Tandem Global Releases Executive Roundtable Summary on Supply Chain Collaboration for Sustainability

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Bethesda, MD – October 28, 2025 – Tandem Global is pleased to announce the publication of its latest Executive Roundtable Summary: “Supply Chain Collaboration for Sustainability,” reflecting insights from the Roundtable held in Madrid on October 1-2, 2025, sponsored by CRH. The full summary is available here.

Key Highlights

The summary draws on candid, solutions-oriented discussions among 30 senior sustainability and procurement executives from global companies, facilitated by Tandem Global and moderated by industry experts.

Topics covered include:

  • How companies can cascade sustainability goals throughout their value chains and engage suppliers in meaningful ways.
  • The importance of supplier training, data transparency, and dual dashboards to strengthen supplier responsiveness.
  • Challenges and best practices for leveraging AI, tracking Scope 3 emissions, and developing more sustainable products through supplier collaboration.

Sponsors and participants included major industry players and experts from sectors including chemicals, construction, aerospace, and energy.

Why this Summary Matters

In an era where the bulk of many companies’ environmental and social impact lies deeper in their supply chains, the need for collaborative, strategic action is more urgent than ever. According to the Roundtable, the keys to meaningful progress include:

  • Building a shared understanding of sustainability challenges across customers and suppliers.
  • Aligning procurement and sustainability teams to integrate sustainability into core business practices—not just as a separate function.
  • Leveraging digital tools and data (including AI and dashboards) for multi-tier supplier engagement and performance tracking.
  • Cultivating supplier empowerment, training, and co-innovation rather than top-down mandates alone.

For sustainability leaders, procurement professionals, and value-chain stakeholders, this summary offers actionable insights and a forward-thinking framework to drive supplier collaboration initiatives.

Availability

The Executive Roundtable Summary is freely accessible as a PDF download here.

Tandem Global encourages professionals engaged in supply-chain sustainability and supplier collaboration to review and share the document with relevant teams and stakeholders.

Upcoming Executive Roundtable

February 25–26, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | Sponsored by Beveridge & Diamond

As part of its Executive Roundtable Series, Tandem Global will convene 35 senior sustainability, communications, and legal experts from global companies across North America and Europe to explore the topic: Ambition Meets Regulation: Strategy and Risk Management in Sustainability – Goal-Setting and Disclosures.

This invitation-only roundtable will be held under the Chatham House Rule.

To request participation or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Frank Werner.

The Strange Lives of Nature’s Zombies

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What if I told you zombies are real? And no, not the ones you see on movie screens. I’m talking about nature’s zombies, real organisms hijacked and controlled by other living things. This phenomenon, often referred to as parasite manipulation, is found in most ecosystems throughout the world. Parasite manipulation can take shape in many forms, from subtle behavioral changes to dramatic transformations that make the host look and act like something out of a horror film.  

In these strange relationships, the “zombie” isn’t dead, at least not yet, but it’s no longer in full control of its own body. Tiny fungi, bacteria, and worms can essentially rewrite the host’s brain, forcing it to behave in ways that benefit the parasite rather than the animal itself. A caterpillar might climb to the tip of a plant, paralyzed by a fungus, only to be consumed from within as the fungus spreads its spores. Crickets can be compelled to jump to their grave, where they are then eaten alive by microscopic puppeteers.  

Parasites often produce chemicals that mimic or interfere with their host’s natural hormones and neurotransmitters. The result is a perfectly choreographed takeover. The host becomes a tool, unknowingly carrying out the parasite’s reproductive or survival agenda. Unlike fictional zombies, these manipulations are highly specific. Each parasite knows exactly how to influence its host to maximize its own chance of survival, whether that means altering movement or feeding behavior. 

But what does this look like in practice? How does a fungus convince an ant to march to its death, or a parasitic worm drive a cricket to take its own life? Scientists still don’t fully understand how these parasites control their hosts, but their mysteries open the door to the strange world of nature’s real-life zombies. 

For instance, the fungus Ophiocordyceps, often dubbed the “zombie-ant fungus”, may appear to be just another harmless organism, but its relationship with ants is nothing short of terrifying. The fungus attaches to the body of an ant, secreting enzymes that dissolve the ant’s tough exoskeleton, allowing the fungus to penetrate and begin the infection. Once an ant is infected, the fungus slowly takes over its central nervous system, manipulating it to leave the safety of its colony and aimlessly climb vegetation. Once high enough, the ant clamps down on a leaf or twig in what scientists call a “death grip,” where it ultimately dies as the fungus eats through its body, releasing spores to infect the next unlucky ant.  

