Women Shaping Ethical Supply Chains & Inclusive Food Industry Practices

Marcela Velásquez, a business administrator with postgraduate studies in marketing from Universidad de los Andes, brings over 20 years of experience in the food and consumer sector. She has held key leadership roles at Tetra Pak Colombia for 12 years, including commercial manager and director.

In an engaging interaction with Global Woman Leader Magazine, Marcela shares her insights on the vital role female leaders play in shaping sustainable packaging and processing technologies, promoting ethical supply chains, and balancing eco-friendly innovations with financial viability in the food industry.

How do you see female leaders shaping the evolution of sustainability practices in packaging and processing technologies, and what unique perspective do women bring?

Women are increasingly gaining leadership spaces in different fields, and the food packaging and processing industry worldwide is no exception. I believe we have a strong perspective on inclusion, gender equity, and sustainability, which we incorporate into our personal and professional projects. I’m incredibly luckyand proud to work for and lead a company where sustainability is a major pillar; in fact, Tetra Pak has established and implemented solid sustainability policies and has dedicated teams and resources in making them a reality throughout the value chain, alongside customers, partners, authorities and different stakeholders. Additionally, we, women, are carers by nature, and this extends not only to our families and teams, but also to the planet, which we focus on taking care of and nurturing with our everyday practices.

What role do women play in driving diversity and inclusion within the food industry's supply chains?

Women play a fundamental role in driving diversity and inclusion throughout the value chain of this industry—not only because we make up a significant portion of the workforce in agricultural production, food processing, and commercialization, but also because we are truly inclined to support and develop projects that consistently consider diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. Promoting business and work models with this approach is, in my view, also a way to encourage transparency and ethics.

How can female leaders ensure that sustainability initiatives in food packaging remain financially viable while also appealing to the increasing demand for eco-friendly solutions?

According to analyses such as the Tetra Pak Index, which measures consumer trends worldwide, the demand for all kinds of products with sustainable attributes is gaining ground. New generations, for example, tend to seek functional products that provide additional health benefits and that also come in packages that generate a low carbon footprint and can be reused or recycled and transformed into other products. From my point of view, this trend is not going to change; it is here to stay and consolidate because new generations are more conscious about our planet than others before. Consequently, a growing number of leaders, both men and women, in the industry are clear that their businesses must respond to this need and demonstrate genuine efforts in this area. Turning toward that direction is no longer an option, or an extra mile, it is a license to keep operating.

As focus on food safety and regulations increases, what opportunities do you see for women to lead strategic change and innovations that enhance safety protocols in processing and packaging?

First, it is necessary to recognize that many women have already made, and continue to make, significant contributions to the development of innovations in this field, which we all benefit from today. Furthermore, we have the full capacity to lead strategic changes aimed at continuing to improve food safety protocols within the industry. Therefore, it’s important not only to promote the training of new generations of women in food science and technology, but also to generate more opportunities for them in this field, which has historically been led and operated by men.

In your view, how can women leaders in the food sector contribute to fostering a culture of resilience and adaptability, especially when facing external market disruptions?

Without a doubt, an organization can better respond to crises and market disruptions when it fosters a culture of resilience and adaptability because with this mindset, followed by consequent behaviors, people will be well-prepared to confront them. Women can promote transformation as a continuous process within our companies, and along the way, identify and assess real and potential risks. At the same time, we can foster innovation, flexibility, and continuous learning among employees; diversify, explore new market opportunities, and always foster resilience, the ability to adapt to adverse situations to move forward. And we are prepared to do that because it is something we do on our daily activities out of our work place, where we must deal with uncertainty and sudden changes in an assertive way.

In the wake of changing consumer preferences and market trends, how can leaders help shape the future of aseptic technology to ensure it is both innovative and aligned with societal values?

In a world where nearly one-third of the food produced each year is lost before reaching consumers, and where millions lack access to safe food, aseptic packaging technology —which is also sustainable—plays a crucial role. A product packaged in Tetra Pak packages, for example, can be preserved for months and transported to remote areas without needing refrigeration nor adding preservatives. This contributes to reducing food waste and ensuring food safety for communities.

Additionally, we guarantee that with our technology, consumers are able to purchasesafe products free from microorganisms that could degrade it or pose any health risks. Reaching this point has required decades of research and innovation from our company, dedicated to protectingboth food and those who consume it.

As leaders in this industry, we have the responsibility to continue driving innovation—not only in packaging, but also in food processing and packaging equipment, where our technology is designed to save water and energy while reducing food waste during production. These are tangible actions that align with the values of our society.