Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future
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Featured Interviews
Don't miss Sustainability News & Entertainment's interview with EPA's Matt Bogoshian. This discussion features the Green Suppliers Network and offers a broad vision of how the United States can keep moving toward a sustainable future.
Sustainability News & Entertainment also hosted EPA's Matt Bogoshian, NIST's Alex Folk, and others to discuss Partnerships for the Planet, including the Green Suppliers Network. Be sure to listen to "American Green," a song written for Radio Green Talk ECO-Musicians and ECO-Song Writers - ARTS TO SUSTAINABILITY Challenge.
EPA's Tom Murray discusses greening the supply chain in North America.
Older articles and reports are available in the archive.
Key Industry ArticlesKey Industry Articles
Make the move to green without moving your warehouse
August 31, 2012 – Supply Chain Professionals are currently doing all they can to make their business greener, yet a number of companies still can't afford to re-locate to new, more energy efficient premises. With green energy generation often too large an investment, and new premises often too expensive, companies often give up at the first hurdle, however there are a number of small scale investments that can be made at warehouses that can make all the difference! The key expenditures for warehouses are often on lighting and heating. By addressing these two areas, warehouse managers can make huge savings on their bill, as well as gaining more green credentials.
Intek Plastics' Secret Weapon in Sustainability: Its Employees
August 6, 2012 – In 2009, Intek Plastics, a custom plastic extrusions manufacturer, established two basic sustainability goals: reduce its material waste and trim electrical consumption in its Hastings, Minnesota, headquarters plant. While the goals may have seemed simple on paper, they proved to be a complex endeavor. After much research, strategizing and internal goal setting, it became clear that Intek's greatest asset in the initiatives would be its own employees. So how does a company best known for plastics extrusion use its people to improve sustainability and affect the bottom line? By involving those employees in every stage of the initiatives.
4 steps to evaluating products with a sustainability scorecard
July 25, 2012 – Just about every day, it seems, a new item pops up on the market claiming it's been certified as sustainable, according to one set of criteria or another. Many manufacturers, retailers, and third-party certification programs have developed their own methods -- and definition -- of assessing whether a product is sustainable. So how can a retailer validate a manufacturer's claims and choose a supplier from the scores of those saying it meets the retailer's criteria -- when each product has been evaluated using a different method? What's needed for the long haul is a standardized approach to a green scorecard or assessment system
Avoiding supplier "Green Washing" takes understanding, planning and accountability
July 25, 2012 – It's not enough to make symbolic efforts to be eco-conscious or "green" if you want to be a Fortune 1000 company supplier. Without real, science-based sustainability programs that demand action and accountability, suppliers are in danger of "green washing" their businesses with false product claims. Such Green Washing does a disservice to buyers and the environment. It's no way to run a successful, profitable business in the long term. Running a sustainable business benefits suppliers by making the most efficient use of its resources. Green suppliers, in turn, help corporate buyers meet their own sustainability challenges, making a truly green supplier valuable to its corporate buyers.
Sustainable brand innovation: A new way of thinking about making and selling products
July 2012 – Today, companies find themselves caught in crosswinds. The mattress industry is a perfect example of being caught in a windstorm. Before the Great Recession, the increasing costs of petroleum-based products, steel, and other vital components to mattress production were squeezing the profits of both suppliers and manufacturers. The pressures subsided during the economic downturn, but are returning in the form of state-level extended producer responsibility programs .The International Sleep Products Association believes the mishmash of state regulations would be unnecessarily costly and burdensome to the industry and is advocating instead for a national mattress recycling program.
Business Schools Focusing on Corporate Sustainability Trends
August 24, 2012 – Policy proposals to solve environmental problems flow from a myriad of sources, particularly activist groups and legislators. But business schools are sharpening their focus on environmental economics, and they may be poised to emerge as much more vocal proponents for environmental solutions.
Green marketing stats that justify storytelling
August 20, 2012 – Ever heard this one: "Yes, I agree, it's important that we tell our sustainability story…but how's it going to help us sell more product?" That's usually followed by something like: "Show me the ROI and, sure, we can fund your sustainability marketing initiatives." We've heard them all (and we happen to agree with them — you should be able to leverage your sustainability story to sell more product/gain more share), and we've helped several of our clients make the case for funding. Included in this article are some data points from our just-released Eco Pulse study that can help you make the case, too.
Making corporate sustainability a grassroots effort?
