“Going green” is not a slogan or obligation. It’s a value creator! It’s not unusual to hear companies throw around words like “green,” “environmentally friendly,” “fuel-efficient,” “energy-saving,” “non-polluting,” and “organic.” These marketing platitudes may feel good, but sustainability is more than being good to our planet and everyone on it.
Sustainability is also a global business opportunity to demonstrate environmental and social accountability in more meaningful and transparent ways. Customers expect it, governments mandate it, and marketplaces reward it. And in return, revenue growth rises, and the cost of operations shrinks.
When embraced strategically, sustainability related initiatives empower supply chains to secure a business’s future and brand reputation. Risks are mitigated early on. Bottom-line costs decrease, while top-line profits increase. Even experiences for employees, customers, and stakeholders improve, leading to higher engagement, fewer safety incidents, and longer-term loyalty.
But companies cannot achieve these benefits with a simple, one-and-done change in the supply chain. They must act with a continuous, holistic view into all supplier network tiers and across business operations to effectively achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.
