Summary
Thank you for your interest in IBM’s annual Sustainability Leadership Symposium, held on September 13, 2023. This year’s theme focused on best practices and innovative approaches to waste reduction – a topical area that touches all businesses and is key for preventing pollution and reducing the consumption of natural resources. This virtual event brought together IBM suppliers with emissions-intensive activities relative to IBM’s procurement to share best practices, progress, and achievements in environmental sustainability. It provided a forum for attendees to discuss and share insights on how to reduce or prevent the generation of waste and how to best manage the waste that is generated through comprehensive and proactive programs that emphasize reuse and recycling and support a circular economy. The intention of the event was to provide valuable learning and engagement opportunities for attendees.
The keynote speaker for this event was Adam Fullerton, Vice President of Stadium Operations, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He highlighted how a two million square-foot sports stadium diverts 90% of its waste from landfill, incineration, and waste-to-energy and discussed their zero-waste playbook. Members from IBM leadership, including our Vice President, Indirect Procurement Americas, Nancy McGuire, and our Chief Sustainability Officer, Wayne Balta, also offered their perspectives.
Additionally, attendees heard from a variety of IBM suppliers who have implemented a number of innovative waste management projects and shared their journeys, successes and lessons learned. Afterward, we divided into virtual roundtables to discuss waste prevention, and reusing, recycling and recovery approaches in more detail. The roundtable portion of the event encouraged open dialog and collaboration among the participants; thus, it was not recorded. The main session was recorded and has been made available below.
We look forward to next year’s event!
Watch the replay
Speakers
Wayne Balta
Vice President, Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety, and Chief Sustainability Officer, IBM
Edan Dionne
Vice President, Environmental, Energy and Climate Management Programs, Corporate Environmental Affairs, IBM
Jim Cavanaugh
Global Senior Director, Marketing & Research, HPE Financial Services, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Katrin Hornung
HSEQ Manager for Apleona ITS and Team Lead of the Sustainability Center of Competence for EMEA
David McIntyre
Director, Sustainable Products Planning, Device Solutions America, Samsung Semiconductor
Agenda
Symposium Agenda
|
Time (ET) |
Session |
|
10:00 – 10:10 AM |
Introduction and Welcome: Nancy McGuire, Vice President, Indirect Procurement Americas, IBM |
|
10:10 – 10:25 AM |
Opening Remarks: Wayne Balta, Vice President, Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety & Chief Sustainability Officer, IBM |
|
10:25 – 11:00 AM |
Keynote Address and Q&A |
|
11:00 – 11:10 AM |
Break |
|
11:10 – 11:15 AM |
Overview of Showcases |
|
11:15 AM – 12:55 PM 11:15 – 11:35 AM 11:35 – 11:55 AM 11:55 AM – 12:15 PM 12:15 – 12:35 PM 12:35 – 12:55 PM |
Supplier Showcases: Supplier Showcase 1 + Q&A: Samsung Supplier Showcase 2 + Q&A: Apleona Supplier Showcase 3 + Q&A: Flex Supplier Showcase 4 + Q&A: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Supplier Showcase 5 + Q&A: Lenovo |
|
12:55 – 1:05 PM |
Break |
|
1:05 – 1:45 PM |
Roundtable Discussions (4 rooms): Breakout Room Topic A: Driving a circular economy through procurement best practices (Moderator - Becky Morones) Breakout Room Topic B: Pros, cons and challenges of zero waste to landfill certifications Breakout Room Topic C: Strategies to minimize manufacturing waste Breakout Room Topic D: Tools for tracking and measuring waste |
|
1:45 – 2:00 PM |
Wrap Up and Closing Remarks: Edan Dionne, Vice President, Environmental, Energy and Chemical Management Programs, Corporate Environmental Affairs, IBM |