Manifest Vegas | Sandra Leyva Martinez, CHEP, on the Evolution of Circular Supply Chains
•February 19, 2026
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Why It Matters
Circular logistics reduce waste, lower carbon footprints, and ensure compliance with tightening international regulations, positioning firms like CHEP as industry leaders in sustainable supply chain transformation.
Key Takeaways
- •CHEP targets 100% deforestation‑free timber supply chain
- •Zero‑product‑waste strategy re‑engineers pallets from customer waste
- •Digital traceability enables circular logistics at scale
- •2030 plan hinges on data‑driven transparency
- •New CBAM and EPR laws force immediate compliance
Pulse Analysis
The push toward circular supply chains is no longer a niche sustainability project; it is becoming a core business imperative driven by regulatory pressure and stakeholder expectations. CHEP’s commitment to a 100% deforestation‑free timber supply chain illustrates how large logistics firms can embed environmental criteria into procurement, creating a competitive advantage while mitigating reputational risk. By redesigning pallets to incorporate customer‑generated waste, CHEP transforms what was once a disposal cost into a value‑adding asset, reinforcing the economic case for regenerative logistics.
Digitalisation lies at the heart of scaling these circular initiatives. CHEP’s investment in real‑time visibility platforms and blockchain‑based traceability provides the granular data needed to coordinate upstream and downstream flows across continents. This orchestration enables precise matching of reusable assets, reduces idle inventory, and supports transparent reporting required by investors and regulators alike. The shift from manual tracking to automated, data‑rich ecosystems also accelerates the transition from CHEP’s 2025 sustainability targets to its more ambitious 2030 outlook, where transparency and measurable impact become the baseline.
Beyond operational efficiency, circular logistics generate tangible social benefits, as demonstrated by CHEP’s pilot that converted surplus pallets into 20 million meals for Feeding America. Such initiatives showcase how supply‑chain connectivity can address food insecurity while reducing landfill waste. With the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and expanding Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks set to reshape global trade, companies that embed circularity now will avoid future compliance costs and unlock new market opportunities. CHEP’s roadmap offers a blueprint for firms seeking to future‑proof their logistics networks against evolving environmental legislation.
Original Description
BizClik attended Manifest in Vegas to speak with Sandra Leyva Martinez on how the transition from linear to circular models is being accelerated by global regulation and cross-industry collaboration.
Sandra Leyva Martinez is the Head of Sustainability for the Americas at CHEP (a Brambles company), a global leader in circular logistics. An aeronautical engineer by trade, Sandra brings a disciplined, problem-solving mindset to the world of ESG. With a background spanning leadership roles at Amazon and KION Group, she is uniquely positioned to discuss how heavy-duty logistics operations can move beyond "non-waste" goals toward true regenerative impact across the entire supply chain.
In this conversation, Sandra explores the sophisticated "upstream" and "downstream" orchestration required to run a sustainable global logistics business. She highlights CHEP’s commitment to a 100% deforestation-free timber supply chain and explains how the company is now "closing the loop" by re-engineering products to include waste streams directly from their own customers. This focus on zero-product-waste ensures that valuable materials remain in the economy and out of landfills.
Sandra also delves into the critical role of digitalisation in scaling these circular efforts. By investing in enhanced visibility and traceability capabilities, CHEP is moving beyond manual tracking to achieve true "orchestration at scale." This digital foundation is what allows the company to transition from its 2025 sustainability program into an ambitious 2030 outlook that prioritizes data-driven transparency.
Finally, the discussion shifts to the human and regulatory impact of supply chain connectivity. Sandra shares the success of a fiscal year pilot that donated 20 million meals by connecting customer surplus with organisations like Feeding America. She warns that with the rise of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws from Europe to Mexico, businesses must act now to align their operations with a rapidly tightening global regulatory landscape.
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