Supply Chain Sustainability Overview
How We Work
Our team of experts works with companies to envision the supply chains of tomorrow and to put in place today sustainable and responsible supply chain practices at the corporate, buyer, and supplier levels.
Drawing upon our deep experience across multiple industries and regions, we help companies develop strategic approaches, operationalize sustainable procurement, engage with suppliers, and build meaningful collaborations.
Business Benefits
- Proactively manage risk by developing a deep understanding of a company's complex global supply chain and its efficiency and effectiveness
- Strengthen the organization’s license to operate and increase credibility through enhanced stakeholder and supplier relationships
- Drive long-term change by increasing supplier ownership of working conditions and environmental performance in their workplaces
- Have a clear, effective response to external pressures, such as reducing a company's exposure to costly shareholder resolutions, activist campaigns, and negative media
- Identify opportunities for supply chain innovation
Expertise
- Understand critical supply chain risks and opportunities
- Integrate sustainability into supply chain, procurement, and specific category strategies
- Operationalize sustainable procurement in existing processes and tools to align with a company’s overall business strategy
- Develop an engaged supplier base
- Get out ahead of future trends and consider their impacts on supply chains
- Lead meaningful collaborations on key supply chain issues
Resources
Reports, Guidelines, and References
- The Supply Chain Leadership Ladder
- Missing Link: Harnessing the Power of Purchasing for a Sustainable Future
- Supply Chain Sustainability: A Practical Guide for Continuous Improvement
- A Guide to Traceability: A Practical Approach to Advance Sustainability in Global Supply Chains
- Report: Ecovadis Sustainable Procurement Barometer
- Report: Value of Sustainable Procurement Practices
Commodity- and Category-Level Standards and Initiatives
- Cotton: Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
- Fishery and Seafood: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
- Food and Agriculture: Fair Trade International
- Forestry and Agriculture: Rainforest Alliance
- Jewelry: Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC)
- Leather: The Leather Working Group
- Luxury Goods: BSR’s Responsible Luxury Initiative
- Shipping: BSR’s Clean Cargo
- Timber and Forestry: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
- Various: The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) Working Groups
- Various: International Trade Centre’s Standards Map
Industry Initiatives Focused on Sustainable Procurement
Cross-Industry Initiatives Focused on Sustainable Procurement
Data and Indices
Procurement Leadership Group Tools
Contact us to learn more about these tools.
- Sustainable Procurement Framework
- Category Transformation Service
- Supply Chain Materiality Assessment
- Supply Chain Stakeholder Mapping
- Human Rights Impact Assessment
- Country Risk Assessment
- Supplier Risk Assessment