What if the most transformative infrastructure for regenerative supply chains was the one you never notice?
In this episode of the Supply Chain Revolution podcast, hosts Sheri Hinish (Supply Chain Queen) and James George sit down with Sandra Leyva Martinez, Head of Sustainability for CHEP Americas at Brambles—the world's largest circular asset pooling company. Sandy brings extraordinary experience from leading transformation at Amazon, managing sustainability across 40,000 suppliers, and building the first sustainability hub for Amazon's 2.5 million selling partners.
Together, they explore how circular distribution infrastructure serves as the invisible backbone for regenerative communities, moving beyond basic sustainability to systems that actively restore ecosystems and create distributed economic opportunity.
Key insights from this conversation:
- Why seamless integration makes circular supply chains invisible—and why that's exactly the point
- How data analytics and traceability enable collaborative decision-making across stakeholders
- The strategic shift from planting trees by units to measuring impact by hectares for biodiversity
- Why creating your own sustainable timber source makes business sense in a world of certified forest scarcity
- How "infrastructure as a service" forces companies to rethink ownership and access
- The role of local repair hubs in decentralizing logistics and creating community employment
- Why the best use of AI combines data processing with human quality oversight
- Sandy's "nothing is stopping us" philosophy—it's about strategic timing, not barriers
- How to reduce empty miles and pilot alternative fuels through partnership models
- The urgent need for innovation hubs to address electronic waste infrastructure gaps
Sandy shares CHEP and Brambles' journey from pioneering circular economy models in 2017-2018 to today's regenerative ambitions, revealing how efficiency, resilience, and business continuity create the perfect conditions for transformation.
This is Big Idea 6 in our series on transforming supply chains for a regenerative future. The message is clear: start now.
Connect with the Supply Chain Revolution: Subscribe for the full "10 Big Ideas" series exploring how to transform supply chains for a regenerative future. Follow the Supply Chain Queen on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources.
Guest: Sandra Leyva Martinez, Head of Sustainability, CHEP Americas (Brambles)
Hosts: Sheri Hinish & James George
Series: 10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future
