Driving Down Emissions: Philips' Journey to Decarbonize Transportation and Logistics
Moving products across the global supply chain is a persistent source of greenhouse gas emissions. However, effective network design, strategic modal choices, and strong supplier engagement can move the needle. CHARME (Collaborative for Healthcare Action to Reduce MedTech Emissions), an initiative convened by SPLC, has a workstream devoted to reducing emissions related to travel and logistics focused on modal shifts and order consolidation.
In this session, Philips will share how it has approached decarbonizing its transportation and logistics footprint as part of its broader commitment to net-zero operations, including shifting away from air freight toward lower-carbon options like ocean transport, expanding the use of sustainable fuels, and optimizing its transportation network to reduce unnecessary movement altogether.
Join us to hear how a large MedTech manufacturer is embedding sustainability into logistics decision-making, with practical takeaways for companies working through similar challenges and insights for health systems on how they can work with their suppliers.
Presenters:
Becka DeSmidt, Healthcare Sustainability Program Director, SPLC
Becka DeSmidt, MPH brings fifteen years of experience in health care strategic planning, program leadership, quality improvement, and project management to her work in health care sustainability.
Becka spent ten years at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a global non-profit organization that advances improvement science to solve longstanding health care challenges. Recently, as Project Director, Becka led Improvement Collaboratives that convened large health systems and small community hospitals alike to design and carry out improvement projects to reduce emissions from care delivery, including a focus on supply chain decarbonization.
Becka is certified as an Improvement Coach and has expertise in community organizing – a method grounded in storytelling, building strong relationships, and co-designing change. She has built and delivered online trainings in quality improvement, safety culture, workforce well-being, and leadership. She formerly led IHI’s Open School Chapter Network comprising thousands of students, residents, and professionals in more than 100 countries working together to lead improvement efforts on their campuses and in their communities.
Becka’s background is in health care strategic planning: at Advisory Board, she worked with health system leaders on clinical technology investment and service line strategy; at MassGeneral Brigham Healthcare (formerly Partners Healthcare), she contributed to the organization’s efforts to test, evaluate, and scale population health programs.
Becka holds a degree in political science from Pomona College and a master’s degree in public health from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. She lives in California with her husband, two small children, one large dog, and two much-loved toys: an espresso machine and electric cargo bike.
Alexandros Theodoropoulos, Director of Sustainability, Philips
Alexandros Theodoropoulos is Director of Sustainability at Philips, where he leads climate action initiatives and helps shape the company’s sustainability strategy. He brings more than 20 years of experience across sustainability, procurement, global sourcing and logistics, with a strong focus on translating climate ambitions into practical business action.
His work spans carbon reduction programs, renewable energy procurement, environmental reporting, and collaboration with customers and suppliers to decarbonize the healthcare value chain. Before moving into sustainability, Alexandros held senior procurement and sourcing leadership roles across several industries, giving him extensive experience in supply chains and transportation.
Questions? Please send an e-mail to webinars@sustainablepurchasing.org.