Organizations continue to scour global markets for even lower labor rates, moving from Western China to the Pearl River, and now to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and North Africa. But there is another reason why global sourcing must be approached with caution, and a full understanding of the impact of this strategy: sustainability. Recently, however, CSR and sustainability has also come to include the “human factor” implicit in this definition. MORE

It’s time to bet big on sustainability. Forest fires have been plaguing Indonesia since July, producing more emissions than the entire U.S. The devastating effects of climate change are increasing every day, and the only way to get back on track with our goal of keeping the average rise in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius is to take a deeper look at our supply chains. Supply chain a key lever for making Cop21 commitments happen. MORE

A recent Greenpeace report reveals how palm oil supply chains are pushing Sumatran tigers and orang-utans closer to extinction (pdf). Practice Corporate Social Responsibility Procurement Report Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Sustainability Accounting for roughly 40% of vegetable oil production, palm oil is the most important vegetable oil worldwide. MORE

As conflict minerals continue to find their way into supply chains of major western corporations, businesses need to place more emphasis on due diligence and explore new technologies to increase transparency. tin from Indonesia). Increasing Due Diligence in the Cobalt Supply Chain. Umicore, a global materials technology and recycling group, introduced its Sustainable Procurement Framework for cobalt. 3TGs: Updates on Gold Sustainable Procurement. MORE

Producing forestry and agriculture products for export, e.g. into global supply chains, is an attractive means for many developing nations to create economic growth. In Malawi, deforestation for human settlement and agricultural land has triggered soil erosion with direct impact on lake Malawi’s fish supply, which showed a 90 percent decline over the last 20 years. MORE

In our ongoing discussion of labor and human rights violations in the supply chain, we’ve discussed in prior posts the problems that occurred in Bangladesh resulting in over 700 dead. I think most of us can afford to pay $1 more for that “Mickey Mouse” or “Just Do It” t-shirt…… Corporate Social Responsibility Labor and Human Rights in the Supply Chain Procurement Sustainability Supply Chain Management Sustainability MORE

Who said supply chains are boring? Whenever I tell a friend, colleague or family member about my job as soon as the words "supply chain" are muttered I immediately see glassy eyes followed by a yawn or two. Little do they realize that every time they discard or recycle a carton of milk they are completing the end of the supply chain cycle. Without supply chains consumers would be stuck using products that they had to make or grow with their own two hands. MORE