In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and special co-host Claire Fincham with SAPICS continue the “Supply Chain Leadership Across Africa” series with guest Marietjie Brown, Sustainability and Government Affairs Lead at CHEP for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkeiye. Marietjie shares how CHEP is leading the charge in regenerative supply chain initiatives—from ensuring zero waste to landfills to bringing clean running water to communities that have never had it.

She also explains how CHEP’s closed-loop model is rooted in circular economy principles, and why feeding the world’s most vulnerable people isn’t a corporate goal—it’s part of the company’s DNA. The conversation highlights the power of connecting global multinationals with local SMEs, overcoming infrastructure and economic hurdles in Africa, and using supply chains as engines for social, environmental, and business transformation.

Plus, with the SAPICS Conference just around the corner, the episode spotlights the role of community, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration in shaping the future of supply chain on the continent.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(03:52) Marietjie Brown and her passion for sustainability

(11:58) Regenerative supply chain initiatives in Africa

(16:06) Bringing running water to underserved communities

(18:28) Inside CHEP’s circular economy model

(27:23) Sustainability goals: planting trees and feeding millions

(32:48) Challenges and solutions in African supply chains

(37:41) Supporting small enterprises and unlocking growth

(41:21) Looking ahead to the SAPICS Conference

(46:03) What’s next for CHEP and the global supply chain

Additional Links & Resources

• Connect with Marietjie Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marietjie-coertzen-brown-543a1327/?originalSubdomain=za
• Learn more about CHEP: https://www.chep.com/
• Learn more about SAPICS: https://www.sapics.org/
• Check out the 47th Annual SAPICS 2025 Conference: https://conference.sapics.org/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Claire Fincham and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/zero-waste-clean-water-millions-fed-look-CHEP-impact-across-africa-1420