Another unsettling example comes from Nematomorph hairworm parasites that live inside grasshoppers and crickets. The worm begins its life in water, hatching as a tiny larva that is ingested by small aquatic organisms like aquatic isopods and amphipods. When a cricket or grasshopper ingests one of these small organisms, the worm enters its body and begins a slow-growing invasion. Over the next few months, the long, thin worm grows inside the insect, preparing for reproduction. When the worm reaches maturity, it releases chemicals that literally rewire the cricket’s brain. The cricket suddenly feels an irresistible urge to jump into water. Once the cricket drowns, the hairworm emerges from the cricket’s body and enters the water to continue its life cycle, leaving the cricket’s body as an empty shell.  

The green-banded broodsac flatworm uses an interesting strategy to complete its life cycle. It begins by infecting a snail, its first host, where it eventually moves into the snail’s eye stalks. There, the parasite causes the stalks to swell and pulse with bright green and yellow bands that resemble small caterpillars, an appetizing target for birds. The infection also changes the snail’s behavior. Instead of hiding in the shade, the snail becomes unusually active and crawls into the open during the day, making itself more visible to predators. When a bird eats the infected snail, the flatworm reaches its final host and reproduces inside the bird’s digestive system. In this way, the parasitic flatworm uses the snail as both transportation and bait to attract its intended target. 

Unlike the green-banded broodsac, the Glyptapanteles takes on a more direct approach. This parasitic wasp is found on every continent except Antarctica and takes manipulation to an entirely new level. It lays its eggs inside the caterpillar of the geometrid moth, where the larvae feed on the host from within. When they are ready to pupate, the larvae consume the host from within and emerge to spin cocoons on surrounding vegetation. Remarkably, the caterpillar doesn’t immediately die. Instead, it undergoes a dramatic behavioral transformation, standing guard over the newly formed pupae. The caterpillar stops moving and feeding, positioning itself close to the pupae, and when threatened, violently swinging its head to deter potential predators. This self-sacrificial behavior significantly reduces predation on the pupae, increasing their survival rates. However, the caterpillar’s fate is sealed; it dies shortly after the wasp larvae emerge as adults, having unwittingly served as a bodyguard. 

In observing nature’s zombies, we understand the reality of a world where autonomy is fragile. They’re reminders that in nature, control is an illusion, and every creature, including us, dances to the rhythm of unseen forces.  

Transforming Empty Lots into Living Forests: The Miyawaki Way

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As urban infrastructure expands and cities grapple with rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, and degraded green spaces, an unconventional yet proven method of ecological restoration is quietly taking root around the world: Microforests. In his pioneering work, Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, introduces the microforest as a dense, fast-growing, and highly biodiverse approach to reforestation. What began as a botanical experiment in Japan has grown into a global movement, reshaping how we think about nature in cities.  

Creative Ecology: Restoration of Native Forests by Native Trees (1999), Dr. Miyawaki’s foundational paper, lays out the core principles of his revolutionary method: planting a variety of native species in carefully prepared soil, arranged in natural forest layers, to accelerate ecological succession. Unlike traditional plantations, which can take over a century to mature, microforests develop into self-sustaining ecosystems within just 20 to 30 years. His technique has been applied successfully across numerous sites worldwide, ranging from industrial zones to rural landscapes.  

Fast forward to our modern urban, industrial society, and the method’s relevance becomes even more apparent. A report by Urban Forests Company, The Miyawaki Method – Data & Concepts, compiled global case studies and quantified the method’s benefits: cooler urban microclimates, improved air quality, increased biodiversity, and greater community engagement. Most of the modern challenges that were a direct result of removing native habitats can be mitigated by reintroducing and reincorporating these native habitats back into our communities. In an era of climate uncertainty, these compact forests act as ecological hubs, restoring biodiversity, and reinforcing public trust in nature-based solutions.  

Versatile and adaptable by design, micro-forests can be implemented in a range of climates, like the dry landscapes of the Mediterranean. A 2011 study by Schirone, Salis, and Vessella put it to the test in Sardinia, Italy. Despite harsh summer droughts and poor soils, the researchers found that the Miyawaki method significantly outperformed conventional restoration efforts in both biodiversity and continued resilience. 

