Congress highlights: Philippe Dessertine's grandiose opening; the inspiring keynote by Paola Fabiani, Founding President (Wisecom), Vice-president in charge of entrepreneurship and spokesperson for Medef Nation; our sponsors Generix, EOL and Hardis Group for moments of conviviality. Photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

The stakes at RISC were on an unprecedented scale. The world of the supply chain is in a state of flux, and it was in the midst of this whirlwind that the 23 speakers and 24 pitches shared their experience and vision. While climate change and sustainability emerged as key themes for discussion, it was also an opportunity to discover new approaches to collaboration between companies and institutions, and to envisage more responsible business models.

The return of RISC, with over 300 participants over the course of the day, was an opportunity to redefine the new priorities of companies.

Emmanuel Ladent CEO (Carbios), Anaïs Leblanc, Executive Partner (Citwell), Emmanuel Bonnet Vice-President Sales and Development, France (GXO), Anne James, Circular Economy Leader (Schneider Electric France). Photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

One of the major themes of the day was the presentation of the Circular Supply Chain as a central lever in the transition to a sustainable economy. Anaïs Leblanc, partner at Citwell, spoke about the major challenges of this transformation: "How can we succeed in making products last, how can we maximize the use of existing resources, and how can we minimize waste? "

In this dynamic, companies are called upon to innovate on several fronts. It's not just a question of recycling, but also of rethinking the way products are manufactured, transported, stored and consumed. For example, Carbios, a pioneering biorecycling company, presented its revolutionary process using enzymes to break down PET and create a material that can be recycled up to 10 times over.

The revolution doesn't stop there, with some pioneers even getting ahead of regulations and the market. Companies like Schneider Electric shared their experiences. The message is clear: the transformation to a circular supply chain is as much an economic challenge as an ecological one. It is not only an investment in the future, but also a competitive lever in a world that is increasingly demanding in terms of sustainability.

Transforming production, transport and storage models requires a careful balance between optimizing resources, adopting innovative technologies and adapting to social and environmental requirements. It's not just a question of making the supply chain greener, but also of making it more efficient and more resilient in the face of today's economic challenges.

Mathieu Boyer Head of Market Intelligence (SprintProject), Benoît Meunier Product Marketing Manager (Toyota Material Handling), Tariel Chamerois CSR & Sustainability Manager France & Morocco (DB Schenker). photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

Energy transition and the decarbonization of processes were central to this debate. Speakers shared their experience of :

This event, which marks the end of five years of work following the fire in 2019, was a perfect example of complex logistical collaboration, where every detail counted to meet the deadlines and exceptional quality standards expected for the restoration of the historic monument. But what made this approach so original was the use of the river to transport over 200 tonnes of materials needed for the reconstruction.

Bertrand Neveux, Freight Development Manager (VNF Bassin de la Seine et Loire aval), Gilles Peyrot, Multimodal Project Manager (Sogestran). photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

The choice of transporting materials such as ashlar, lime, wood and carpentry via the Seine has helped limit noise and environmental pollution.

This was an innovative approach, because although the Seine has always played a major role in the history of Paris construction, this type of logistics solution had never been used on such a large scale for a site of this importance. The experts involved in river logistics testified to the complexity of the project, which required a number of technical adjustments, including the installation of remote storage barges to manage materials prior to delivery to the site.

The river network, largely under-exploited in terms of freight transport, has demonstrated its potential by offering a viable, faster and less polluting alternative to overland transport.

In interactive sessions called "kiosks", participants had the opportunity to explore key themes using concrete tools and feedback from LAB members. This forum forexchange and inspiration highlighted a number of strategic areas, and here are some of the key findings.

Kiosks with Alexandre LIMA, Arnaud DE MOISSAC, Assâad MOUMEN, Bruno LAWSON, Delphine CUVELLIER, Étienne TOURNIER, Geoffrey GABELLE, Gilles VERDIER, Ivan BATURONE, Jean-David ATTAL, Jérôme BOUR, Julia SHARKO, Karine LOUARN, Ludovic MENDES, Marc BRUNETEAU, Maxime AUBRY, Nathalie FABBE COSTES, Nicolas CHELIUS, Olivier WEIS, Sébastien MARIE, Sophie VINCENT, Vincent HOULLIERE. Photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

During this 3^e round table, our 4 guests explored with the audience how to attract, retain and develop talent in an ecosystem undergoing rapid digital and environmental transformation.

Today's companies need to develop training and attractiveness strategies adapted, not least to bridge the generational gap that could arise with the growing mastery of digital tools like ChatGPT among new generations.

