5 Sustainability Improvements to Consider in Your Supply Chain
June 16, 2020 | Staffing Blog
The recently launched Global Reporting Initiative G4 Guidelines shines a light on the need for an increased focus on sustainability within the supply chain. In the past, the supply chain relied heavily on logistics and knowing the flow of goods. Through an increase in digital technology and analytic tools, it’s become evident that there is a lot of room for the supply chain to embrace and demonstrate corporate social responsibility. Now supply chain partners are fine-tuning their methods for worker safety and their overall effect on the health of the environment.
Working sustainability programs into your company’s supply chain requires some serious time and effort, but doing so is worth it. Supply chain sustainability “is based on the principle that socially responsible products and practices are not only good for the planet and the people who live here, they are also good for building positive brand awareness, minimizing environmental impact and improving long-term profitability.”
Sustainability Moves You Can Make for Your Supply Chain
There are several simple steps you can take to work toward a more sustainable supply chain. A few ways to start are:
1. Define & Communicate Your Values
Incorporate sustainability into your company values and spread awareness to your employees, suppliers, and customers. This can be done through your own blog, email, newsletter, and social media. The Global Environmental Management Initiative developed a new tool to help companies locate the opportunities within their organization to improve supply chain sustainability with case studies included. This will help you to efficiently locate where the highest risks are located and improvements can be made.
2. Use Supply Chain Management Tools
Using these tools will help you to track your strong points and eliminate your weaknesses. The more commitment you make to identifying ways you can change your systems with these tools, you will start to see how everything will begin to run more efficiently.
3. Implement Optimization
Find ways to pair lowering your costs with a greener supply chain. Many assume that this isn’t a possibility, but there are ways. Some examples include:
- Consolidating your material and packaging usage so fewer packaging products are consumed.
- Eliminating hazardous materials from the supply chain so lower costs are associated with handling and disposal of them.
- Minimizing waste that is accrued so that the costs associated with handling and disposal is also reduced.
4. Partner Up With Other Sustainable Suppliers
The collaboration will not only link you to a company that has formed a good rep of their own, but it will also provide you with more tools and knowledge. Most of all, sharing your resources with one another will allow you to minimize the waste and environmental risks that you create.
5. Train Your Team
The most important way to produce change within your company is to make sure that your team is committing to those changes. Each of your employees has to understand the purpose behind it all, why it matters so much. This will engage their commitment and create a follow-through.
How A Staffing Agency Can Help
Your supply chain and its functionality depends on the decisions you make, and that includes the people you decide to hire. We can help you build a team that is dedicated to committing to your mission and success with supply chain sustainability. Reach out to us today to learn more about the staffing solutions we can provide for you.