August 16, 2012 – A company's employees can be its greatest advantage in helping to achieve sustainability goals. While engaging employees in corporate sustainability isn't a new idea, a recent study by Green Research reported that 80 percent of major corporations plan to increase employee engagement in 2012.There are a number of ways which can be used to gain employee involvement.
Challenges to Being Sustainable, and How to Overcome Them
August 14, 2012 – Corporate sustainability has been a hot topic for years now. Although no designated governing body or regulated standards exist, countless companies have initiated environmentally responsible changes within their organizations. Over 2,500 companies voluntarily follow the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which launched 15 years ago and provides a comprehensive reporting framework to show how companies are integrating sustainability into their operations. Whichever methodology is used, implementing positive change is challenging.
Right hand, meet left: How to align your message, avoid risk
August 10, 2012 – Facing a deluge of green messages, today's consumer is at worst cynical and hyperaware at best. Consumers have awoken to the trend of corporate greenwashing and are quick to catch on to inconsistencies in sustainability messaging. Companies with such schizophrenic messaging put their reputations at risk. In today's marketplace, reputational risk quickly transforms into business risk. If you think all of the sustainability messages a company is sending come from the marketing department, think again.
How companies can report renewables within a GHG inventory
July 28, 2012 – Without a standardized way to measure the impact of their renewable energy purchases against greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals, many companies find themselves in a pickle.
For multinationals, varied instruments and different accounting procedures that conflict by country are a problem. As a result, companies are left without a clear link between their energy purchasing strategies and goals to reduce GHG emissions. By documenting and publicly reporting on their GHG emissions based on instruments with unclear accounting procedures, companies expose themselves to reputational risk. Now, those who seek to reduce their electricity consumption to reach their goals may be able to reconcile the disparity between the two.
Proxy Season 2012: More Requests, More Engagement, More Results
July 20, 2012 – The end of every proxy voting season provides some interesting outlook on the progress of sustainability in the business world. Looking at what happened this season, we can already draw three conclusions: First, a growing number of shareholders understand the business case for sustainability. Second, shareholders continue to be an important driver of sustainability in companies. Last, but not least, companies are increasingly willing to enter into substantive dialogue with shareholders and take action.
Report: Ceres Investor Network on Climate Risk: Shareholder Resolutions Survey
Additional Coverage: Shareholders force Apple and Intel to boost sustainability efforts
9 skills for success in corporate sustainability leadership
July 16, 2012 – While numerous graduate programs are popping up that offer training in sustainable business and corporate responsibility, very few people in the corporate responsibility (CR) field have these degrees. Most people working in CR positions have education and experience in some other area and have followed their passion to get to one of these jobs. Talking to several colleagues and thinking through his own experiences, the author identifies nine core skills that are important elements to success in corporate responsibility.
Elements of a Sustainable Supply Chain
August 31, 2012 – Sustainability has a floating definition. In the context of manufacturing and environmental responsibility, sustainability can best be explained as a holistic approach to product development. From design through end of life, a sustainable product spares the environment, as well as the manufacturer's bottom line. But sustainability has to permeate an entire business. Corporations can reduce their carbon footprint through internal practices, but they must also manage their supplier relationships in an environmentally friendly manner.
Will Tier 2 Suppliers Be the 'New Pinchpoint' for the Auto Industry?
August 10, 2012 – The feel-good story of the auto industry's comeback could take a dark turn if the OEMs don't take a hard look at their suppliers' abilities to ramp up in lockstep with demand. That was the message from two speakers at the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich., where analysts projected that U.S. vehicle sales will exceed 14 million units this year -- up from 13 million in 2011 -- and will hit 16 million units by mid-decade. If demand continues to grow as expected, there's concern that some Tier 2 suppliers, lacking the modern, efficient production systems and continuous-improvement focus needed to keep pace with the projected growth in vehicle sales, could be overwhelmed.
Engaging the Sustainable Supply Chain Using Social Business Tools
August 10, 2012 – Sustainability programs focus a great deal on individual company compliance to achieve particular goals or reporting deadlines. This is certainly important in the ever-growing world of regulations and government mandated programs. Carbon reporting, social performance, water management – these are all very important aspects of triple bottom-line programs and often are included in compliance activities. Not all sustainability objectives, however, can be met within the "four walls" of the organization. Certain key objectives require not only understanding what your direct organization is doing in key areas of sustainability, but also what the position of your value chain performance in those key areas.
Rethink 'Social' For Your Supply Chain
August 8, 2012 – It is not uncommon for companies that are part of the supply chain to perceive social media as too 'social' of a phenomenon for the kind of business they conduct. But it is exactly this perception that needs to change. Companies that are part of the supply chain need to lift their barriers and embrace social media as more than just a content sharing experience but for the four main cost-effective business opportunities it presents for supply chain.
