Ones to watch in: Supply chain innovation
Supply chain bosses have always had to focus on efficiency and productivity. Now they have another pressing priority: how to make the industry more sustainable and transparent.
It’s clear that their customers care too. Four-fifths (80%) of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainably produced or sourced goods, including those produced in a supply chain with a lower carbon footprint.
Here, Harpswood looks at some of the businesses doing it faster and better than pretty much anyone else out there. These are the supply chain “ones to watch”.
Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, had a simple mantra about his iconic cars: “Simplify, then add lightness.”
Those four words have inspired Noamaan Siddiqi, CEO of Bristol Superlight, to revolutionise the lorry.
Lorries are harder to decarbonise than cars because of their heavier load. Some suppliers have looked at retrofitting legacy box trucks with electric motors.
Bristol Superlight took the harder path – they created a new type of vehicle to transform cargo logistics.
The new vehicles are inspired by aerospace design and are lighter, stronger, more capable and more economical than old lorries, containing 50 per cent more cargo volume.
As with most successful businesses which play their part in decarbonising, Bristol Superlight isn’t asking customers to buy its product to save the environment. It is saving customers 73 per cent on their energy costs, making the buying decision a no-brainer.
The Hampshire-based business has more than 70 proprietary inventions in design, materials, software and battery technology.
Undoubtedly one to watch.
Two problems plague Europe’s trucking industry: driver shortages and toxic diesel pollution.
In fact, Europe has a shortage of 400,000 drivers and 39% of transport emissions come from diesel-powered trucks.
Enter Fernride, the Munich-based startup developing electric, autonomous trucks.
Fernride’s tech lets “teleoperators” remotely guide trucks. At the moment, one driver can remotely operate four autonomous vehicles. That’s a number CEO and co-founder Henrik Kramer is increasing with some clever AI. He’s the youngest ever Logistics Leader of the Year, an accolade past bestowed on Jeff Bezos and Henry Ford.
The physical tech can also be retrofitted into existing trucks. The clever autonomous software is then monetised through a subscription model.
The company has already launched pilot projects with major clients, including Volkswagen, and counts high-profile investors like Bayern Kapital and Germany’s DeepTech & Climate Fonds among its backers. Its commercial launch is planned within the next year, pending certifications.
Kramer has also hinted at more uses for the tech, including defence - several governments have approached the company to enable safe, remote deliveries in combat zones.
For Fernride, the road leads on and up.
Emitwise has launched a platform that uses machine learning to help large businesses accurately measure, report, target, and reduce emissions across its supply chain.
Supply chain management is an area that still lacks decent level of understanding. Based in London, three co-founders - Mauro Cozzi, Eduardo Gómez and Ben Peddie - launched Emitwise to address this.
The platform works with some of the most complex supply chains - it spans sectors including construction, FMCG, fashion and textiles, packaging, automotive, and machinery. In the automotive space for example, there’s increased scrutiny on the manufacturing of electric vehicle materials. Companies that can identify and remove high levels of carbon from their supply chain will put you in good stead with consumers and ahead of your competitors.
Emitwise gives companies not only a clear, full picture of their supply chain’s carbon emissions, but helps them to use their carbon data in a positive way.
Clearly is on a mission to help fleet operators and logistics companies tackle one of the biggest contributors to global emissions: transportation. With the sector accounting for a whopping 25% of global CO2 emissions, the need for smarter, data-driven solutions has never been more urgent. This is where Clearly’s AI-powered platform comes in.
Clearly provides fleet operators with critical, trip-level insights into emissions and energy usage, enabling them to make smarter, real-time decisions that drive both environmental and financial benefits. By blending data from multiple sources, such as vehicle performance, operations, and energy consumption, Clearly delivers actionable insights that help businesses decarbonise their supply chains more effectively.
What sets Clearly apart? It’s hardware-agnostic, meaning it works with any data source, overcoming the biggest barrier to effective emissions tracking: data fragmentation. The platform empowers fleet operators to identify the most impactful decarbonisation strategies, helping them hit net-zero targets while improving operational efficiency.
With transportation emissions set to rise 60% by 2050, Clearly’s platform is a game-changer, offering companies the tools they need to turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.
In an era of booming e-commerce and growing parcel volumes, sustainable logistics has never been more critical. It is estimated that over 400 million parcels are delivered in the UK each month. This is why the work of innovative companies like Urb-it, who are transforming urban supply chains for the better, is so important.
Urb-it’s mission is simple yet powerful: to deliver sustainable, human-centric logistics that protect the health of our cities.
Urb-it’s green vehicle fleet ensures all last-mile deliveries are emission free, delivering by cargo-bike, bike or foot. As well as not contributing to city emissions, their innovative delivery technology allows customers to track deliveries in real-time, resulting in an incredible 99% delivery success rate at first attempt.
Urn-it’s work across the e-commerce supply chain – shipping from warehouse and store across the UK and France. Already partnering with DHL, Co-Op and Amazon Logistics, Urb-it is setting a new benchmark for eco-friendly urban deliveries, tackling congestion and pollution head-on.
As a certified B Corp, Urb-it leads by example, proving that businesses can deliver exceptional service while driving meaningful environmental and social change. Their commitment to zero-emission deliveries and ethical practices not only supports a greener planet but also aligns perfectly with the growing demand from consumers and businesses for responsible solutions.
Urb-it is a fantastic example of how businesses can thrive while leaving a lighter footprint on the world.
As Christmas approaches, now is the perfect time to work towards a more sustainable future, one delivery at a time.