Global leaders in maritime procurement, GenPro, brought together experts and thought leaders from across industries for this year’s Blue Day event, themed “From Policy to Practice: Compliance Challenges in Procurement,” held yesterday in Limassol, Cyprus. By exploring insights from other sectors, the event inspired innovative ideas and broadened perspectives to find practical solutions for transitioning from policy to actionable strategies across supply chains.

Keynote speaker Maria Alexiou, an ESG Specialist, encouraged the audience to consider how reshaping business models is essential to ensuring sustainability throughout the value chain. Ms. Alexiou, Chair of the Board of Directors for CSR Hellas and a member of the Project Task Force of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), highlighted the impact of the new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), now in effect and requiring some 50,000 companies, including thousands of non-EU multinationals and their EU subsidiaries, to report on sustainability practices.

Ms Alexiou explained that compliance was: “Something that has been nice to do but not anymore, it must be done to move to a new era – more sustainability, more responsibility. The issue is not just to comply. It is to understand why we must comply and form that into a business strategy. It is not the issue to report, it is to deliver.”

She emphasised the need for companies to move beyond compliance as a basic obligation, advising that it’s not about reporting but about delivering real impact. She urged businesses to adopt a vision that aligns sustainability and ESG with their strategic goals, integrating transparency and robust data collection practices into procurement processes. She outlined several critical focus areas for sustainable value chains, including readiness, materiality, and collaboration. Ms Alexiou added that new investments, synergies, and collaboration are essential to building robust, cost-effective, and efficient due diligence systems.

As she reminded delegates that building synergies and collaborating can lead to more effective solutions, Ms Alexiou also advised: “If each legal entity tries to do this alone, to be more competitive— it can be disastrous… Don’t go alone—build synergies, collaborate, because then you find the solution.”

The audience then heard from Christodoulos Manoli, GenPro’s Compliance and Sustainability Manager, who shared GenPro’s proactive approach to embedding ESG practices in procurement. He highlighted their focus on enhancing procurement processes, aligning ESG goals with suppliers, and supporting ongoing sustainable practices. Mr Manoli emphasised that sustainability within the maritime sector is essential and that compliance has moved from a secondary focus to a critical element affecting every part of the supply chain. He outlined GenPro’s dedication to responsible procurement, referencing their work with nearly 400 suppliers across various categories and over 250 supplier audits that have led to a 16% improvement in practices.

In her closing remarks, GenPro’s Managing Director Maria Theodosiou reflected on the collaborative spirit fostered by Blue Day, underscoring that sustainability is a collective effort. She reaffirmed GenPro’s commitment to building strong partnerships with suppliers, customers, and stakeholders, aiming to set higher standards across the industry.

Ms Theodosiou also announced GenPro’s plans to launch a Sustainability Think Tank in 2025, with a focus on accountability, innovation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, alongside the introduction of a Supplier Code of Conduct. With these initiatives, GenPro continues to lead the charge, setting a benchmark for sustainable procurement in maritime and empowering the industry to forge a path towards a resilient, responsible future.