It’s challenging to create a totally sustainable product for the modern market, but it’s not impossible, and it is becoming easier thanks to collaborative efforts and inter-governmental support. Read on for some simple ideas on how to make your supply chain more sustainable and support carbon-neutral efforts and your company’s reputation as a sustainable brand.
Map the Chain
It isn’t easy to create a sustainable and totally green supply chain, partly because the very business of transporting goods around is not carbon neutral, not to mention the fact that some of the material sources are not always ethical. Still, you can change things and make an impact.
One of the first things you need to do is check the suppliers on the chain and how they are managing the biggest challenges when it comes to green efforts. A lot of companies nowadays are cutting out elements of the supply chain and reducing efficiency slightly to be eco-friendly.
Meet Expectations
It’s sensible to focus on sustainability efforts in your supply chain, but this also needs to be communicated to the customer. Customers also have a stake in the process of sustainability, and choosing a product with a greener supply chain is part of that process. Also, listen to them.
How do your customers feel about the efforts you are making to be more green? Are you doing enough, or is there another business in your niche that is able to outcompete you on green efforts? Listening to your customers and meeting their expectations can make a big difference.
Supplier Performance
Once you have identified the suppliers in your green supply chain, you will have a baseline measurement of the carbon you emit and how sustainable your system can be. Remember, the carbon emitted in your supply chain can also be offset, helping to move towards carbon zero.
But the story doesn’t stop there. If your suppliers can be more efficient, you can make changes to your system and optimize it to save money and improve revenue. The way to do this is to monitor the performance of your suppliers by sending them regular questionnaires and surveys.
Use Infrastructure
The infrastructure used in your supply chain should also be efficient to ensure that you get the best performance for your business from the supply chain. This is part of the process of monitoring your suppliers to ensure their infrastructure meets the requirements of your brand.
In some cases, a simple questionnaire or survey is enough to find out about the condition of the machinery; other times, you might have to send someone to audit the infrastructure and ensure its sustainability. If they use chain slings from Brindley Chains they will be modern and efficient.
Collaborations
Most companies nowadays recognize that zero-carbon efforts are a collective concern and require collaboration to achieve targets. For this reason, many of the supply chains are shared by companies and brands looking to support carbon-zero efforts. If you don’t have any sustainable collaborations yet, try networking in your niche and connecting with relevant firms.
Image Credits: Timelab Pro
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