1. Provide an overview of your organization, emphasizing its significance in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. How does your organization contribute to the broader landscape, considering its size or market share?
At DHL, we have the scale and expertise to implement healthcare logistics solutions across the world. Globally, we have over 9,000 dedicated healthcare staff including over 250 full-time pharmacists, over 170 GDP-qualified warehouses, over 120 certified stations, 29 Clinical Trial depots in 80 countries, as well as over 15 GMP-certified sites, over 150 medical express sites, and time-definite international express network covering 220 geographies. Our unrivaled global capabilities and Life Sciences & Healthcare expertise mean that we can support customers to embrace new growth opportunities in all key segments of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices sectors, facing the need to build more specialized and segmented supply chains.
We offer visibility and supply chain standardization to face the challenges of the broader landscape with the right level of agility. That includes innovative, modular solutions that are localized to suit specific market requirements, and exceptional operational service across the entire supply chain.
We also possess deep expertise in storing and transporting at deep frozen, chilled, and controlled ambient temperatures.
2. What motivated your organization to sponsor LogiPharma Europe 2024, and what specific business objectives do you anticipate achieving through this sponsorship?
We have a long-term partnership to sponsor LogiPharma and we are keen to continue to actively participate in the largest Life Sciences & Healthcare logistics event in Europe, if not even worldwide. Embedded in our active participation in the event is the opportunity to be involved in thought leadership discussions around our key focus topics, including sustainability, and continue our collaboration and partnership with customers and vendors in the Life Sciences & Healthcare space.
3. How does your organization perceive the current trends and innovations in the life sciences supply chain, and how is it positioned to address or leverage them?
The Life Sciences & Healthcare industry is undergoing a period of transformation that is impacting supply chains and placing new demands on the logistics operations that enable their delivery.
To take some examples of trends in the industry, as a result of the need for higher patient centricity, driven by a strong focus on health outcomes, the ability to personalize treatments,and an increasing healthcare consumerism, supply chains are becoming increasingly direct and more specialized.
The development of new therapies, which are being driven by growth in biopharma and new technologies, requires intelligent cold chain storage and transport solutions.
Digital Healthcare is key to allowing more direct patient engagement, incorporating the use of health data, and driving more effective tools and treatments.
Given DHL’s global presence within Life Sciences & Healthcare and other industries, we have a ‘front-row seat’ as new trends unfold. DHL has been investing in the sector for a long time and our experience and attention to the impact of trends allow us to anticipate the changes coming from this transformation in the industry, and, at the same time, share best practices from other sectors.
We are therefore leveraging and deploying larger-scale automation and digital technologies in our warehouse operations and processes, and, across the end-to-end supply chain to meet these new demands. We are also supporting our customers with the development of more sustainable and resilient supply chain management with continued investments in state-of-the-art infrastructures and solutions specialized by channel. This includes an intensive cold chain network to cover the different temperature ranges and direct-to-patient solutions, as well as to deliver medical devices directly to patients in a variety of settings to enhance accessibility and convenience.
Furthermore, the injection of focus technologies identified along the entire logistics, such as assisted picking robots, go-to person technologies, intelligent process automation, and data analytics ensures robust backbone operations and end-to-end supply chain visibility.
4. What unique aspects of LogiPharma Europe make it a valuable platform for your organization to engage with industry stakeholders and showcase its products/services? Are there specific areas in the event agenda that align with your organization's expertise?
LogiPharma is not only the largest event in Life Sciences & Healthcare logistics: key topics and developments that are coming together with the industry transformation in the act are addressed in its agenda and it allows an active engagement and discussion amongst the major stakeholders in the industry, being it, as well, a great networking opportunity.
5. In light of the industry's focus on sustainability, how is your organization actively addressing environmental impact and corporate responsibility within the context of the supply chain? Can you highlight any specific initiatives or programs in this regard?
Logistics is an essential driver of global trade, economic growth, and individual prosperity but it also leaves an enormous environmental footprint. As the world’s leading Logistics Company, we have worked hard to set an example for sustainable business, from introducing the industry’s first green product to being the first logistics company to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050.
In the near term, we are committing ourselves to set a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target below 29 million tonnes CO2e by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and investing €7 billion to reach it. By 2030, we plan to use a 30% sustainable aviation fuel blend, electrify 60% of our last-mile delivery vehicles, and use carbon-neutral design for all new buildings. With our GoGreen Plus portfolio, we provide a sustainable fuel and technology-based product alternative to our customers to reduce their emissions. We also have built a cross-divisional dashboard for CO2e emissions calculations and reporting, ensuring transparency to all of our customers.
