It is undeniable that the world is warming, the population is growing exponentially, and we are burning through resources too quickly. The good news is that organizations are increasingly realizing that their supply chains offer a way of driving sustainability into the heart of their business. While the need for sustainability (including economic, social and environmental aspects) is well-known, how to deliver on it is not well-defined or practiced.
A range of new tools and techniques have recently emerged that offer the potential for breakthrough. Of particular note is the new guidance standard BS8903, the first developed to create a process around implementing sustainable procurement. In addition, a body of proof about the benefits of sustainable supply chains is increasingly available, and new green technologies emerging with the potential to transform many industries.
To read the full article, visit pages 22-24 of the January / February 2011 edition of SupplyManagementEurope.com, where Shaun goes into more detail about the framework and how it works in practice, including two case studies from United Utilities and FMC Technologies. Shaun McCarthy is a Director of Action Sustainability and the Chair of a Commission for a Sustainable London 2012.