As the Responsible Supply Chain Conference (RSCC) London approaches, Logistics Manager profiles the experts set to speak at the renowned event.
Organised by Aurora Insights with Logistics Manager, the event will take place at the prestigious 30 Euston Square, London – a Grade II listed events venue in the heart of central London.
From raw material extraction to last-mile delivery, supply chains are being tested by disruption, higher disclosure expectations and growing scrutiny of labour, sourcing and environmental impact.
Organisations that can evidence progress, manage risk in their supplier base and convert sustainability goals into operational execution will be better placed to protect reputation, maintain access to markets and build resilience.
Packed into a singular in-depth day, RSCC focuses on platforming industry experts that tackle these challenges face on, determining whether responsibility is real in practice and how sustainability affects everything from product and packaging design choices, supplier due diligence and assurance, credible emissions reporting and reduction, operational decarbonisation and the operating model required to embed progress.
One of the experts confirmed to speak at the event is Sanita Garley, senior sustainability manager -carbon & net zero at B&Q.
Garley is a commercially driven Sustainability leader with expertise across buying and product development at B&Q.
Passionate about making sustainability practical, scalable, and commercially relevant, she specialises in translating ambitious climate goals into meaningful action across products, supply chains, and customer experiences.
A certified Carbon Literacy Trainer, Garley is committed to helping businesses and customers make lower-impact choices easier, more accessible, and more desirable.
Combining strong commercial expertise with a pragmatic and engaging approach, she is focused on driving sustainable change at scale across retail, homes, and supply chains.
Name: Sanita Garley
Job Role: Senior Sustainability Manager – Carbon & Net Zero
Organisation: B&Q
What do you see as the biggest challenge organisations face when trying to move from sustainability commitments to real implementation across global supply chains?
One of the biggest challenges we find is the turning of sustainability commitments into consistent action across our very complex global supply chain. At B&Q, more than 90% of emissions sit within the wider product supply chain and product use, making supplier engagement critical. Like many organisations with ambitious targets, we are finding that implementation is far more complex. Vendors operate at very different levels of maturity and capability, particularly around emissions data, traceability, and decarbonisation investment. At the same time, we have to balance sustainability advancement with affordability, quality, and supply resilience for customers. Balance is a tough act.
How can companies improve the quality and reliability of Scope 3 emissions data while working with large and complex supplier networks?
For B&Q, improving Scope 3 data starts with strong supplier collaboration and clear communication. If vendors understand both our targets and why the data matters, they are far more likely to adopt the right practices and engage positively with the process. The only way to make this work at scale is through a cross-functional approach. In our case, commercial and buying teams play a key role in embedding sustainability expectations into everyday supplier conversations, rather than treating them as a separate workstream.
Consistency is also critical. Data requirements need regular follow-up, ongoing verification, and continuous engagement to maintain momentum. There will always be competing pressures between sustainability priorities and commercial objectives, but lasting progress comes from integrating sustainability into sourcing and buying decisions from the outset. There are no shortcuts unfortunately, improving Scope 3 reporting is a long-term commitment that depends on steady progress, strong partnerships, and consistent focus over time.
What practical steps can organisations take to strengthen supplier governance and ensure meaningful human rights due diligence throughout their supply chains?
For B&Q, ethical sourcing is fundamental and forms the baseline of every Vendor relationship, regardless of how attractive a product proposition may be commercially. That expectation is embedded throughout the organisation, particularly within sourcing and buying teams who play a key role in supplier onboarding and governance. Strong human rights due diligence comes from clear standards, auditing, supplier transparency, and ongoing engagement. Maintaining ethical standards and responsible sourcing practices must come before short-term commercial gain, and that mindset is consistently reinforced across the business. If the message is clear and consistently upheld internally, it naturally strengthens supplier governance externally and sets a strong precedent from the outset.
How is the concept of the circular economy evolving within supply chain management, and where are companies making the most tangible progress?
At B&Q, we are increasingly collaborating with vendors to develop initiatives that customers can easily understand and engage with. Good examples are our plastic plant pot take-back scheme and our involvement in the PaintCare trial initiative, both of which help bring circularity to life in a very visible and tangible way for customers. Through the plant pot scheme, customers can return unwanted plastic pots in-store so the material can be recycled into new products, helping create a closed-loop process. Similarly, PaintCare is helping tackle the UK’s leftover paint challenge by making reuse and recycling more accessible.
Today, only around 2% of leftover paint is reused or remanufactured in the UK, despite an estimated 34 million litres being discarded every year. Alongside customer-facing initiatives, we are also working closely with vendors to increase the use of recycled materials and improve material choices across product ranges. Progress is being made, but meaningful circular economy change takes time, investment, and significant cross-functional collaboration. Education is also a huge part of the journey. If customers, suppliers or even buying teams do not fully understand what circularity means in practice, it becomes much harder to embed it into product selection, sourcing decisions, and long-term ranging strategies. That is why visibility, communication and consistent engagement are just as important as the initiatives themselves.
What role do digital technologies and data platforms play in improving traceability, transparency, and accountability across modern supply chains?
Digital technologies and data platforms are playing an increasingly important role in improving traceability, transparency, and accountability across modern supply chains. They can provide far greater visibility, help businesses identify risks more quickly and create more consistent ways of collecting and analysing supplier data at scale. However, platforms are only as effective as the quality of the data being shared. Technology can support the process, but it cannot replace the importance of strong supplier relationships, regular engagement, and clear communication.
Suppliers need to understand what data is being requested, why it matters and how it will be used, otherwise reporting can quickly become inconsistent or incomplete. At B&Q, the focus is not simply on collecting more data, but on collecting the right data and building the processes and partnerships needed to make it meaningful. Human engagement still plays a critical role in driving accountability, improving accuracy, and maintaining momentum. Technology is a powerful enabler, but real progress still depends on collaboration, trust, and ongoing conversations across the supply chain.
Responsible Supply Chain Conference London takes place 23 June 2026 at 30 Euston Square, London. For speaker information and attendee registration, visit the official event website at www.supplychainconference.co.uk
