Purolator, McMaster launch sustainable logistics research chair

Purolator and McMaster University have launched a new research chair focused on advancing sustainable logistics and supply chain innovation.

The Purolator Chair in Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management will be housed at the university’s DeGroote School of Business and aims to support research and experiential learning opportunities tied to real-world industry challenges.

“This initiative brings together the best of academia and industry to turn leading-edge ideas into practical solutions that strengthen and modernize Canada’s supply chain,” said Ricardo Costa, senior vice-president and chief technology officer at Purolator. “The insights from this Chair will support meaningful improvements – from enhancing routing design to reducing greenhouse gas emissions – while giving students valuable opportunities to help shape the future of national and global logistics.”

The chair will be held by Elkafi Hassini, a professor of operations management and associate dean of research at the DeGroote School of Business.

“This chair will accelerate Purolator’s innovative work in sustainable logistics by bringing together industry, academic institutions, students and government to co-design solutions that benefit communities across Canada,” said Hassini. “As academic lead for McMaster’s Planetary Health initiative, I’m excited to align this work with our broader mission to improve human and environmental well-being through resilient, low-carbon supply chains.”

The agreement builds on a relationship between Purolator and McMaster that spans more than a decade.

Over the next five years, Hassini will lead research focused on artificial intelligence and data science, automation, decarbonization and workforce safety. The initiative will include student research projects and innovation events, with findings shared through an annual showcase.

“Our partnership with Purolator reflects a shared commitment to sustainability, innovation and meaningful collaboration between industry and academia,” said Khaled Hassanein, dean of the DeGroote School of Business. “Tackling real business problems together offers a unique learning opportunity for our students to become the kind of leaders that tomorrow’s economy demands.”

The research chair builds on Purolator’s earlier academic partnership with Université de Montréal, where the late professor Bernard Gendron served as the inaugural chairholder of the Purolator Chair on Data Intelligence for Logistics from 2019 to 2024.

The current initiative is supported by a collaborative network that includes the Smart Freight Centre and was developed through Purolator’s Digital Lab, the company’s innovation hub.