition is already visible in practice. In working with procurement and supply chain leaders across the Middle East and international markets, I see growing interest in supplier partnerships that support refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and closed-loop sourcing. These models reduce dependency on volatile raw materials while creating new forms of value beyond traditional purchasing. Circular procurement is not about idealism. It is about resilience. By designing out waste and designing in longevity, procurement teams can reduce risk, strengthen supplier collaboration, and align sustainability with commercial outcomes. This is why circularity is becoming a leadership issue, not just an environmental one. “𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦.” The organisations that lead in the next decade will be those that treat procurement as a system for preserving value, not just acquiring inputs. Are we still optimising procurement for short-term efficiency, or redesigning it for long-term value creation? LinkedIn LinkedIn News LinkedIn News Middle East #Procurement #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Leadership #LinkedInNews #LinkedInNewsMiddleEast

The Single Most Important Lesson Working with Manufacturers on Zero Waste! When I started as a zero-waste facilitator, I was laser-focused on the technical solutions: better recycling sorting, anaerobic digestion, finding unique downcycling streams. I treated waste as a disposal problem. I was wrong. The most critical thing I learned is this: For manufacturers, waste is not a disposal problem; it is a P&L (Profit & Loss) and Process Efficiency problem. This shift in perspective changes everything: It's a P&L Issue: Every kilogram of material in a dumpster represents material that was purchased, paid for, moved, and processed—and is now generating $0 in revenue. Waste directly eats into your bottom line twice: once as a material cost and again as a disposal fee. You're not saving the planet; you're recapturing profit. It's a Process Issue: True zero waste isn't about better bins; it’s about process optimization. Waste is a symptom of an inefficiency upstream—a flaw in procurement, a machine that's out of calibration, or a quality control gap. When you eliminate waste, you are fundamentally improving quality, increasing yield, and boosting throughput. My biggest takeaway? Stop talking about tonnage and start talking about "Net Dollar Savings per Unit Produced" and "Yield Improvement." That's the language that moves zero-waste initiatives from a "nice-to-have" project to a core operational strategy for your executive team. What's the biggest shift in mindset you’ve had regarding waste on your shop floor? 👇 #Manufacturing #OperationalExcellence #ZeroWaste #LeanManufacturing #SupplyChain #ProcessImprovement #Smartwasteusa #SanFrancisco #SiliconValley

Most food businesses are sitting on a financial leak that they should want to fix. Food waste typically represents 2% to 6% of total sales. For a restaurant doing $3 million a year, that is up to $180,000 thrown into the trash bin. That level of food waste can wipe-out half to nearly all of the profit margin of most full-service, quick-service and fast casual restaurants. Those numbers are attention grabbing. According to the Champions 12.3 coalition - governments, companies and other entities striving to meet the UN SDG 12.3 goal by 2030 - every dollar invested in reducing food waste within operations returns a median of $14. That's a significant return on capital. Targeted food waste mitigation makes a strong business case, no matter how you slice it. Food waste is forecasted to cost the global supply chain $540 billion this year. That estimate was before the rain of indiscriminate tariffs began and the war with Iran abruptly disrupted energy supply chains. Meat alone accounts for 17% (~$94 billion) of that total food waste number. And over 60% of business leaders still admit they lack full visibility into where waste is happening in their operations, particularly during up- and downstream transit and in production. Tools to help support food waste mitigation are many. All are effective such as: • AI-integrated kitchen platforms show staff in real time exactly what's being thrown away and what it costs, turning an invisible problem into an actionable one. • Machine learning-powered demand forecasting tools analyze purchasing patterns, seasonal trends, and sales data to help operators order smarter and reduce overproduction before waste ever happens. • AI-powered waste diversion tools identify what's being discarded and match it to the highest-value recovery option, whether that's redistribution, composting, or another use, so nothing leaves the operation without a plan. Organizations using these tools consistently see food waste drop by 30% to 50% within the first year. But the benefits go beyond the bottom line. Staff engagement increases meaningfully when teams can see the direct impact of their decisions. Supplier relationships improve when ordering becomes more precise and predictable. And for businesses with sustainability commitments, verified waste reduction data becomes a tangible, reportable metric, not just an intention. At TripleWin Advisory, we work with food businesses across the full arc of this problem. We help organizations measure where waste is happening and what it costs. We run hands-on reduction pilots to test what works in their specific operating context. And through our Mitigate training program, we build the internal capacity for staff to own waste reduction as an operational discipline, not a one-time initiative. If your organization is ready to quantify the cost of food waste, let's talk. https://lnkd.in/gAPH5CFT #FoodWaste #Sustainability #ROI #CircularEconomy #FoodBusiness #AI

