Source: 2012 Apple Supplier Responsibility Report.
Improving sustainability in the supply chain is one of the top sustainability goals for companies this year and special emphasis will be placed on managing the social component. An in-depth survey of nearly 50 senior sustainability executives by sustainability research and advisory firm Green Research found that 73% of respondents said their companies would be dedicating significant staff time or financial resources to improving the sustainability performance of their suppliers in 2012.
So, why focus on the social? Put simply, sustainable supply chains successfully manage not only economic risk, but potential social and environmental issues, as well. While the concept of mitigating risk in supply chain management certainly isn’t novel, managing supply chains for sustainability is still very much in development. The social component of supply chain sustainability has recently begun to attract more attention. A look at some of the current action on social issues provides some valuable insight into this trend:
Learn more →
Last week, we attended UL-STR’s (our sister company) annual conference on responsible sourcing. Also in attendance were retailers and consumer goods manufacturers that are committed to “doing the right thing.”
This year’s conference focused on human rights issues, and covered topics including:
- The practical implementation of UN Secretary General on Human Rights John Ruggie’s “protect, respect & remedy” framework;
- The effectiveness of certification programs (using DRC conflict minerals as a case study, this session addressed the complexity of issues of traceability and determining whether the conflict arises directly from mineral mining or as a result of systemic country-wide conflict); and
- The work of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), and the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP)— industry organizations whose efforts focus on harmonizing sustainability standards and efforts.
We noticed that a few key themes kept emerging at the conference, too:
- Harmonization of standards
- Collectivist approaches within and across industries
- Non-duplication of audit data, and
- A drive toward full transparency.
It is inspiring to know that the many challenges of managing complex supply chains in a socially responsible manner are being addressed through meaningful dialogue at conferences like this one. Learn more about UL-STR here.
Image 1 – The development of the GSCP reference tools aims at describing best practice and at providing a common interpretation of working and environmental requirements and their implementation. Image 2 – Member Consensus on best practices in safer & environmentally sustainable products through supplier database. Image 3 – Sustainable Apparel Coalition V1 Apparel Index Prototype Excel Tool.
Last week, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) released its first “Retail Sustainability Report: Successes, Challenges and a Vision for the Future.” The report provides an industry’s reflection on the role of sustainability in the retail sector. It’s designed to showcase the industry’s progress over the past several years. This industry-led initiative demonstrates that retailers are acknowledging that sustainability is no longer simply a matter of environmental and regulatory compliance, but can also be used as a platform for growth.
The report highlights creative ideas by retailers like Staples, which, in 2010, launched their “Race to the Top” program to promote competition among suppliers to develop more efficient packaging materials; and Home Depot, which is currently piloting rainwater retention tanks in 21 of its Florida stores. It also identifies both current and future key trends in retail sustainability.
Learn more →
Libby Bernick, our VP of Consulting, was asked this question during a Marketplace radio interview yesterday about how companies are opting for brown paper to look a little greener. The story was sparked by a Jan. 25 Wall Street Journal article about how more and more companies are choosing brown tissue products over white. Is the switch really greener? The answer: listen to the short podcast and find out:
Source: Marketplace
Last week’s Green Products Roundtable (GPR) meeting in Washington, DC, represented a turning point in the organization’s effort to launch a new, independent entity that will be the “judge and jury” of the more than 350 ecolabels used in the market.
For the past three years, the GPR (a multi-stakeholder group facilitated by the Keystone Center) has worked to bring clarity to green procurement. Although green pundits keep a close watch on large retailers’ sustainability efforts, it’s actually the U.S. federal government that’s the single largest buyer in North America—and one with enormous power to transform supply chains. The GPR aims to help these governmental and institutional buyers find greener products and implement Executive Order 13514 (titled Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance) in ways that bring measureable environmental improvement. What sets the GPR apart has been its unwavering commitment to engage a diverse group of stakeholders in the process, as well as its international perspective on sustainable products and green supply chains. TerraChoice, UL Environment, and GREENGUARD have been active participants in the GPR since its inception, providing financial support, thought leadership, and hands-on staff support to the various committees.
Learn more →
