Sustainability | Impact
5 Steps To Creating A More Sustainable Supply Chain
Jun 13, 2022 | Amelyah Roach
With a global market value of $15.85 billion, which is projected to more than double by 2027, it is imperative that sustainable practices are encouraged within supply chains around the world.
Here's a 5 point checklist on sustainable practices that can be adopted to promote a more sustainable environment in your Supply Chain. 1) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
IT CAN GET ESPECIALLY CONFUSING FOR BUSINESSES WITH LARGE SUPPLY CHAIN NETWORKS AND MANY MOVING PARTS TO KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THEIR ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESSES. THIS IS WHY THE FIRST STEP IN ACHIEVING A MORE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN IS TO MAP OUT YOUR ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN, ANALYZE ITS CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY METRICS AND DO A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF KEY AREAS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT, WHO IS INVOLVED, AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN.2)PRIORITIZE COMMUNICATION
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT SUPPLY CHAINS ARE HIGHLY INTERCONNECTED SYSTEMS THAT ALWAYS REQUIRE INTERVENTION FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER. ON THE ROAD TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS WITHIN THE SUPPLY CHAIN SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. ALL MEMBERS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN INCLUDING SUPPLIERS, WAREHOUSE STAFF AND THOSE INVOLVED IN DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS SHOULD BE CONSULTED, WITH ANY CONCERNS OR CHALLENGES THEY FACE CLEARLY EXPRESSED AND NOTED SO AS TO ENSURE THAT SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OVERALL SMOOTHER RUNNING OF THE BUSINESS.3) FIND SOLUTIONS
ONE CONFRONTED WITH THE AREAS WITHIN YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM MORE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, THE REAL WORK BEGINS THEREAFTER. STEP BY STEP SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGERS, TEAM LEADS, STAKEHOLDERS, CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICERS AND ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY MUST WORK TOGETHER TO RESTRATEGIZE THE SUPPLY CHAIN NETWORK AND RESEARCH SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, ALTERNATIVES AND INNOVATIONS THAT WOULD COMPLEMENT THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN MODEL. THESE ALTERNATIVES CAN RANGE FROM LESS HARMFUL SOURCING METHODS TO BETTER LABOUR CONDITIONS FOR WORKERS AND EVEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN TECH AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND PACKAGING.
4) LEVERAGE GREEN TECH
ALTHOUGH ALL TECH MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SYNONYMOUS WITH SUSTAINABILITY, THERE ARE MANY TECH OPTIONS THAT CAN CREATE GREATER EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AS WELL AS LEAVE A LESSER HARMFUL IMPACT. SOME EXAMPLES OF GREEN TECH THAT CAN BE LEVERAGED WITHIN THE SUPPLY CHAIN ARE SOLAR POWERED WAREHOUSES, ECO-EFFICIENT SHIPPING VEHICLES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SMART BUILDINGS.5) COLLABORATE
COLLABORATION WITH COMPANIES WITHIN YOUR INDUSTRY TO FOSTER THE SHARED GOAL OF SUSTAINABILITY IS THE FINAL STEP IN MAINTAINING A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN. THIS COLLABORATION ENCOURAGES THE TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND SHARING OF RESOURCES TO DO WITH SUSTAINABILITY, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO THE OPTIMIZATION AND SPREAD OF MORE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
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