The Sustainable Value Chains Podcast

Join host Fergal Byrne and Accenture’s Matias Pollmann-Larsen as they dive into the EcoVadis Sustainable Procurement Barometer 2024 results. Discover how leading companies are turning sustainability from a compliance-driven exercise into a powerful driver of value -- from digitizing procurement and engaging suppliers to meeting new regulations and advancing circularity. Learn practical strategies for building more resilient, transparent and impactful supply chains.

Join host Fergal Byrne as he speaks with Richard Verhagen, Venator’s Global Procurement Director, about the company’s journey toward sustainable procurement using EcoVadis. Richard reveals how EcoVadis ratings and tools helped Venator embed sustainability into everyday processes, engage suppliers more deeply, and cut carbon emissions—ultimately strengthening customer relationships and business resilience. Hear how leadership support, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration with critical suppliers can transform procurement into a powerful lever for environmental, social, and governance improvements across the value chain.

We sit down with Alexandra Delval, the VP of Supplier sustainability at CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm where she leads innovative programs aimed at enhancing sustainable procurement across a global and diverse supplier network.

In this episode of the Sustainable Value Chains podcast, host Fergal Byrne interviews Louise Kjellerup Roper, CEO of Volans, to explore the rising significance of nature-based solutions (NBS) for businesses. They discuss how NBS can transform traditional approaches by addressing complex environmental challenges, enhancing biodiversity, and creating resilience. Louise shares insights on the benefits of NBS for industries like agriculture and energy, strategies for integrating nature into business models, and the evolving regulatory landscape. Tune in for valuable guidance on how to future-proof your company's operations while supporting a sustainable planet.

The Sustainable Value Chains Podcast is back! In this episode, Fergal Byrne speaks with Bettina Grabmayr, Methodology and Research Director at EcoVadis and explores the critical role of sustainability assessments in managing supply chain risks, particularly as global regulations like the EU’s CSRD and CS3D come into play. Bettina shares how EcoVadis’ comprehensive rating methodology helps companies gather reliable sustainability data, engage suppliers and improve performance. She also delves into the rigorous data verification process, behind the ratings, which combines AI and human expertise to ensure accuracy and mitigate greenwashing risks. By tailoring assessments to industry-specific sustainability challenges, EcoVadis enables companies to address material issues and drive continuous improvement. Tune in to discover practical strategies for enhancing sustainability performance in today’s complex regulatory landscape.

The journey of adopting digital solutions and AI technologies has been transformative for Danone, prompting the company to explore various avenues of innovation while addressing ethical and legal considerations. In this podcast, Julio Peironcely, Global Head of Insights and Analytics, shares insights on the make-or-buy decision, the intersection of AI and sustainability, the potential for collaboration with tech startups, and the broader legal challenges and opportunities AI brings to the table.

In the latest episode of the Sustainable Value Chains Podcast with EcoVadis, host Fergal Byrne interviews Anna Hakobyan, a leader in sustainable procurement and diversity in global supply chains. Ms. Hakobyan, who spearheads AstraZeneca's Global Supply, Diversity, Sustainability, and Government Compliance Program, and serves as president of Diversity Alliance for Science, discusses the significance of diversity and inclusion in value chains.

This time Fergal Byrne sat down with the CEO and co-founder of GoodOps, Divya Demato. Their discussion spanned across the complexities and dimensions of sustainable leadership, the shifts in its definition, and the role of various players in the chain. Divya's journey is remarkable. From her role as a buyer for PriceSmart and as the first-ever imports manager for Walmart.com to diving deep into the world of startups, Divya has witnessed firsthand the intricate balance between efficiency and sustainability. Her experiences kindled a drive to merge sustainability and supply chain, culminating in the birth of GoodOps, a consultancy aimed at infusing sustainability into the core of supply chain operations.

The inaugural episode of the Sustainable Value Chains series starts with a powerful observation: Sustainability, Andrew Winston explains, is akin to survival or keeping one’s head above water. It pertains to whether we can perpetuate our current actions indefinitely without causing irreversible damage. Sustainability, while a worthwhile goal, only brings us to a baseline level of existence where we aren’t negatively impacting the planet.