Stimulating the Circular Economy with an International Supply Chain Day

Supply chains are the foundation of the quality of life for everyone who lives on this planet today. They unite us all in a web of production, distribution and consumption, but unless there’s been a disruption, they’ve been practically invisible.

Most of our modern supply chains, however, are unsustainable. As illustrated in this National Geographic article, every year humanity extracts over 93 gigatons of raw materials from the Earth. These resources are then manufactured into products we use, consumed and ultimately wasted—only about 10% is reused.

I believe that it’s high time to bring more visibility to supply chain on two fronts: both within the enterprises that manage them and in the public eye.

That’s why I’m hoping you’ll join me and Requis in calling for the creation of International Supply Chain Day on June 4th this year, and every year following.

Why do we need to keep the focus on supply chains? The stranding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal and the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have helped make more people aware of supply chains, but that perspective has been rooted in fear of shortages.

What I’m talking about is creating a greater understanding and transparency of supply chains so we can make them better for all stakeholders.