Lately, most supply chain managers have probably recognized a greater public interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards for big businesses. ESG standards seek to make the world better—while also improving a company’s bottom line. Being a sustainability leader does not have to hurt profits. In fact, it can even improve a business’s profitability…

Sustainable warehouse management doesn’t have to involve massive, expensive initiatives. Major overhauls like switching entirely to solar power or buying an electric fleet of trucks, for example, aren’t practical for improving the sustainability of a facility on a budget. The best options are simple ideas that make a positive difference almost immediately.  That’s not to…

Eco-friendly pallets are gaining traction as businesses look to minimize their environmental impact.  These pallets not only help companies reduce their carbon footprint through recycled materials and reusability, but they can also contribute to a circular business model that eliminates waste and maximizes resource use. Ultimately, switching to eco-friendly pallets can benefit both the environment…

Transportation is the single biggest contributor to carbon emissions and accounts for 28 percent of all energy consumption in the U.S. The most obvious solutions for making freight more sustainable seem simple on their face: reduce load weight and improve route efficiency. Making these changes also lowers the cost of transportation, so that when supply…

Green purchasing within supply chain management has become a top priority for many businesses and affects which vendors a business chooses as partners. Today, being a green company means working only–or primarily–with companies who also follow eco-friendly guidelines. Yet it can be difficult to thoroughly vet a third party’s green practices. We’ll talk about some…

Going green is a priority for many supply chain managers today, but not every effort is successful. In fact, efforts to “go green” often involve strategies whose impacts are difficult to measure. A crucial part of any environmental initiative is being able to evaluate how green your supply chain is in an actionable way. While…

The ethical supply chain has gone from something that only students and a handful of others worried about to a mainstream consideration. Any local grocery store carries more than a few products bearing a fair trade stamp, which indicates they were grown, harvested, and prepared ethically with consideration for both the environment and laborers. Over…

Eco-friendly business practices are a major topic of discussion right now. Twenty-one percent of businesses globally believe that sustainability is crucial to their long-term existence. But moving toward more sustainable practices isn’t simple or easy, and there are some green supply chain challenges your company should be prepared to face before you start on this…