Global competition advance youth-led solutions for sustainable supply chains

The winners of the 2025 Global Sustainability Supply Chain Student Competition (GS3) were announced in Geneva, Switzerland, recently, after an international review process evaluating student-driven solutions for sustainable transport and logistics.

This year's competition attracted 113 student teams from 23 countries, reflecting growing global interest in sustainable supply chain management and youth engagement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Participants were tasked with developing data-driven and practical solutions to address issues such as carbon reduction, digital transformation and social inclusion in logistics and transportation systems.

Following a rigorous double-blind evaluation process, the judging panel selected winners across several categories. The panel included experts from international organizations and industry bodies such as the United Nations Global Compact, the World Bank, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, and the French Ministry of Transport's Directorate of Intelligent Transport Systems.

The Global Best Sustainable Solution Gold Award was awarded to the P&A Strategy Team from University College London in the United Kingdom. Silver Awards were presented to the Rhode2Istanbul Team from the University of Rhode Island and Maltepe University, and Team EARTH from the University of Maryland. Bronze Awards were shared by teams from Tsinghua University in China, Ashesi University in Ghana, and a multinational team comprising students from Xiamen University, Vietnam's Foreign Trade University and Missouri State University in the United States.

The competition also emphasized cross-border collaboration through its "paired teams" model, uniting students from different countries to jointly develop solutions. Three cross-national teams received Paired Teams Awards, highlighting the role of international cooperation in tackling global sustainability challenges.

Regional winners were named across the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Europe, underscoring the geographic diversity of participants. Organizers noted a particularly strong increase in participation from developing regions, with representation from the Middle East and Africa surging from just one team in 2023 to 15 teams in 2025.

Now in its third year, GS3 has expanded rapidly in both scale and reach. Since its launch in 2023, nearly 300 teams from 104 universities across six continents have taken part. The number of participating countries has more than tripled over the same period, signaling the competition's growing international influence and the rising demand for talent in sustainable supply chain management.

GS3 integrates academia, industry and international institutions by linking students with real-world case studies provided by organizations such as the World Bank and leading logistics companies. Through the Global Supply Chain Classroom network and FIATA's global platform, students gain exposure to industry practices while developing applied, policy-relevant solutions.

In December 2025, the competition and its associated leadership education initiative were formally recognized as a United Nations action commitment under the Implementation Plan for the First Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035). The initiative was jointly submitted by several international partners, including GSCC and FIATA, and accepted as part of the UN's broader effort to promote low-carbon, resilient and inclusive transport systems.

Organizers highlight that the recognition reflects the important role young people can play in advancing sustainable innovation worldwide. Plans are underway to further develop a Global Sustainability Supply Chain Leadership Program that combines experiential learning, applied research and best practices from different regions.

The competition is also supported by a dedicated scholarship established by Xie Shengwei, founder of TWTH Express Co and a member of FIATA. The scholarship enables global award-winning students to attend the awards ceremony in Geneva and participate in professional and academic exchanges, including visits to UN institutions.

Speaking on the initiative, Xie said the future of sustainable growth in global supply chains depends on nurturing talent capable of combining digital innovation, global perspectives and environmental responsibility. He described the scholarship as a way to support the next generation of leaders and strengthen links between education, industry and global governance.