Several major contractors, including Skanska USA and Fluor, have launched an online Supply Chain Sustainability School to educate construction professionals about sustainability challenges within the supply chain. The platform aims to offer free education and foster collaboration across industries.

Originally created 12 years ago in the U.K., the school has since expanded to Ireland and Australia, educating over 137,000 individuals across 30,000 companies, according to Skanska. Now, the initiative has arrived in the U.S., with partners like Burns & McDonnell, CRH, Keller, and National Grid supporting its launch.

Sustainability Challenges and Collaboration

The online school will focus on addressing critical sustainability issues in construction supply chains, including energy and carbon management, waste reduction, environmental management, biodiversity, and supplier diversity. The goal is to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the industry, helping construction professionals navigate these challenges more effectively.

"Partnering with the Supply Chain Sustainability School was a natural fit as Skanska aims to make the construction industry more sustainable," said Myrrh Caplan, senior vice president of sustainability for Skanska USA Building. "This new resource will provide individuals and businesses with essential resources and educational materials to support their understanding of sustainability strategies that can help scale their business while meeting regulations."

Caplan added that many sustainability topics, like biodiversity, are relatively unexplored in the U.S., and the school aims to "take the mystery out of it" to educate partners and help grow their businesses.

Collaborative Leadership for the School

A school board made up of elected representatives from founding partners will oversee the platform's fiscal governance and strategic direction. Tanner Blackburn, vice president of engineering for Keller, expressed pride in joining the U.S. school, emphasizing the importance of bringing suppliers along on the sustainability journey. He stated, "We are proud to offer the school’s free content to all our suppliers, helping them prepare for the economy of the future."

Training and Launch Event

The Supply Chain Sustainability School will offer hundreds of accredited online training sessions and virtual learning resources. The launch event, set for January 29, will be a two-hour session for interested parties to learn more about the platform and its offerings. The school aims to create a lasting impact on the industry by providing accessible sustainability education for all levels of the supply chain.