“Reuse, reduce, recycle.” There’s not many folks out there that aren’t familiar with this catchy slogan. In fact, its origins trace all the way back to the seventies, when the concept of environmental sustainability was just beginning to take hold. Fast forward to present day, and this noble cause has more players responsible for its success than ever before. Every individual, business, and touchpoint throughout the global supply chain plays a role in protecting Mother Earth and her inhabitants.
So, as a procurement professional, you’re sitting in a pretty important position. With the right approach, you can foster a supply chain built on conservation and the investment in equipment, products, and partnerships that support long-term sustainability. And better yet? You can do it in three easy steps.
1. Get a baseline
The first step to fueling sustainability in your supply chain is to crack the top off things and poke holes in the partnerships and processes you’ve always relied on. What’s working and not working? What don’t you know about your suppliers? What assumptions are you making about their sourcing, production and distribution practices? Asking yourself and your vendors questions like these will help you understand where you stand — and where you need to get to achieve your sustainability goals.
2. Deliver with transparency
Now, more than ever, consumers are taking a vested interest in the who, what, where, when, and how of food. Before they put their hard earned money toward filling their bellies, they want peace of mind that their investment is going toward the “good guys.” As such, you must demand transparency and data from your suppliers. What farmers and manufacturers are behind your purchases? How eco-friendly are their practices — and the practices of their suppliers’ suppliers? And, what about the equipment you purchase? It too must live up to the sustainability standards of your organization and customers.
3. Prioritize strategic partners
By asking questions of yourself and your suppliers, you’ll quickly uncover the most strategic partnerships in your existing supply chain. You’ll also likely identify some gaps, and therefore the opportunity to bring on new, more strategic partners. Take a hard look at what you want to achieve and what you’ve learned about your supply chain (in good times and in bad). From here, prioritize and identify relationships that drive value, not just cost savings. The sustainability movement isn’t going anywhere, so this “A-team” of experts, innovators and experts will become more important than ever. To sustainability and beyond!
The Hatco commitment.
At Hatco, we know a thing or two about sustainability. Actually, we have an entire ECOization® program dedicated to discovering and developing manufacturing and operational processes that reduce waste, save energy, and minimize our carbon footprint. To learn more about how our ECOization program can help you, pop over to our website today.
