The rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world has brought the depth of our interconnectedness into sharp relief. No large company can operate in isolation; getting products and services to customers requires navigating a complex web of parts and raw material suppliers, manufacturers, transportation networks, and energy procurement challenges. Breaks in any link of the chain can cause disruption all along the way and have serious consequences for people's lives.
The ability to adapt supply chains and resolve emerging logistical issues while limiting (or eliminating) negative impacts on society, the environment, and the long-term financial health of the company is a critical component of building a more sustainable business. But, what has this looked like in practice? How are companies adapting their supply chain and operations to respond to the challenges introduced by COVID-19? What lessons can be learned from these adjustments as we look towards building a more sustainable world post-pandemic?
To help answer these questions, the Center for Sustainable Business at the University of Pittsburgh convened a panel with representatives from three of its corporate partners: Geoff Muessig of PITT OHIO, Dhruv Raina of Tarkett, and William Sapon of Peoples Natural Gas.
The webinar, which took place on June 17, 2020, was entitled "Sustainability in the COVID-19 Era: Logistics & Supply Chain Management." This panel provided Peoples with an opportunity to discuss how we are navigating the energy transition from disruption to growth and how COVID-19 has accelerated this transition. Our focus was on the transportation and logistics sector and an industry push towards net zero emission vehicles and the adoption of sustainable, alternative fuel chains.
Energy, and specifically transportation fuel, is increasingly becoming a supply chain and logistics issue. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's most recent “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks” report, the power generation sector and the transportation sectors are the biggest emitting sectors in our country. Bloomberg states, in its report titled "Sustainable Energy in America 2020 Factbook," that the transportation sector remained the largest single source of climate-warming emissions for the fourth consecutive year, hitting 29% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal is to help combat that trend with alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuel chains.
To learn more about the benefits of diversifying your energy fuel chains and how Peoples is helping its customers adopt new, clean, sustainable energy solutions, we encourage you to watch the full webinar or visit our natural gas vehicles page.
You can also learn more about the Center for Sustainable Business on their website.
