Infrastructure as a Service: Rethinking Logistics, Circularity, and Ownership in Regenerative Supply Chains - 10 Big Ideas to Transform Supply Chains for a Regenerative Future

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Nov 22, 2025

Sandra Leyva Martinez, Head of Sustainability for CHEP Americas and a veteran of Amazon's sustainability efforts, dives into the importance of circular distribution infrastructure in logistics. She explains how seamless integration of supply chains can enhance business resilience and community benefits. The discussion covers the shift from measuring biodiversity impact by units to hectares, the critical role of local repair hubs, and how AI, when paired with human oversight, can amplify decision-making. Sandra emphasizes collaboration across sectors to foster regenerative community impacts.

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INSIGHT

Invisible Circular Infrastructure

Circular distribution infrastructure becomes invisible when integrated into operations and customers don't notice it's there.
Sandra Leyva Martinez says invisibility signals a mature, efficient circular supply chain that supports resilience and continuity.

ADVICE

Use Data To Drive Collaborative Design

Use traceability and granular data to enable collaborative decisions across stakeholders.
Combine analytics with iterative design to continuously improve compatibility across first, middle, and last mile.

ADVICE

Combine AI With Human Oversight

Apply AI to process data but retain human review to ensure data quality and actionable insights.
Let humans validate inputs so AI-driven decisions remain reliable and relevant.

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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