Supply chain sustainability for the future

The irruption of sustainability in the supply chain is an essential element in the strategies of companies that are implementing sustainable practices, not only for ethical reasons, but also as an element to improve their competitiveness and differentiation.

Learn how to implement sustainability in the supply chain to improve efficiency and accountability.

Betting on the sustainability in the supply chain The list includes different sections, ranging from selecting suppliers that follow green logistics practices to the optimization of logistical processes in the corporate carbon footprint reductionand the promotion of the circular economy in manufacturing through recycling and reuse of materials.

The great advantage of having a environmental model as a pillar of business digitalization is that, by integrating sustainability into every link of the chaincompanies not only contribute to the environmental protectionThe company also generates significant savings that have an impact on its income statement, improves relations with shareholders and customers, and obtains a competitive advantage sustainable over time; in addition to to comply with the regulations.

A greener supply chain

The adoption by organizations of sustainability processes in the supply chain must be carried out by taking a series of steps to achieve the objectives set. For this reason, companies should first conduct a thorough supply chain analysis to identify areas where sustainability policies can be improved.

Typically, the aspects to be taken into account focus on conducting environmental audits for suppliers, analyzing carbon footprint, checking energy efficiency in transportation and analyzing the sustainability of waste management in operations.

Selection and evaluation of sustainable suppliers

Once the main areas for improvement have been identified, it is time to establish clear sustainability policies that define the environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives to be achieved. Sustainability policies should be communicated as clearly and simply as possible to all levels of the organization, as well as to the company’s supply chain partners.

In this regard, one of the most important aspects is the selection of suppliers that include sustainable practices in their activities. Many of them will have some type of environmental environmental certification in the industry in which they operate, but even so, it is advisable to carry out a study of each of them to check that their sustainability practices are aligned with the objectives they wish to achieve.

This point is very important as collaboration with sustainable suppliers will allow the organization to reduce its reputational risk and improve transparency in its supply chain.

Other points to consider

There are other aspects that should be taken into account when developing a sustainability strategy in the supply chain that will improve social responsibility in businesses of all types. One of them is the optimization of logistics processes.

Since transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in many supply chains, reducing the distance traveled and increasing distribution efficiency has a significant impact on environmental sustainability.

Strategies to optimize logistics processes include consolidating shipments, using more efficient means of transport or developing more direct routes.

Likewise, to improve sustainability in the supply chain, companies are promoting the development of the circular economy. Integrating this approach into the supply chain enables companies to reduce their dependence on natural resources and mitigate both the risks associated with raw material scarcity and reduce their environmental impact.

In this respect, organizations are also investing in packaging innovation. packaging innovation reusable materials are being used. In doing so, they not only achieve an improvement in sustainability, but also a significant reduction in costs.

Use of sustainable technologies

Incorporating green technology for sustainability, including from the use of sustainable materials to the use of energy management systems, is the path to a greener and more efficient supply chain. And, along with the implementation of green technologies, the use of a platform for decarbonization such as GreenwAIs by aggity is fundamental, as it allows the development of new ways of working to improve energy efficiency, reduce resource consumption, minimize environmental impact and report in compliance with regulations.