The Closed Loop Partners Center for the Circular Economy has released groundbreaking findings on the recovery potential of small-format packaging, such as beauty containers, medication bottles, and food packaging. These materials often fall through the cracks of recycling systems, leading to unnecessary landfill waste and lost economic value. Backed by industry leaders like Maybelline New York, Kraft Heinz, L'Oréal, Procter & Gamble, and Target, this research tested real-world solutions to capture and recycle these materials more effectively. The findings reveal that tens of thousands of tons of valuable plastics and metals can be recovered annually with strategic equipment upgrades and operational adjustments at materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and glass recycling plants. Closed Loop Partners has launched the Consortium to Recover Small-Format Packaging, inviting manufacturers, brand owners, and other industry stakeholders to collaborate on scalable solutions for small-format material recovery. Key Insights for Corporate Sustainability Leaders: ♻️ Lost Value Can Be Recaptured – High-demand materials like polypropylene (PP), PET, PE, and metals are being discarded, despite strong interest from recyclers for clean, sorted inputs. ♻️ Technology Already Exists to Solve the Problem – Equipment upgrades at recycling facilities can significantly improve material recovery rates, with one upgrade reducing plastic contamination in the glass stream by 67%. ♻️ Strategic Investments Are Needed – Small-format recovery requires financial backing from brands, extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, and regulatory incentives to scale nationwide solutions. ♻️ Policy and Compliance Pressures Are Increasing – States with EPR laws and recyclability mandates (e.g., California SB 54) are setting stricter waste reduction targets, meaning companies must act now to ensure compliance. ♻️ Collaboration is Key – The Consortium to Recover Small-Format Packaging provides a platform for brands and recyclers to co-develop industry-wide solutions, drive investment, and support policy advocacy for infrastructure improvements. What Can Sustainability Teams Do Now? 🤝 Join the Consortium 🔗 Evaluate supply chain impacts for small-format packaging advancements ♻️ Integrate small-format recyclability into packaging design and procurement 💰 Invest in recovery infrastructure through direct funding or partnerships with MRFs and glass plants. 🏛️ Stay ahead of regulatory changes to align with evolving EPR laws 👩🎓 Educate consumers and stakeholders on proper disposal and recycling Next Steps: If your company wants to be at the forefront of sustainable packaging innovation, now is the time to act. Contact the Consortium to Recover Small-Format Packaging and explore opportunities to align your brand’s sustainability commitments with cutting-edge recovery solutions. #CircularEconomy #CorporateResponsibility #SmallFormatPackaging #CPG

♻️ Why hasn’t the circular economy scaled despite all the efforts in advancing awareness, innovation, and policy-making? Put simply, because the incentives have not been put in place. Circularity is fundamentally an ecosystem challenge that can only be resolved through collaboration not just across supply chains but also between the private, public, and non-profit sectors, as well as the science and business communities. 🚫 Unfortunately, the system is still not working, as evidenced by waste piling up in landfills, land and biodiversity losses, and a changing climate. 🛠️ So how do we fix it? - By fundamentally transforming global waste management - By unburdening the public sector from having to handle waste services - By empowering the science community to valorize circular solutions - By putting a price on waste and simultaneously rewarding verified environmental contributions - By encouraging the private sector (primarily small and medium businesses) to enter the market to offer reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling services - By encouraging non-participants to join in And how will we create these incentives for collaboration? 🧩With Circularity Credits. Here’s how they work (on Carrot): 🔁 Every time products or materials are certifiably reused or recycled, a digital certificate (i.e., credit) is issued containing the supply chain tracking information and participants involved in recovering the resource or product. 💸 When that credit is sold, the proceeds are automatically and transparently distributed across the entire chain of contributors — from the recycler down to the waste generator. The result: ✅ Reuse and recycling can become cheaper than landfilling (for the waste generator) while encouraging others to join in. ✅ Service providers obtain additional capital to expand their businesses ✅ Circular systems become financially viable and scalable anywhere in the world. The takeaway: Circularity credits are about to become the fundamental bond between stakeholders in the circular economy and the most effective lever we can use to accelerate the transition. They're simple, impactful and actionable today! #CircularEconomy #CircularityCredits #Recycling

