LogiPharma USA 2024: How IoT Can Help Us Shape A More Sustainable Supply Chain

PC: Can you discuss the main points of the “How IoT Can Help Us Shape A More Sustainable Supply Chain” panel?

Lopes: I like the interactions, especially when we bring IoT and sustainability together, really to see where people stand on those topics. Even by definition, sometimes people may think it means one thing and then it drives a completely different direction in action or preparation for whatever is to come. So, I think it was good. What I mean is settling the baseline for what IoT is and how it interacts across the supply chain, and how we can use data to drive some of these things towards sustainability.

PC: Was there anything about the audience’s knowledge level on this topic that surprised you?

Lopes: It's fair to have people represent different areas within the whole supply chain. There are times where they haven’t heard about things we spoke about such as the circular economy. So, I think that was fair, and it will help us navigate this in a simple language to help everybody understand what that means from a manufacturing standpoint. So, for me, representing JAS is rewarding. I think it was great to explain that throughout the whole chain, we can be very complex. How do we translate that to our circular logistics, playing with the right providers from the package and technology standpoint, from the carriers that will help us, and at the end of the day, respond to the customer's expectations?

PC: What does the US need to do to improve its technological sustainability?

Lopes: I'm no expert in legislation to navigate it to that sense, but I think one main point is that the US as a country or companies that are operating there aren’t just one market companies. We are a global company, so requirements in other regions influence what we do here as well. As we mentioned in the panel, I think that not everybody is on the same page or on the same level. But you know, there's space for improvements and everybody has to do their homework. I think when we operate globally, we need to raise the bar in those same activities that maybe we've been doing in Europe and Asia. Even in the US, the good practices in some locations could be replicated. I’m excited to do that. I think we planted the seed for a deeper conversation into topics such as the circular economy and logistics.