Day 2 Highlights from IntegrityNext Xplore: ESG Supply Chain Reimagined

Fireside chat with Right Honourable Sir Alok Sharma

Day two of Xplore kicked off with a fireside chat between Simon Jaehnig, Chief Revenue Officer of IntegrityNext, and the Right Honourable Sir Alok Sharma. Sir Alok Sharma is a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament, former President of the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow, and a Senior Advisor to the EQT Growth investment fund.

The conversation delved into the geopolitical challenges of sustainability, examining how governments, businesses, and individuals can drive meaningful climate action. Sir Alok Sharma emphasized the need for a long-term perspective on the green transition, noting that the full benefits of successfully addressing these challenges will only become apparent over time. In particular, he noted that the cost of inaction will be far greater in the long run than if we take action today. His core message was therefore clear: "It is time to act now!" And he stressed the importance of driving the green transition agenda not only within companies but also with business partners and peers.

The role of technology in sustainability

Under the title "Tech for Good: Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Impact," Ann Rosenberg, member of the IntegrityNext Advisory Board and co-founder of the UN SDG Ambition Accelerator Program, Guy Lewis, ESG & Sustainability Analyst at Verdantix, and Janina Bauer, Global Head of Sustainability at Celonis, explored the role of technology in driving sustainable change. The discussion was again moderated by Simon Jaehnig.

The panelists agreed that AI and other emerging technologies have the potential to enhance existing data, fill data gaps and generate entirely new insights, but emphasized that the responsible use and the human role in validating that data are essential. To fully harness the power of technology and avoid siloed thinking, corporate IT departments must work closely with other functions, such as sustainability and procurement, to develop an integrated approach.

Two IntegrityNext product launches

Next on the agenda was a much-anticipated highlight: the launch of two new IntegrityNext solutions. Till Reiter, Chief Product Officer, Lena Wesche, Product Manager, and Lucas Videla, Head of Product Marketing, introduced the the audience to the pioneering Multi-Tier Supply Chain Visibility and EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) solutions.

The Multi-Tier Supply Chain Visibility solution is designed to provide complete visibility along the supply chain, mapping each tier from raw materials to finished products. The cloud-based solution is based on the world’s largest first-party supply chain sustainability data set and is powered by an AI engine.

On the other hand, the end-to-end EUDR solution streamlines compliance with all legal and due diligence requirements of the regulation, enables automated data collection, supports risk analysis, and provides comprehensive reporting capabilities.

Focus on due diligence regulation, multi-tier visibility and reporting

Multi-Tier visibility and the EUDR were also key topics in the three different track sessions held in the early afternoon. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the EU Forced Labor Regulation (EUFLR) and the latest developments in sustainability reporting.

• In the EUDR and EUFLR track, ESG and product experts from IntegrityNext provided practical insights into the new regulations and how companies can best overcome key stumbling blocks. In a separate panel discussion, three company representatives explored best practices for addressing regulatory challenges from a SME perspective. Key topics included the critical role of partnerships, industry-wide collaboration and proactive approaches to sustainability management.
• In the Multi-Tier Visibility track, the speakers emphasized the critical importance of comprehensive data collection and consolidation in multi-tier supply chains which needs to be underpinned by a clear vision and goals. They also explained how technologies such as AI are unlocking entirely new insights and value from data, fundamentally transforming how we work with and interpret information.
• Finally, the Sustainability Reporting track highlighted the pain points companies face when implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). It became evident that many companies feel overwhelmed, highlighting the need for cross-departmental collaboration and effective stakeholder engagement to meet the requirements across the various ESG areas.

Looking to the future in the final panel

In the afternoon, we took a look at the future of supply chain sustainability with Julia Kristin Ruf, Partner at KPMG, Anne Heijnk, Teamlead External Affairs at IntegrityNext, and once again Guy Lewis, ESG & Sustainability Analyst at Verdantix,. The panelists identified several key trends that will have a significant impact on companies: full transparency across the entire value chain beyond Tier 1 suppliers, a shift from supplier-focused to product-focused strategies, and a more data-driven approach to supply chain sustainability.

Wrap-up from the IntegrityNext founders

And just like that, two days of Xplore came to an end. The founding team - Martin Berr-Sorokin, Simon Jaehnig, and Nick Heine - returned to the stage for their closing remarks and thoughts, expressing their heartfelt gratitude for the past two days and for the many guests and partners who made Xplore a memorable first corporate conference for IntegrityNext. See you all next year!