In the framework of corporate responsibility, being one of the world's largest employers in our industry with approximately 600,000 employees, we strive to be a great company to work for all, by taking action to provide a safe, inclusive and engaging working environment for all our employees. In addition, we have an array of social impact programs such as GOHELP-deliver help when disaster strikes, GOTEACH-Improve employment opportunities, GOTRADE-facilitate cross-border trade, GoGreen-foster climate action, WHEO-help each other within DHL Group as well as several initiatives under Volunteerism and Integration.
The sustainability imperative has also reached the life sciences and healthcare sectors. According to research by the non-governmental organization Healthcare without Harm and consultancy Arup, the global healthcare industry is responsible for 4.4% of total greenhouse emissions. If healthcare were a country, it would be the world’s fifth-largest greenhouse gas producer. One area of particular focus for many is the issue of waste and pollution generated by the production, distribution and use of medical products. The solution to this issue is the circular economy, of which supply chain is an essential component.
The circular economy will become increasingly mainstream as new technological solutions become available. Logistics has a key role to play in scaling up circular economy approaches across industries. This includes not just traditional forward logistics – transporting materials, goods, and information from start to finish - but more importantly reverse logistics.
Sustainable packaging is a major focus for us on behalf of our customers. Single-use packaging solutions not only lead to significant levels of operating expenses but can be associated with temperature excursions. We are therefore introducing sustainable, compliant packaging as well as looking at a ‘closed loop’ approach for a circular model.
6. Considering the diverse range of topics and stakeholders at LogiPharma Europe, how does your organization plan to maximize its presence and impact during the event? Are there any product/service launches or updates you plan to showcase?
We welcome the opportunity to be actively engaged in the event with direct participation and contributing to the debate that the agenda offers.
DHL continues to play a relevant role at the event and this year in particular we will moderate a panel on sustainability, lead a stream session on the shift from air to ocean to drive efficiency and sustainability, and run a masterclass on rethinking outsourcing strategies.
7. Are there specific areas or themes within the event agenda that align with your organization's strategic focus or expertise? How do these align with your sponsorship goals?
DHL plays an an active role in the transformation of the Life Sciences & Healthcare industry, therefore our participation in and sponsorship of LogiPharma aligns perfectly with our strategy as well as short- and long-term investment plans.
Being at LogiPharma also allows us to engage with thought leaders and major stakeholders in the sector to discuss key focus topics as well as future trends that we will face together.
8. How does your organization plan to engage with attendees, including potential partners and clients, during LogiPharma Europe? What types of collaborative opportunities or networking activities are you prioritizing?
As already mentioned, LogiPharma is a great networking opportunity. We are looking forward to engaging with the attendees during the DHL-led masterclass as well as at our booth to follow up on what has been presented.
9. Looking ahead, what do you envision as key priorities and developments in the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chain, and how is your organization preparing for these future challenges and opportunities?
The industry trends are driving new demands on healthcare supply chains and together with our customers, there are areas of focus to build next-generation supply chains.
We are looking to further develop cold chain capabilities, direct-to-x delivery models, and white glove services, as an example, to support growth and meet patients' new requirements. Segmented, coordinated supply chains require a new supply chain orchestration, where digitalization offers the opportunity to deploy scalable technologies and tools that would impact the physical supply chains and therefore unlock value. Furthermore, cleaner and greener supply chains are essential to maintain sustainability.
And, obviously, regulatory. Increased collaboration with regulators is improving the flexibility and speed of clinical trials and the industry is shifting towards a "think-like-a-regulator" approach to successful product rollouts.
Deep sector expertise is therefore vital to track, understand, and comply with essential rules and regulations for the storage, transportation, and delivery of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, biological products, and patient-specific treatments.
At DHL, our operational activities are fully compliant with all regulatory requirements, including GxP adherence, serialization, dangerous goods, and system validation. End-to-end supply chain management and visibility are an essential part of that –from the ingredients to patient consumption.
10. Can you share any upcoming projects, partnerships, or innovations that LogiPharma Europe attendees might find particularly exciting or relevant to the evolving landscape of the life sciences supply chain?
Although we cannot talk about any forthcoming projects, innovation is at the heart of everything we do, and so we drive continuous improvement, working closely with our customers to develop ground-breaking solutions.
We are an innovative partner with the maturity to focus on programs that will deliver the best returns on our customer’s investments.
Paolo Rosanna has long-term expertise in Contract Logistics and Freight Forwarding in different geographical areas and sectors, with strong competence and specialization in Life Sciences & Healthcare Supply Chain. Paolo developed his career in the UK, USA and Italy with regional roles. In his current role as VP Sector Lead Business Development & Account Management for the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector in EMEA. Paolo plays a key role in the development and implementation of the sector strategy and in spreading the guiding principles of the DHL group, such as the "WE CARE" campaign, focused on patient centricity. Paolo has a degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from the Luigi Bocconi University of Milan and frequently attends events and conferences as a guest speaker.
