Supply chain News and trends

Microsoft is revolutionizing the landscape of sustainability with its latest offerings in data and AI. Today, the tech giant introduced a suite of powerful tools within the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, empowering organizations to accelerate their journey toward a greener, more responsible future.

Via EcoVadis

Circular from the start
Startups have the opportunity to build businesses based around the circular economy from the start of their lifecycle. 

“Startups have the ability to build their businesses from scratch, truly disrupt the status quo and educate both consumers and businesses, in the process”

“Startups play a crucial role in helping the economy transition to the circular economy, because they don’t have the red tape or consumer expectations big tech does,” says Thibaud Hug De Larauze, cofounder and CEO of scaleup Back Market. “They have the ability to build their businesses from scratch, truly disrupt the status quo, and educate both consumers and businesses in the process.”

Back Market, founded in 2014, says it’s now the globe’s biggest online marketplace for refurbished devices and appliances, with over 6m users and over €1bn raised. 

According to figures cited by De Larauze, as much as 70% of existing toxic waste is due to disposed electronics, while only 12.5% is recycled. 

De Larauze says big tech is always looking for the new — offering expensive products that they want consumers to purchase on a yearly, or biennial basis. That creates two problems for customers: affordability and impact on the environment. 

“Refurbished technology can solve both of these problems. Not only are renewed devices much more affordable, they are key to creating a circular economy and drastically reducing the impact of technology on the environment,” says De Laurauze. 

This impact of technology and electronic devices can also be mitigated by renting equipment rather than purchasing it. This is particularly useful for smaller businesses and startups that may not know what equipment they need as they begin their journey. 

Via EcoVadis

The global electronics supply chain has historically been a leader in terms of innovative and effective supply chain management. This year, Gartner’s Global Supply Chain Top 25 highlights that reality, with 10 out of 25 organizations being related to the high-tech and industrial sectors as an OEM, component maker or distributor.

The annual ranking, which is created based on a combination of business performance and opinion, identifies leaders in the supply chain and highlights their best practices. Gartner analysts derive a list of companies from a combination of the Fortune Global 500 and the Forbes Global 2000. Each potential winner has an annual revenue of at least $12 billion.

Via EcoVadis

Lifeguards testing out new drone technology in Australia have saved two people stranded off the coast of New South Wales state, as spotted by Quartz. The drone footage shows a birds-eye view of the ocean before the drone ejects the yellow floatation device, which inflates when it hits the water. The two teenage boys were caught about 700 meters (0.4 miles) offshore at Lennox Head in a swell of around three meters (9.8 feet). They were able to grab onto the floatation device and swim to shore.

 

“I was able to launch it, fly it to the location, and drop the pod all in about one to two minutes,” lifeguard supervisor Jai Sheridan told reporters. A government official confirmed the rescue took only 70 seconds, compared to the average six minutes it would take for a lifeguard to reach the swimmers. The drones were reportedly only unveiled that morning before being put to use, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Via The Learning Factor

Apple will use 100% recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025. It already uses large quantities of recycled rare earths and tungsten in products and has begun using AR to support disassembly.

Via EcoVadis

From 2025 onward, the joint venture between PowerCo, the new battery business of the Volkswagen Group, and Umicore, the Belgian circular materials technology company, will begin producing precursor and cathode materials in Europe. The partnership will provide European battery cell manufacturers with key chemicals supplied by PowerCo.

The partners’ aim by the end of the decade is to produce cathode material and their precursors for 160 GWh cell capacity annually. This compares to an annual production capacity that could power about 2.2 million full electric vehicles. Cathode active materials are crucial for a successful powertrain transition towards e-mobility because they are key levers affecting battery performance, as well as the biggest single contributor to overall battery cost.

“Cathode material is an indispensable strategic resource for battery production, accounting for roughly fifty percent of overall cell value.” said Thomas Schmall, Group Board Member for Technology at Volkswagen AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PowerCo SE. “Immediate and long-term access to extensive capacity is thus a very clear competitive advantage. We are setting up a sustainable, transparent supply chain with high environmental and social standards, localizing value creation here in Europe.”

Via EcoVadis

Echo Environmental’s technology breaks wires down into raw materials that can be reused and resold, reducing landfill waste.

Comcast has committed to be carbon neutral by 2035 in Scope 1 and 2 emissions across the company’s entire global operations. Recycling the coax cable is a major step step towards addressing scope 3 emissions and Comcast’s broader environment goals. Coaxial cables include multi-layered cords with a steel inner conductor, insulating layer, and conductive shielding, as well as 27 different polymers requiring separation for use in new products.

Via EcoVadis