Saskia van Gendt serves as the chief sustainability officer at Blue Yonder, responsible for developing and executing Blue Yonder’s sustainability strategy and driving sustainability initiatives in product roadmaps and across the company.
An environmental scientist with 18 years of experience in sustainability working across consumer products, retail, government, and manufacturing, she is quick to acknowledge that supply chains are one of the biggest sources of environmental impacts. She started her career working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a sustainable materials manager, focusing on innovative waste reduction and green building practices; quantifying the cost, fuel, and particulate matter reductions achievable across the packaging supply chain; and encouraging fuel efficiency, light-weighting, and cube optimization. van Gendt then went worked for Method as senior director of sustainability, responsible for implementing several sustainability initiatives, and was instrumental in building an LEED Platinum-certified, TRUE Zero-Waste-certified soap factory in Chicago.
But it's her passion for information and knowledge sharing that will help companies achieve end-to-end supply chains that empower better data reporting and optimization for carbon and waste footprint.
van Gendt sat down with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, founder of Let's Talk Supply Chain podcast and Blended Pledge program, both presenting sponsors of the Women in Supply Chain award and the Women in Supply Chain Forum, to discuss why supply chain is the final frontier in sustainability and how to fold sustainability into your industry specialism to create a career with extra impact.
CLICK HERE to watch the interview. To see more interviews with Women in Supply Chain winners, visit the Women in Supply Chain series, produced by Let's Talk Supply Chain and hosted by Sarah Barnes-Humphrey.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the 2024 Women in Supply Chain winners, presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
This series would not be possible without the collaboration and partnership between Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive and the Women in Supply Chain Forum with Let's Talk Supply Chain and Blended Pledge. This partnership celebrates the transformative impact women leaders have on the supply chain industry, driving innovation, resilience, and inclusivity. These awards shine a spotlight on trailblazers who are breaking barriers and shaping the future of supply chain management. And the Forum fosters meaningful conversations, networking, and collaboration to empower the next generation of leaders. By recognizing and amplifying these achievements, this initiative inspires progress across the industry. Join us in celebrating these extraordinary women and championing diversity—nominate a leader, attend the forum, and be part of this powerful movement shaping the future of supply chains.