The success of micro-forestry isn’t limited to academic research or large-scale projects. In fact, one of the method’s greatest strengths is its scalability. With the right planning, even small plots of land, schoolyards, backyards, corporate campuses, or vacant lots, can become thriving micro-forests. 

How to Plant a Micro-Forest: A Step-by-Step Overview 

Step 1: Choose the Right Site 

The first step is site selection. It’s important to find a location that receives full sun and has at least one meter of plantable soil. Avoid areas like landfill caps or heavily compacted sites. You’ll also want to make sure the location has access to water, no underground utilities, and room for storing materials and saplings during installation. Ideal sites are easily accessible and offer visibility to maximize ecological and educational impact. 

Step 2: Identify Native Species 

Next, identify what species to plant. This begins by surveying a nearby native forest with similar conditions, matching factors like rainfall, slope, soil type, and altitude. Document the types of plants growing across the forest’s vertical structure: canopy trees, sub-trees, shrubs, and groundcover. A successful micro-forest includes species from each of these layers, as well as fringe plants like native grasses and forbs at the edges. Prioritize native species adapted to your specific region, and if collecting seeds isn’t possible, source appropriate nursery stock well in advance. 

Step 3: Prepare the Soil 

With your species selected, it’s time to prepare the soil. Start by testing texture, nutrients, and pH, either with a home kit or by sending samples to a local extension office. Amendments like compost or manure provide nutrients, while organic materials like peat or straw improve water retention. The introduction of organic material will also stimulate microbial life in the soil, a necessary component of a healthy ecosystem. Once mixed and aerated, cover the prepared ground with a thick layer of mulch. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect beneficial microbes from sunlight. 

Step 4: Plant Densely and Randomly 

Planting should be done densely, typically with three to five seedlings per square meter. Mix species from different layers and scatter them in a natural, random pattern to mimic forest diversity. Seedlings should be at least a foot tall with signs of woody growth, and holes should be slightly larger than the root ball. Saturate the root ball with water and gently place each plant in its designated hole, backfill with soil and lightly compact. Avoid tight ties or anything that could constrain and damage the stem area. Once planted, water immediately simulates a full rainy day. 

Step 5: Water, Mulch, and Monitor 

Ongoing care is relatively simple. Watering should mimic the local climate, only water when soil moisture drops, and always check below the mulch layer before watering. Use hose heads that mimic rain and avoid excessively disturbing the mulch or seedlings. Weed manually for the first couple of years and refresh the mulch once or twice until the forest starts producing its own leaf litter. Avoid any pruning, chemicals, or fertilizers; this is a living system designed to sustain itself. 

Step 6: Let Nature Take Over 

Over time, the forest will begin to thrive on its own. Trees will shed leaves to build mulch, biodiversity will increase, and the need for active management will fade. Monitor growth by taking monthly photos from the same location and tracking survival rates and seedling heights. Some mortality is natural, aiming for around 90% survival, but don’t feel pressured to replace every plant, especially if one species is underperforming across the board. 

A Living Classroom in Valdosta, Georgia 

A recent example of this method in action took place in Valdosta, Georgia, where Tandem Global partnered with WM and the Valdosta Middle School STEM Academy to bring a microforest to life. Designed not only as a climate solution but also as a hands-on lesson, the 1,500-square-foot site now hosts over 600 native plants, transforming what was once Bermuda grass into a preliminary microforest. Over 90 middle school students participated in this collaborative planting. Supported by local staff and educators, the project emphasizes biodiversity, ecological function, and long-term stewardship. Species like crepe myrtle and white oak were carefully selected to support native wildlife, while the dense planting approach laid the foundation for a layered, self-sustaining forest. 

This small but impactful site sits in a region prone to flooding and hurricanes, making the improved drainage, deep-rooted plants, and increased soil stability all the more impactful. As the forest matures, it will serve not just as green infrastructure but as an ongoing classroom, offering students the chance to monitor changes in biodiversity, understand ecological relationships, and witness firsthand how nature can reclaim and revitalize an urban space. 

With several microforest projects planned through the rest of 2025, Tandem Global remains committed to applying the Miyawaki method, supporting the restoration and long-term preservation of native biodiversity across diverse landscapes. 

Want to learn more about microforests? Check out our webinar: Forestry on a Smaller Scale: Your Guide to Planting Microforests