The growth in global business has led to an ever-increasing demand for products and services. Many companies have had to increase their supply chain operations to meet these demands. Unfortunately, this has also led to increased carbon emissions, which has a detrimental effect on our environment. Businesses must take responsibility for their environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint through supply chain sustainability. This article outlines how companies can implement sustainable practices in their supply chains to reduce carbon emissions.
What is Supply Chain Sustainability and Why Does it Matter?
As the world grapples with climate change, businesses around the globe are increasingly turning their attention to supply chain sustainability. So, what is supply chain sustainability? Supply chain sustainability is managing a company’s environmental, social, and economic responsibilities ethically and responsibly throughout its supply chain. This includes reducing the use of natural resources, minimizing waste and emissions, and supporting local communities by creating jobs and providing fair wages and working conditions.
Companies that implement sustainable practices in their supply chains can reduce their carbon footprint, improve human rights, and ensure that products are safe and environmentally friendly. Through upfront costs, such as investing in renewable energy sources and reducing waste, companies can save money in the long run by avoiding costly environmental disasters.
The importance of sustainability in the supply chain cannot be overstated. Not only does it help protect our environment, but it can also lead to cost savings and increase efficiency in the long term. Additionally, sustainable supply chains can help companies build trust and gain positive brand recognition from customers who value sustainability. Regulatory bodies and investors are also increasingly taking note of companies that invest in sustainable practices, making it a crucial component of any successful business.
How to Reduce Your Carbon Output Within the Supply Chain
Now that we understand the importance of supply chain sustainability, how do companies reduce their carbon output within their supply chains? They need to take a holistic approach and consider how to improve supply chain sustainability at every stage — from how they source materials to how they distribute products. Here are a few steps companies can take to reduce their carbon footprint:
Track Your Sustainability Metrics in Supply Chain Management (SCM)
One of the key elements to reducing carbon output is tracking your sustainability metrics in supply chain management (SCM). This allows you to identify areas of improvement that reduce environmental impact. It also includes an analysis of environmental stability metrics, such as energy usage, water consumption, and waste production. Analyzing these metrics ensures that environmental awareness is incorporated into your supply chain operations, as a corporate goal. This ensures that environmental sustainability is prioritized. This, in turn, helps reduce your carbon footprint and create a more efficient, less wasteful supply chain.
Tracking your stability metrics can also be done using supply chain sustainability software. This type of software automates the process of gathering and analyzing data, making it easier to identify supply chain issues and prioritize sustainability initiatives. The software can also be used to monitor supply chain performance, identify inefficiencies and optimize supply chain processes.
Partner and Source from Other Sustainable Companies
To make a dent in your company’s carbon output, partner with other sustainable companies. Partnering with these entities means leveraging their expertise and resources to reduce your company’s environmental impact. It also means finding ways to work together to reduce emissions and resources used in your supply chain.
Moreover, sourcing raw materials from companies committed to sustainability can help your own business go green. By investing in sustainable suppliers and products, you help reduce emissions released into the atmosphere while also creating a mutually beneficial relationship with these companies.
Ensure Your Products Are Being Shipped in a Smart, Sustainable Way
Once your products leave your premises, you can take active steps to reduce your carbon output within the entire supply chain. Start by considering more eco-friendly shipping methods, like rail and sea freight, which have a lower carbon footprint than air freight. Additionally, look into recycled materials for your packaging, such as recycled cardboard, and sustainable cushioning materials, like recycled paper and starch-based foam alternatives.
Prioritize Recycling and Using Sustainable Products and Raw
Switching from a linear supply chain to a circular economy is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon output and meet sustainability goals. Circular economies are designed to keep resources in circulation for as long as possible, maximizing their value and minimizing waste. This means prioritizing materials recycling and using sustainable products and raw materials in the production process. By doing so, businesses can reduce their dependence on virgin materials and resources, minimizing carbon output.
In addition, circular economies promote re-purposing and reuse, which can help reduce the energy used in production and transportation. Circular economies also reduce the amount of land and resources needed for extraction by reducing reliance on virgin materials. The result is less pollution, fewer emissions, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Keep an Eye on the Effectiveness of Your Sustainability Strategy
Supply chain leaders must remain vigilant to ensure their sustainability strategies are effective in reducing carbon output. This involves monitoring and evaluating the progress of each step of your supply chain, from raw materials sourcing to end product delivery. Keeping a close eye on supply chain risks and identifying areas of inefficiency can help you spot issues that could contribute to supply chain carbon output and create environmental waste.
Moreover, it’s essential to monitor whether the product or service being delivered meets customer expectations while adhering to the company’s sustainability objectives. Doing so requires regular feedback from supply chain partners, customers, and stakeholders. Engaging with the supply chain community can help you understand how customers view your sustainability efforts and identify any areas of concern.
Let the Right Software Help You Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Supply chain sustainability is a critical factor in reducing carbon footprint and improving operational efficiency. Whether you’re an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) looking to understand the context of your assets in motion or a tier supplier needing to track location, utilization, and other important parameters within your supply chain, Surgere is a great option for your business.
With our deep industry knowledge and expertise coupled with our cutting-edge IoT technology solutions, we can help you gain real-time insights so that you can make data-driven decisions that will have a positive impact on your operations and bottom line. If this resonates with you and you’d like to learn more about how Surgere has helped companies like yours transform their day-to-day operations, get in touch with us today. We’re here to help!