Supply Chain Sustainability Standards Lacking, Companies Say
July 24, 2012 – Sixty-two percent of executives surveyed said a lack of measurement standards impairs their efforts to track supply chain sustainability performance, according to a study released today by Green Research. The firm surveyed 30 senior sustainability and procurement executives at major companies globally and found that poor data quality also hinders efforts to improve sustainability in corporate supply chains. According to the study, 81 percent of companies surveyed said they plan to ask suppliers for more information in the coming year. Still, executives remain optimistic about improving sustainability in their supply chains.
Report: Sustainability in the Supply Chain: Best Practices, Tools and Trends (abstract only)
Green Your Supply Chain with Engagement, Incentives, and Education
July 18, 2012 – With concerns over climate change and a diminishing supply of natural resources, one of the most effective ways for a company to improve its sustainability program and develop supply chain sustainability is to take an in-depth look at its carbon management. Carbon management within the supply chain is crucial to a company's overall carbon reduction strategy, but it can be one of the most difficult places to achieve reductions. Carbon emissions within the supply chain are outside of the company's direct control—in fact, they fall into Scope 3 of the GHG Protocol emissions scope framework. The keys for any company that hopes to build carbon management into the supply chain are engagement, incentives, and education.
Additional Coverage: More companies find value in green supply chain
Supply chain sustainability: Lessons from the past, ideas for the future
July 13, 2012 – A decade ago, the companies investing in supply chain sustainability were primarily in the apparel, footwear, and toy sectors. Today, all industries prioritize supply chain sustainability, including the biggest brands in electronics, consumer goods, transportation, and other industries.
The number of standards also has multiplied, reflecting a broader set of topics and participants. But what progress have we made toward improving the lives of workers in supply chains and protecting the ecosystems that support industry and commerce as well as human survival on this planet?
Although supply chain sustainability management practices have evolved significantly, we have an opportunity to re-examine traditional approaches and achieve measurable, dramatic improvements.
E3: A Nexus of Next Generation Strategies
MEP blog post by Ben Vickery
August 20, 2012 – When we examine the five MEP Next Generation Strategies – including Continuous Improvement, Supply Chains, Sustainability, Technology Acceleration, and Workforce – there is sometimes an attempt to categorize a project into a particular "bucket." Is the work done with a manufacturing client focused on Sustainability, or Technology Acceleration? Is it Continuous Improvement or Workforce, and what about Supply Chains? In actuality, we find that assistance provided by MEP Centers to their manufacturing clients often stretches across multiple Strategies. In the case of E3, or Economy, Energy and Environment, all five Next Generation Strategies can come into play.
Three companies to focus on improvements, efficiency
July 18, 2012 – Cane Creek Cycling Components CEO Scott Sonnone has long wanted to take the Fletcher company to the next level. Thanks to a pilot program called E3: Economy, Energy, and Environment, he now has the chance. Facilitated by N.C. State University's Industrial Extension Service, the E3 program brings together private and public organizations to help businesses make improvements and become more efficient, focusing on manufacturing process improvements, carbon footprint analysis, energy use plans, business best practices and worker safety measures.
Key Industry Reports
Lack of data hampers supply chain sustainability monitoring
August 1, 2012 – According to a survey from Green Research, almost two-thirds of sustainability and procurement executives – 62 percent – believe their ability to monitor supply chain sustainability is being impaired due to a lack of data. Responding companies indicated that they were primarily motivated by risk management and enhancing brand reputation when implementing supply chain sustainability initiatives, with reduced costs pushed into third place. The report added that companies believe by helping suppliers reduce costs they too will go on to benefit from savings. Additional finding from the report indicated that 81 percent of respondents will be asking suppliers for more information in the coming year.
Report: Sustainability in the Supply Chain (abstract only)
Making The Pitch: Selling Sustainability From Inside Corporate America
July 2012 – "Sustainability," little more than a buzzword in the corridors of corporate America a decade ago, is today a business concept that has been embraced by many companies in principle and, increasingly, in practice. Yet, while more and more companies are integrating corporate sustainability strategies and programs into their daily business operations, "sustainability," like a Rorschach inkblot, is prone to multiple interpretations. Is it a corporate citizenship initiative? A compliance function intended to appease stakeholders who might create friction? A competitive advantage to leverage with customers? A strategy to attract and retain talent?
Additional Coverage: Why Communication is Key to Corporate Sustainability
