A first-of-its-kind exhibition dedicated to sustainable practices and processes in the UK supply-chain and logistics sector has officially opened today [19 March] at the NEC Birmingham!
Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition 2024 – organised by Akabo Media, publisher of City Transport & Traffic Innovation Magazine (CiTTi Magazine) – officially opened its doors at 9:30am and is now providing a unique platform for urban logistics, supply-chain and sustainability professionals seeking to become net zero and adopt effective environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) strategies.
Taking place in halls 6 and 7 of the NEC, some 8,000 attendees to the show are learning how they can ‘go green’ throughout their whole supply chain by seeing the very latest and next-generation sustainable solutions live and in person, showcased by some 250 exhibitors, including RideTandem, Schoeller Allibert, Beacon Technologies, RAJA UK, Fosterra, Balloon One and Countrywide Freight Group.
Visitors to Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition 2024 are discovering innovations in last-mile delivery and freight transportation, shipping, order fulfilment, distribution, packaging, warehouse and facilities management, automation, industrial property, software, and more, ensuring they walk away from the show with the best possible knowledge on their next investment.
What’s more, Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition 2024 is providing a world-class conference programme featuring more than 60 expert speakers over two days, offering visitors the opportunity to learn how the latest developments in supply-chain decarbonisation can influence their bottom line.
A phenomenal conference agenda includes case-study presentations from exhibitors focussing on the benefits of their products and services, as well as sessions delivered by sustainability experts and thought leaders in the transportation, supply-chain and logistics fields, including:
- Chris Lane, strategic head of transport innovation, Transport for West Midlands
- Helen Hayden, executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, Leeds City Council
- Nicola Small, city region sustainable transport settlement programme director, Coventry City Council
- Dr Anna Railton, cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford and climate justice, Oxford City Council
- Jay Ham, group head of corporate responsibility, FirstGroup
- Adam Richards, head of commercial asset management, APCOA Parking
Additionally, CiTTi Magazine assistant editor Reuben Henry-Fellows will moderate a special 50-minute panel discussion on the current and future state of the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
Scheduled to take place at 1.45pm at the Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition Conference Theatre on day one of the show, the session will see a mix of government policymakers, transport bodies and industry associations discuss how different stakeholders can address the challenges and opportunities associated with expanding the UK’s EV charging networks to meet growing demand.
The panellists include Shamala Gadgil, EV infrastructure programme/senior engineer at Coventry City Council; Benn White, project manager at Transport for the South East; and James Court, CEO at EVA England. Read more about the panellists and the panel discussion in CiTTi Magazine.
Furthermore, Logistics Manager assistant editor James McLoughlin will moderate a special 50-minute panel discussion on the future of fuel for fleets.
Entitled ‘Biofuels: the future of fleet?‘, the session takes place at 11:40am at the Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition Conference Theatre on day two of the event, and will see a range of experts from the logistics and supply chain sectors discuss how use of different alternative fuels can help businesses reduce their carbon emissions and meet their sustainability targets.
The panellists include Dr Lorenzo Bruno Prataviera, lecturer in logistics and supply chain management at Cranfield University; Martin Cole, logistics development manager at Screwfix; and Dr Polina Webb, sustainability principal – GHG reduction, research and reporting lead at the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Read more about the panellists and the panel discussion in Logistics Manager.
Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition 2024 is officially supported by Akabo Media’s industry-leading CiTTi Magazine, which reports on the latest innovations enabling the sustainable movement of people, goods and materials through urban environments.
John Thornton, editor of CiTTi Magazine, said: “Although it represents just one part of this important new exhibition, urban logistics is a wide field, comprising both business-to-business and business-to-customer interactions, and involving a very large number of stakeholders and economic operators.
“It is essential for the operation of modern cities, delivering post and parcels, taking stock to retailers, collecting waste and refuse, transporting construction materials and machinery, and connecting value chains.
“Whilst cities have begun considering how to make their transport and mobility systems more sustainable, logistics and freight vehicles remain a challenge as a result of the sector’s wide complexity of stakeholders.
“However, with urban logistics being responsible for significant carbon emissions, air pollutants, urban noise, traffic congestion and safety risks, businesses and public authorities are realising that sustainable logistics need to become mainstream to support continued sustainable economic growth.
“This is becoming even more prominent as urban logistics activities surge with the increase of e-commerce, resulting in myriads of additional deliveries to both people and businesses.
“Thus, brands and public authorities need guidance and inspiration in tackling urban logistics, which is highly complex, requiring co-ordination with the private sector, which best knows the issues to be tackled, but is highly fragmented, with different and conflicting visions and goals.
“And as this exhibition will demonstrate, improving the sustainability of supply chains and logistics operations can only help to improve economic performance, increase efficiency, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, as well as decrease traffic congestion and improve road safety.”
Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition 2024 is co-located with fellow Akabo Media events, IntraLogisteX 2024 – the UK’s premier intralogistics and materials handling exhibition, and Robotics and Automation – the UK’s largest exhibition dedicated to these technologies, forming the overarching Logistics, Supply Chain and Automation Expo. As a result, visitors are able to access all three exhibitions and conference theatres with one ticket.
Additionally, the Logistics, Supply Chain and Automation Expo sees the official launch of Aurora Insights – Akabo Media’s brand-new research and business intelligence division, which encompasses data-based reports, executive summaries and a monthly podcast, exploring the latest trends and innovations in urban mobility, sustainability, supply chain, logistics, and robotics and automation.
For more information about Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition 2024, including how to register for a free visitor pass, and to see the full and final conference agenda and speaker lineup, click here
