Supply Chain Digital Magazine May 2025 | Page 97

SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION
HEADQUARTERS: ATLANTA, GEORGIA NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 500,000 REVENUE: US $ 91.1BN NUMBER OF COUNTRIES: 200 +
As new medicines become more sensitive and the need for speed grows, companies like UPS are stepping up to manage the complexity. This isn’ t about shipping boxes – it’ s about managing risk, ensuring compliance and delivering reliability under tight conditions.
Sustainability far from a side note Frigo-Trans also strengthens UPS’ hand on sustainability, an increasingly central concern in healthcare logistics. The company operates a low-fuel fleet and a headquarters designed with ecological priorities in mind. Its Cool Chain Control System, focused on energy efficiency, adds another layer of smart logistics.
These features fit with UPS’ s broader strategy to embed sustainable practices into every level of its operations.
Frigo-Trans’ Chief Executive Officer Reiner Roß laid it out clearly in the company’ s 2022 sustainability report:“ It has never been more important to view sustainability not
as a passing trend but as an integral part of a company’ s philosophy.
“ Only then can ecological, economic and social measures grow equally and contribute today and for future generations. In the current time of political uncertainty, sustainable thinking and, above all, sustainable action are crucial for a liveable environment.”
The link between sustainability and healthcare isn’ t abstract. Many pharmaceutical products rely on stable environmental conditions. If those conditions are met more efficiently, with fewer emissions or lower waste, then both patients and the planet benefit.
A healthcare network ready for what’ s next By finalising the deal for Frigo-Trans and BPL, UPS strengthens its position in a market where reliability, compliance and flexibility aren’ t nice to have – they’ re essential. The healthcare sector continues to evolve and logistics providers must keep pace.
The acquisition fits into a broader pattern of logistics firms adapting to meet new challenges. With biopharma companies demanding faster deliveries, temperature guarantees and complete visibility from origin to destination, the days of basic transport services are gone.
What UPS gains here is not just network coverage. It gains a tested model that blends Lean thinking, environmental responsibility and sector-specific expertise. In return, customers get fewer delays, tighter controls and products that arrive ready for use. supplychaindigital. com 97