Hi everyone. And welcome to episode 381 of the Digital Supply Chain Podcast. My name is Tom Raftery and today's episode isn't just any episode. It's a milestone. It's a moment of reflection and it's a look forward into an exciting future. Today, we have the final episode of the Digital Supply Chain Podcast. This episode, episode 381 is the very last episode of this podcast. Starting next week, on Monday, January 22nd, we'll be kicking off a new podcast in its place called the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast. Over the course of the last 380 episodes of this podcast, I've delved into the intricate world of supply chains, covering the role of ai, the power of digital transformation, and increasingly, my own passion, the vital importance of sustainability. Looking back, it's the episodes discussing AI's revolutionary impact ever since the launch of ChatGPT back in November of 2022. And also, sustainability's critical role that have resonated both most with me and apparently with you. I've seen a huge surge in organizations stepping up with innovative sustainability solutions. And it's these stories that have inspired the next chapter of this podcast. I've cherished every guest who has shared their passion and insights with us. Their fervor for the subjects we've tackled has been both infectious and inspiring. My own journey into sustainability started as a kid. I remember wandering the Irish countryside at weekends with my dad, and that inculcated in me a profound appreciation for nature. And this love for our environment had me study biology in university, and I went on to do post grad. And while I was studying for a PhD, I got distracted by my hobby at the time, which was technology. That captured my imagination, but it never really fully replaced my dedication to, and my love of nature and sustainability. In fact, it enhanced it, leading me back to work at the intersection of tech and sustainability when I started the CIX data center in Cork in Ireland in 2006. Myself and two friends, we designed and built out a data center from scratch and it was a hyper energy efficient data center and it was the design and build out of that online, we completely open sourced it, which got me a name in the green energy space. And now as we draw this Digital Supply Chain podcast to a close, I want to shift our focus entirely to where I think we can make the most difference. The Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast. In this podcast, in this new podcast starting next Monday, I'm going to highlight the strategies and stories of organizations making real strides in sustainability. I'm going to showcase solutions that address the most challenging 90 percent of organizational emissions hidden within supply chains. They're the hardest to get to because they're not in your organization, they're in your supply chain. I'm also going to showcase, interestingly, I think, times when organizations have had sustainability wins that they might not have expected, or that they might not have aimed for. What do I mean by that? Well, in some cases, you have organizations that go on an efficiency project or a getting rid of waste project or an automation project. And the outcome happens to be, amongst other things, a sustainability win. And I'm not really concerned with the motivations for undertaking the project. I'm really concerned with the outcomes, because if I can showcase those kinds of projects on the podcast as well, then others can take the learnings from that and implement that on their own supply chains. So motivationally, if people go on a cost saving exercise and happen to get sustainability wins, that's fantastic. I'll be showcasing those as well. Over the last 380 episodes, I've noticed that many of the most listened to episodes are those that tackle sustainability. And the guests who have spoken about it have been among the most passionate. It's clear to me that there's both a need And a desire for a dedicated space to discuss these issues, especially not just because of the rise in the desire to tackle sustainability, but also because of the increasing regulatory landscape, which is compelling organizations who might not have the same desire, they're now going to be compelled to join on this journey as well. So as, as we move forward, I invite you to join me on this journey. Follow the new podcast. In fact, if you're already following this Digital Supply Chain podcast, you don't have to do anything. It'll be in this same space in your podcast reader that next Monday, the first episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast will drop, but do follow this podcast, share your thoughts and suggest topics or solutions you'd like me to explore. You can reach me as always on my email address, tomrafteryatoutlook. com or on Twitter. Or on LinkedIn or on, you know, pretty much any social media network, apart from Facebook, I'm there under the name Tom Raftery. So hunt me down, send me your suggestions, send me your feedback. And I want to make the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast a collaborative space. I want to listen to your feedback and work with you to make it the best podcast I can. So whether you've been with me from the start, or you're just tuning in, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. Thanks for listening. Thanks for engaging and for caring about the future of our supply chains and our planet. So until Monday, when I launch the first episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, keep making a difference in whatever way you can. Remember, it's the sum of our actions that'll shape our future. Now, signing off from the Digital Supply Chain Podcast for the last time, kind of bittersweet, but here's to new beginnings and to a more sustainable world. See you on the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast. Tom out.