Alchem Trading: Foundational Blog
I’ve long been a follower of Alex Smith, and I’ve recommended his book “No Bullsh*t Strategy” multiple times since reading it.
If you want to learn more about him, he has a great newsletter himself, did a great Ted talk you can watch on YouTube, and posts really insightful things on LinkedIn as well.
One of his posts inspired this very blog actually.
You can read it here.
Essentially Alex suggests every founder should have a foundational blog “where you write a blog laying out the thinking behind your business”.
So, here goes nothing…
The way things are isn’t working…
The chemical industry is old and stale.
Companies have become complacent, and supply chains reactive, complex, and opaque as a result.
That means inefficiencies, increased risk, a lack of information sharing, and collaboration, stifling innovation.
Couple that with the fact now, more than ever, we see a drive for more ethical and sustainable consumption, doing it the same way it’s always been done cannot continue.
What I’ve come to believe…
100% transparency of supply chains is the way to solve these issues.
Knowing exactly what we are buying and where it’s coming from.
By proactively managing supply chains, prioritising ethical sourcing, and freely sharing market intelligence and new technologies – companies will create resilient, ethical, sustainable supply chains.
This is important because…
The European chemical industry is at a crossroads and has been rapidly declining. As costs soar, and regulations get tighter or become prohibitive, more and more production moves overseas.
Companies are also under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable & ethical practices, whilst also battling with these opaque supply chains.
A proactive, strategic approach helps businesses stay competitive while adhering to ethical standards.
Building trust, partnerships, and driving long-term value rather than short-term gains.
So, my idea is…
I want to bridge the gap between buyers and suppliers by providing reliable, ethically sourced raw materials, through a 100% transparent supply chain.
Through clear communication, real-time market insights, and free flowing information sharing, empowering companies to make informed decisions that align with both profitability and sustainability.
The CLEAN Framework – 5 fundamental steps to build reliable, ethical, and sustainable supply chains.
This matters because…
Companies can become more adaptable, reduce risks, and meet the growing demand for ethical, sustainable products.
This shift not only strengthens businesses, but also contributes to a greener, more responsible future.
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So, there you have it.
My foundational blog from where I stand today and how I see our market.
Will it adapt and change? Without a doubt.
Will some people disagree? Without a doubt.
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Thanks for reading, and see you next week.
Want to subscribe - click here.
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Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
Take the CLEAN Scorecard - test your supply chain. In less than 3-minutes you’ll receive a free personalised report detailing areas where you are strong or weak, and ways you can improve.
Book a 15-minute introductory call to see if we would be right to work together.
Want a taste of the CLEAN Framework? Take a look at this example company dashboard.
