It’s been proven many times over that taking a sustainable approach to business will enhance the organization’s triple bottom line (TBL).
When we talk about people, planet, and profit – the three components of TBL – it’s clear that we can cover a lot of grounds just by looking at the supply chain.
Even a service oriented business relies on supplies from around the world to get the job done. Being aware of where your products are coming from can go a long way, especially if you are interested in achieving a strong level of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
So where can we begin when investigating the supply chain?
First step: identify the products or supplies that you would like to learn about – I’ll refer to them as “items”.
I suggest you start with just a few, perhaps the top 5 items you deal with in day to day operations. Making a change to your biggest inputs holds the potential to have a greater outcome due to volume.
You’ve got a list of your top 5; now put them into a spreadsheet.
Second step: lay down the foundation for some basic questions, and insert these words across the top of the spreadsheet.
Here’s an example of what this all may look like:
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Simple words, not necessarily easy answers. Let’s dive in a little deeper to gain some context.
While there is a lot of breadth to these questions, it is important that you continue to dig a little bit deeper, and ask yourselves the hard questions.
Get your spreadsheet formatted to your liking, and get started on populating the cells with information and data that you can find on the company’s website, through general internet searches, or by contacting your supplier directly for specifics.
What do you think are important questions to ask about the suppliers your organization deals with? Comment below or join the conversation on Social Media!
October 2016 marks the 2nd ever Campus Sustainability Month which officially kicked off on the 1st of the month. Since 2003, Campus Sustainability Day has been celebrated internationally, however in 2015; the events flowed over to fill the calendar for an entire month.
In previous blogs, sustainability has been approached in a few different ways. Looking at it from a personal perspective, business perspective, and a broader global perspective, the topic has been covered from various angles.
The year 2015 was a big one for climate change. Nations joined forces on two major agreements for the great good of our planet: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the COP21 Paris Agreement.