The success of these new HR strategies depends on inclusive team management that :

Raphaëlle DESINDES International Supply Chain Director - Guerlain; Loïc Lassagne in charge of supply chain HR - Groupe Renault; François Peignés, Vice President Supply Chain Operations - ORANO, until 2023 author of "COMPAGNIE, comprendre et développer le capital humain des grandes entreprises industrielles"; Yannick Buisson Customer Experience and Sustainable Development Director - FM Logistic. photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

Another point discussed was the upgrading the Supply Chain functionAlthough historically seen as a secondary concern, it is now a strategic component of the company, with a strong presence on management committees. To attract talent, it's important to showcase the diversity of our professions and career paths, notably through programs such as the graduate program, which enables young people to discover different positions (plant, field, corporate, sales) and develop a comprehensive vision of our professions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also a strategic lever, provided we can demonstrate that it can generate value for our businesses, by facilitating decision-making, and not a threat to jobs.

Interview by Fabrice Lundy

Going further

with an interview with Florent Menegaux, President of the Michelin Group, who talks about his approach to social innovation.

Discover

With 70% of the world's freight transported by sea, cargo sailboats are emerging as a promising solution for drastically reducing carbon footprints. France boasts historic expertise in shipbuilding and an innovative ecosystem supported by proactive public policies such as the Pacte Vélique.

Among the key players redefining maritime transport:

The International Maritime Organization has set a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050. This is the context of the Shipper Coalition for a Low Carbon Maritime Transport (SCLCMT), a France Supply Chain - AUTF co-association in which shipper members collaborate to develop non-standard ships (-50% CO2 emissions vs. conventional transport).

The start-up Zéphyr & Borée has been selected by this coalition of diverse companies to build the first container ships powered mainly by sail to make weekly North Atlantic crossings by 2028.

Nils Joyeux Co-founder and President (Zéphyr&Borée), Alain Goll Sustainability & Transformation Leader International Supply Chain Adeo Services and General Secretary of the SCLCMT, Simon Watin Managing Director of VPLP design and Vice-President of the Wind Ship Association, Djamina Houdet Caseneuve President (Hisseo), Jean Zanuttini President (Neoline), Thibault Droguet Project Manager (Louis Dreyfus Armateurs). photo credit: Nathalie Vergès photographie.

Delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games on an exceptional scale, against all the odds, was a challenge that Paris 2024 rose to with flying colors. Anthony Piqueras, Director of Venues and Infrastructure, embodies this success thanks to rigorous planning and a strategic vision that began with the bid over ten years ago.

The ambition? To use the Games as a lever to enhance France's heritage, while meeting the needs of the regions concerned, without superfluous expenditure. Versailles and the Place de la Concorde were transformed into spectacular settings, while the model was based on existing infrastructures and sustainable resource management.

Anthony Piqueras, Director of Venues and Infrastructure at Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee (Paris 2024)

This strategy also included emblematic initiatives such as the integration of the public transport network and the use of sites throughout France, including Lille, where one million tickets were sold.

The logistical challenges were just as ambitious, with titanic objectives such as coordinating 240,000 temporary grandstand seats, transporting materials and managing the massive flow of visitors. Paris 2024 met these challenges thanks to a flawless methodology combining intelligent sourcing, strategic calls for tender, pooling of resources on a national and European scale, and meticulous planning in conjunction with service providers and local authorities.

This collaborative effort culminated in a harmonious partnership between private companies, public infrastructures and local players, guaranteeing exemplary operational fluidity. What made the difference? A collective mobilization which, from the spring onwards, generated a decisive trigger, propelling the Games towards success on both technical and human levels.

This return of RISC, both a source of inspiration and a catalyst of ideas, resulted in an event with a rich and varied content, offering a complete panorama of contemporary challenges and innovative solutions for a more efficient and responsible Supply Chain. The Supply Chain will be resolutely circular and frugal, and therefore decarbonized, while relying on people and the construction of collaborative ecosystems.

will play a key role in a sustainable and desirable future

Congress highlights : Fabrice Lundy master of ceremonies, Raphaëlle Desindes, Stéphanie Rott, Valérie Macrez, Yannick Buisson, Arnaud de Moissac, Yann de Feraudy President of France Supply Chain, Jean-Christophe Machet, Mohammed Marfouk, Bertrand Neyret, François-Martin Festa, Ivan Baturone, Aime-Frederic Rosenzweig, Loïc Lassagne, Henri de La Gravière, Lionel Benezech, Marie-Laure Furgala, Blandine Ageron, Madeleine Deby, Françoise Lieuré