Only 10% of the 500,000 tons of flexible film generated annually in California finds a second life in today's end markets. So how do we prove that a scalable, circular system for this material type is actually possible? That’s the central question a new coalition of brands is seeking to answer. The recently launched U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI) goes beyond traditional grant funding for new equipment, which is often a one-time capital expense. Instead, they are directly addressing the "operational costs" that have long made flexible film an unattractive material for many recyclers. Member brands include General Mills, Mars, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Hill's Pet Nutrition and PepsiCo. By offering multi-year contracts, they are helping to: 🟢 De-risk investment for MRFs and reclaimers by guaranteeing a revenue stream. 🟢 Create a consistent supply chain for flexible film bales, encouraging downstream market development. 🟢 Prove out a scalable model that could be replicated in other states with emerging EPR programs. We often talk about the circular economy in a grand, theoretical sense, but the reality is that its success hinges on solving very granular, unglamorous problems. --> How do you convince a facility to take on a low-value, difficult-to-sort material? --> How do you build a business case for a product that has no reliable buyer? The answer is by intentionally building the economic incentives, not just hoping they emerge. The USFFI’s work is a proactive, market-driven effort to change the status quo. It's a prime example of strategic sustainability in action—leveraging collective industry capital to solve a systemic challenge and build a new, circular market. This kind of pre-competitive collaboration is vital. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXCdKgdS #EPR #CircularEconomy #SustainablePackaging #WasteManagement #FlexiblePackaging

A robust data management platform is no longer a luxury – it's the engine powering a well-oiled supply chain. But beyond operational efficiency lies a hidden superpower: the ability to drive significant progress towards sustainability goals. While many organizations recognize the importance of data, they often overlook its potential to transform their environmental impact. A holistic view of supply chain operations, powered by a strong data management platform, unlocks powerful insights that can drastically reduce a company's carbon footprint. Here's how: 🔵 Transparency & Traceability: A centralized data platform provides end-to-end visibility into every stage of the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to product delivery. This transparency allows businesses to identify and address environmental hotspots, such as inefficient transportation routes or energy-intensive manufacturing processes. 🔵 Optimized Logistics: Data analysis can pinpoint opportunities to optimize logistics, leading to reduced fuel consumption and emissions. This includes route optimization, load consolidation, and even exploring alternative transportation modes like rail or sea freight. 🔵 Waste Reduction: By analyzing data on production processes, inventory management, and product lifecycles, businesses can identify and minimize waste throughout the supply chain. This includes reducing overproduction, optimizing material usage, and implementing circular economy principles. 🔵 Supplier Collaboration: A data-driven approach enables collaboration with suppliers on sustainability initiatives. By sharing data and setting shared goals, businesses can incentivize and support their partners in adopting more sustainable practices. The impact of these data-driven adjustments is significant. Companies can achieve tangible reductions in their carbon footprint, minimize waste, and contribute to a more sustainable future. A robust data management platform should be the cornerstone of any successful sustainability strategy. By harnessing the power of data, businesses can transform their supply chains into engines of both economic and environmental progress. #SupplyChainManagement #DataPlatforms #SupplyChainSustainability

𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗛 🚯🌍 That's exactly what traditional supply chains do every day. Here's a mind-bending fact : Only 9% of our global economy is circular. The rest ? Pure waste. That's why the circular economy and the supply chain are so important. Let me break down why this matters to your business : Traditional supply chains are bleeding money : → Raw materials get more expensive → Disposal costs keep rising → Regulations are getting stricter But smart companies are catching on. They're building circular supply chains that : → Turn waste into revenue → Cut material costs by 40% → Build customer loyalty ↳ 73% of consumers will pay more for sustainable products I've spent 16 years in Supply Chain management, and here's what works : Start small : → Audit your waste streams → Identify quick wins → Partner with recyclers ↳ Focus on high-value materials first Scale smart : → Design products for disassembly → Build reverse logistics networks → Train your team on circular principles The best part ? You don't need to overhaul everything at once. Even a 10% improvement in material recovery can boost your bottom line by 5%. That's real money you're currently throwing away. Want to learn more about building profitable, sustainable supply chains ? Follow me for actionable insights on : → Circular economy strategies → Supply chain optimization → Cost-saving sustainability tactics → Innovations that are game changers 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 ❓ 📌 Follow Amine BOUDER for the latest updates on Supply Chain Business. #CircularEconomy #SupplyChain #Sustainability #Business #Transformation #Logistics ♻️ If you found this insightful, don’t forget to share it with your network.