On the 19th– 22nd of October 2022, the Łódź University of Technology, one of the Beneficiaries of the SAPIENS Network, hosted the fifth Advanced Training Course (ATC). The event was held at the Faculty of Organization and Management, in Łódź, Poland. The theme of the fifth ATC for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) focused on ‘Sustainability in the Supply Chain’. The objective was to investigate the key elements of implementing sustainability in supply chains.
The 4-day training consisted of several presentations and business games, one project meeting and a team-building day. In addition to the SAPIENS lead researchers and 15 ERSs, the course welcomed multiple external participants, both in-person and online. Among the external participants, we can list researchers, practitioners, and representatives of public buyers. Several SAPIENS Partner Organizations gave lectures and offered feedback to the ESRs: OVAM, Electronics Watch, the EBRD. Additionally, Prof. Elisabetta Manunza, one of SAPIENS’ external experts, provided input on the presentations of the ESRs during the Project Meeting.
The course started on the 19th of October with the welcome remarks of Prof. Paweł Strumiłło (Vice-Rector for Development, a Head of University Sustainability Team), Prof. Agnieszka Zakrzewska-Bielawska (Dean of the Faculty of Organization and Management) and Prof. Małgorzata Koszewska from the Łódź University of Technology (Lead Researcher and Ethics, Open Science and Equal Opportunities Champion in the SAPIENS Network).
The first day’s topic was: ‘Tools for sustainable supply chain management’ and included presentations on Standards for Sustainable Public Procurement, Electricity in Life Cycle Analyses and Green Public Procurement, Ecolabels for Sustainable Supply Chains, Ecodesign for Sustainable Supply Chains and Verification beyond social audits. Additionally, the participants attended a workshop on Product Design for Circular Economy and a business game on Human Rights in Supply Chains.
The opening lecture explored ‘Standards for Sustainable Procurement’. Prof. Zenon Foltynowicz (Poznań University of Economics and Business) focused on the ISO 20400 Standard and explained why an ISO standard is needed in sustainable procurement. He examined the standard’s content, scope, definitions and structure, as well as implementation strategies, performance metrics, and grievance mechanisms.
The next lecture focused on ‘Electricity in Life Cycle Analyses and Green Public Procurement’. Prof. Anna Lewandowska (Poznań University of Economics and Business) explored electricity from a life cycle perspective. Prof. Lewandowska explained how electricity is present in all the life cycle stages of different products. She then investigated the various sources of renewable energy, as well as the concepts of electricity mixes and residual electricity mix. The lecture presented examples of guidelines for electricity modelling, such as the Environmental Product Declaration or the Corporate Carbon Footprint. Finally, she tackled Green public procurement criteria for electricity.
Afterwards, Dr. Joanna Witczak (Poznań University of Economics and Business) investigated ‘Ecolabels for Sustainable Supply Chains’. Her presentation focused on eco-labeling for sustainable choices. She explored several ecolabels relevant for green public procurement, focusing on the EU Ecolabel. Finally, Dr. Witczak illustrated the use of environmental labels for the textile industry. She explored the environmental footprint, as well as the variables that influence the environmental impact of textile products and services (such as the origin of the raw materials, the manufacturing process, their use and finally the end of life).
The final lecture of the morning was entitled ‘Ecodesign for Sustainable Supply Chains’. Prof. Andrzej Marcinkowski (Łódź University of Technology) explored the concept of industrial symbiosis. He started by discussing the model of sustainability in nature, followed by industry’s attempts to emulate nature (from raw materials to waste). Industrial symbiosis could use the waste from one industry as raw material for another industry, via collaboration.
After lunch, the participants were involved in a workshop on ‘Product Design for Circular Economy’, led by Dr. Agnieszka Sznyk and Hubert Bukowski, from The Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development INNOWO. Participants worked in groups to develop products that would incorporate the circular economy into both their business model and product design.
The last lecture of the day was entitled ‘Verification beyond social audits: The case for worker driven monitoring’. Kate Sullivan (Electronics Watch – Partner Organization of the SAPIENS Network) talked about verification in responsible public procurement: what is it and when is it used. She explained what needs to be verified, why, how and who should perform the check. Key aspects that should be taken into considerations are: law, resources and impact. Among the tools and methodologies for social verifications in the supply chain, Kate Sullivan listed self-declarations and self-assessments, labels, certifications and rating schemes, social audits, worker-driven monitoring (as practiced by Electronics Watch). Finally, she pointed out the distinctions between social audits and worker-driven monitoring in terms of the process, independence of the organ performing the audit, the duration, as well as the methods and goals used.
The second day of the training explored ‘Social aspects in supply chain management’ and included two lectures, one case study and one business case.
During the first lecture of the day, Brigitte Mouligneau (OVAM – Partner Organization of the SAPIENS Network) presented how Circular Flanders aims to transition to the circular economy. Taking into consideration the resource-scarcity world problem, she presented the ambition of the Flemish government: to make Flanders a leader in circular economy. She explained the strategic agenda used in this transition, the role of legal policy and the collaboration between organizations and coworkers. Additionally, she described several successful green projects, for example the Green deal on circular procurement or the Green deal on circular construction.
The last lecture of the day on ‘Human Rights in Sustainable Supply Chain Management was given by Dr. Agata Rudnicka – Reichel (Łódź University), with the cooperation of Prof. Olga Martin-Ortega (University of Greenwich, Lead Researcher in the SAPIENS Network). Prof. Martin-Ortega analyzed the state-business nexus and the state duty to protect human rights. She explored the role of UNGPs and the SDGs in shaping the protection of human rights through public procurement. The case study was led by Dr. Rudnicka and focused on the roles of contracting authorities, suppliers and stakeholders in human rights due diligence as part of the procurement process.
During the afternoon, the participants took part in a business game, led by Prof. Janusz Reichel (Łódź University). The business game, entitled ‘Global business challenges’, focused on ethical problems in the supply chain of companies. The participants were divided into teams, each team performing a particular role in the supply chain of textiles.
The third day was dedicated to a Project Meeting and a Supervisory Board Meeting. During the Project Meeting, the Early Stage Researchers were divided into three groups and presented their research in parallel sessions. They discussed their research projects and their evolution during the past year, receiving feedback from the Lead Researchers, one external expert and professionals from the Partner Organizations.
The last day of the ATC consisted of a team building activity. The participants prepared four Polish delicacies, enjoyed them, and then took a guided tour of Łódź’s Piotrkowska Street, the longest commercial street in Europe.
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