<span class="txt-orange">Freedom to Transform:</span> Antoine’s Journey from Intern to Innovator
<span class="p1">Antoine Briane joined our wood business as an intern and later enrolled in our Raising Leaders Programme, where he was encouraged to be entrepreneurial, challenge the status quo and share his ideas.</span>
<span class="p1">By understanding the needs of our customers, he developed a new carbon footprint tool, delivering value to both customers and Olam Agri. He’s certainly embraced the culture and contributed to building the business.</span>
<h2 style="font-size: 24.0px; line-height: 30.0px; padding-bottom: 10.0px;"><b><span class="txt-orange">What was the need you identified?</span></b></h2>
<span class="p2">Evolving regulations have added pressure on customers to understand the end-to-end carbon footprint of their products, and risks, such as deforestation, in their supply chain. Our customers want to be reassured, and to reassure their customers, that they’re sourcing from a responsible and supplier to meet their own compliance requirements and sustainability goals. Both needs require the same transparent and verifiable data.</span></p>
<h2 style="font-size: 24.0px; line-height: 30.0px; text-align: left;"><span class="txt-purple"> Tell us about the carbon footprint tool/ What are the benefits for customers?</span></h2>
<span class="p2">The carbon footprint tool allows us to provide our customers with comprehensive Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These are formal, third-party verified documents detailing the carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire lifecycle - from raw material extraction through manufacturing and beyond. In our case, these reports calculate the amount of carbon stored.</span>
<span class="p2">This gives customers the ability to make informed choices based on environmental impact rather than just price, select suppliers aligned with their ESG goals, and support their own customers in reducing product footprints. It also enables them to share credible sustainability stories about carbon-positive supply chains, strengthening trust and brand reputation.</span>
<h2 style="font-size: 24.0px; line-height: 30.0px;"><span class="txt-yellow">What advice would you give to someone starting the programme?</span></h2>
<span class="p2">I had the pleasure of working with customers to translate their needs into data points, then with our Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability team and external consultants we developed a proof of concept. I presented this to our leadership team and, based on its potential, secured the budget and resources to develop the full tool and take it to customers. I had significant autonomy to build and test the idea, which was exciting and also carried responsibility. Senior colleagues gave me space to learn with support when needed, and our production and logistics teams contributed vital technical expertise in a true collaboration. Few companies offer such freedom early on.</span>
<h2 style="font-size: 24.0px; line-height: 30.0px; padding-bottom: 10.0px;"><span class="txt-orange"><b>What has been the biggest learning for you?</b></span></h2>
<span class="p2">The experience has been key in developing my ability to conceptualise and execute a project from the ground up, particularly in an area outside my expertise of engineering and sales. Management allowing me this leadership responsibility has demonstrated their confidence, which was highly motivating.</span>
<h2 style="font-size: 24.0px; line-height: 30.0px; padding-top: 15.0px;"><span class="txt-green">How has this project impacted our business?</span></h2>
<span class="p2">It’s opened new doors and created a new way to present our products. We have moved beyond simply supplying timber based on species. We now provide an integrated solution that combines a technical offering with an environmental and social commitment.</span>
<h2 style="font-size: 24.0px; line-height: 30.0px; padding-top: 15.0px;"><span class="txt-pink">What’s next, where will you go from here?</span></h2>
<span class="p2">Our immediate focus is to stay up-to-date with the rapid evolution in the field of analysing carbon footprints. For instance, while current analysis often focuses on environmental impact, methodologies to quantify the financial cost of that impact is emerging. Staying informed and participating in these discussions is a way for us to shape the future.</span>
<span class="p2">We’ll work closely with our internal teams to increase the value of our data for us and our customers. Seeing an idea come to life is incredibly motivating - it makes you want to keep innovating!</span>
