Supply Chain SustainabilityEssay Preview: Supply Chain SustainabilityReport this essaySupply chain sustainability is the management of the environmental, social, and economic impacts, and the encouragement of good governance practices, throughout the the lifecycle of goods and services. In laymans terms, supply chain sustainability is what companies use in order to have a positive impact on the world by the use of good business practices. Businesses must understand that they are part of a large system and that they need to do their part to minimize cost (ie. natural resources). By minimizing cost a company can find ways to be more cost efficient in making their products or services and be less of a strain on the environment. To give an example a companys responsibility for their product does not just end once a consumer purchase the item, the company needs to make sure that after the product is sold it can be easily disposed of. Meaning that if the product doesnt make it all the way to a disposal facility, it can degrade in a natural environment without causing harm to it.
The Future Laboratory created a ranking system in 2008 for three levels of sustainability that a company can achieve. The ranking system is called the Three Tiers of Sustainability.
Tier1: The Basis of SustainabilityThis is the first level of the three tiers and the most basic. A company knows what the chains of sustainability are and do small things around the office/company to minimize their cost. Examples of this may be turning off lights and appliances that are not being used; recycling of paper, bottles, or other items that can be recycled; and company carpools between coworkers to save on gas and help the environment.
Tier 2: Thinking SustainabilityThe second level of the three tiers, is the stage where the company has an understanding of what supply chain sustainability is. A company begins to find ways to try to incorporate sustainability into their daily operations. Examples of this can be finding ways to be more eco friendly, better product designs, and faster more efficient distribution of products/service.
Tier 3: The Science of SustainabilityThe third and last level of the Three Tiers of Sustainability is the stage when the company is aware of sustainability. In other words, they are no longer looking for ways to try to incorporate it into their production but are finding/using long-tern sustainability trends. A company is able to see that they are saving costs (ie. natural resources and money) when they use the methods and are trying to find trends that they can use from now on. This awareness gives clarity around the environmental impact of adjustments to supply chain agility, flexibility, and cost. Example of this are sustainability leaders will need to engage with external stakeholders such as competitors, NGOs and other organizations, and push for new practices that
Consequently, many companies also use these three Tiers to develop or expand the product. These are also two of five ‘red flags’ that companies have spotted.
1. CURRENT RESOURCES
Source: http://www.fctu.org/2015/04/02/research-on-sustainability/
2. Risks
Companies that adopt green building material from other materials can be found in many new areas. This includes plastic, and has led to the inclusion of plastic-based materials as well as steel and other products for automotive vehicle.
2. SITES
The ‘Sustainability Sustainability’ model has also had important uses in many areas of global trade. For example, in the construction market, large companies that want to bring in sustainable materials to meet international standards have found that many of the material types (such as plastics) have been able to be found in their products to the point where they are used in buildings, vehicles, and vehicles for the environment.
3. TECHNOLOGY
Many major components and technologies used in the ‘Sustainability Technology’ model are under the control of the companies involved to the benefit of the environment worldwide, and the potential benefits may outweigh the negative impacts of these technologies in their product development. In other words, the technology is changing the nature of how things work, and may significantly change the environmental conditions around us. For more details, see www.fctu.org/​2015/04/02/research-on-green-building-materials/
Source: http://www.fctu.org/2015/04/02/research-on-green-building-materials/
4. CROP PROGRAMS
The ‘Green Climate Science’ and ‘Green Energy Science’ models have an important point of synergy to explain, but as the example above shows, it is difficult to evaluate their value and use in practice.
5. RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS
The ‘Green Climate Science’ and ‘Green Energy Science’ models have a point of synergy, but as the example above shows, it is difficult for some and difficult for others.
6. CONTACT US
In order to discuss sustainability issues with you, we should make sure they are fact-based. To reach us, email us at [email protected] or send an email via [email protected] with the title “Sustainable Businesses” and the subject line “Sustainable Businesses from the UK in the UK”.