SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT commercial agility. In a world where regulations shift quickly and customers demand rapid answers, access to data that is clean and as close as possible to real time, makes the difference between leading and lagging.
IMCD is one such example, having built a single, global digital platform that enables integration between internal operations and external partners. Its global centres of excellence for data governance and master data creation reduce errors, ensure uniformity and increase operational responsiveness, helping the organisation move faster and smarter.
Sustainability: From compliance to competitive advantage
Environmental and social expectations are growing. Regulators, investors, and customers are asking very valid yet hard questions about Scope 3 emissions, ethical sourcing and sustainable logistics.
The chemical industry knows it must change. But while Scope 1 and 2 emissions fall within a manufacturer’ s direct control, Scope 3, especially from upstream and downstream partners, is harder to tackle. Distributors, however, are uniquely positioned to influence this part of the chain.
By working with suppliers and logistics providers who share ESG goals, distributors can help improve the sustainability profile of the entire value chain. They can track and report emissions, standardise ESG criteria and drive adoption of greener practices at scale.
Initiatives like Together for Sustainability( TfS), a chemical industry consortium driving supply chain transparency and ESG performance, are accelerating this shift. And through EcoVadis, a global platform that rates suppliers on environmental, social, and ethical performance, IMCD has screened 100 % of its logistics service providers and secured ESG standards compliance for 95 % of its supplier base( spend-based).
Meanwhile, distributors offering technical expert services can help customers reformulate products to meet sustainability targets, aiming for sustainability and commercial value to go hand-in-hand.
Talent, demographics & the human supply chain
Beyond systems and sustainability lies another pressing issue: people. The chemical sector faces a dual challenge, an ageing workforce and rising expectations from younger talent. Attracting and retaining the right expertise, especially in regulatory affairs, digital operations and logistics, is becoming a strategic priority.
Distribution companies are, at heart, people businesses. Their ability to empower frontline teams, support diverse leadership and create meaningful work environments is central to their future relevance.
This is especially true for companies that understand the evolving needs of a new generation. Flexibility, purpose and inclusion matter more than ever. Leading distributors are responding by building inclusive cultures, investing in development and putting people at the centre.
Consolidation & the new competitive landscape
The distribution landscape itself is changing fast. Suppliers are consolidating, customers are consolidating and so are distributors. But this is not just about size. It is about capability.
As supplier portfolios expand and customer needs become more complex, the market is favouring distribution partners that bring scale, expertise and infrastructure. The era of the generalist, smallscale distributor is waning.
Today’ s preferred partners must offer more: regulatory and formulatory knowledge, lab services, digital connectivity and regional reach. Scale enables
investment in all these areas, but only when combined with local agility and sector specialisation does it become a real advantage.
IMCD’ s strategic acquisitions over the years highlight how expansion can simultaneously strengthen capabilities, boost resilience and ensure readiness for a rapidly consolidating market.
Conclusion
The fine and speciality chemicals industry needs more than reliable supply; it needs resilient, responsive and intelligent supply chains. In this landscape, distribution is no longer a passive link in the chain. It is a strategic lever for growth, sustainability and agility.
Whether through optionality, digital infrastructure, ESG enablement or talent empowerment, modern distributors are helping transform supply chains into a source of strength, not stress. The industry must move past outdated assumptions about the role of distribution. In a world defined by disruption, the right partner is not just a supplier but a strategic asset. ●
J j
Stan Bijsterveld
DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN & HSEQR
IMCD stan. bijsterveld @ imcdgroup. com www. imcdgroup. com
JUL / AUG 2025 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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