Rewiring Supply Chains: From Social Procurement to Circular Innovation
Supply chains touch every part of our economies — shaping labor conditions, climate impacts, and opportunities for inclusion. Yet too often, the social dimension of supply chains is overlooked, while forced labor and opaque practices fall off the global agenda. At the same time, innovation in circular systems — from material reuse and packaging reduction to waste-to-value enterprises — is creating new opportunities for climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food value chains, and community transformation.
This session will explore how to reimagine supply chains as drivers of justice, sustainability, and opportunity. Together, we’ll ask: how can procurement create more inclusive markets? How can transparency and inclusive finance address human rights risks in high-risk sectors? And how do we scale circular models — like turning plastic bottles into schools — that deliver economic, social, and climate wins?
Speakers
Estelle Koné — Founder & GP of Ster Impact, impact investor unlocking capital for African entrepreneurs with a background at Goldman Sachs and Wharton.
Kristen Abrams — Independent strategist with 20+ years’ experience helping mission-driven organizations address human rights challenges and unlock resources.
What to Expect
Social procurement for equity – Explore how companies and governments can integrate social and inclusive criteria, opening opportunities for SMEs, women-led businesses, and vulnerable communities.
Confront hidden harms – Re-surface forced labor and human rights concerns in global supply chains, especially in high-risk sectors like mining.
Increase transparency – Discuss accountability frameworks and the role of inclusive finance in protecting workers.
Advance circular innovation – Highlight real-world models of material reuse, packaging reduction, and waste-to-value commercialization.
Spotlight global case studies – Learn from pilots in Africa and Indonesia transforming food systems and plastic waste into resilient ecosystems and safe schools.
Why Join?
Reframe supply chains as levers for equity, justice, and climate resilience.
Gain insights into both systemic challenges and practical innovations.
Share your own strategies for advancing transparency, inclusion, and sustainability.
Walk away with ideas to align procurement, finance, and innovation for lasting impact.
Who Should Attend?
Corporate leaders and policymakers advancing procurement and supply chain reform.
Funders and investors exploring inclusive finance and circular economy solutions.
NGOs, researchers, and grassroots innovators working at the intersection of labor, climate, and supply chains.
Anyone committed to transforming supply chains into pathways for justice and sustainability.