DKSH Business Unit Healthcare has achieved a significant milestone in advancing sustainability within its supply chain by successfully tracking carbon emissions in Thailand.
This initiative was realised through a collaboration with UOB FinLab’s GreenTech Accelerator and Smart Tradzt, a Singapore-based technology provider specializing in carbon management.
The project focused on measuring Scope 3 carbon emissions, which represent indirect greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain. Accurately tracking these emissions is crucial yet complex, particularly in the healthcare and logistics sectors.
DKSH's partnership with UOB FinLab facilitated access to financial support, mentorship, and community networks, enabling a comprehensive assessment of its carbon footprint.
“This initiative details the importance we place on sustainability,” said Bijay Singh, global head of the business unit healthcare at DKSH.
“As we strive for equitable healthcare across Asia Pacific, maintaining transparency and accountability in our supply chain is vital. Scope 3 emissions are intricate and necessitate deep collaboration throughout the value chain.” Bijay Singh
The collaboration also involved Smart Tradzt’s digital platform to execute a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), which provided insights into the environmental impact of DKSH’s operations. The analysis adhered to internationally recognized standards, covering all life cycle stages from material sourcing to disposal.
Despite challenges such as limited awareness among small suppliers and insufficient data, the LCA revealed promising results. DKSH’s reusable cold-chain packaging solution, the B-Box, demonstrated a significant reduction in carbon emissions over its lifecycle, recording emissions of approximately 27.19 kg CO₂e per box over five years, compared to 5.03 kg CO₂e for traditional single-use Styrofoam alternatives.
Building on these findings, DKSH plans to expand its reusable packaging solutions to other markets, thereby enhancing transparency across its value chain. This initiative not only helps meet regulatory demands for sustainability reporting but also provides clients with tangible data for their own sustainability accountability.
Shannon Lung, Head of UOB FinLab, remarked, “We are proud to enable companies like DKSH Healthcare to accelerate their sustainability journeys. This collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships empower businesses to enhance operational transparency and set new benchmarks for environmental accountability across ASEAN.”
