Supply chain News and trends

Supply chain sustainability is a business strategy implemented by an organization to ensure its supply chain network has a minimum impact on people (human rights, the health and safety of employees) and the planet. In this blog, we’ll focus on the environmental side of supply chain sustainability, which aims to: 

- Reduce energy and water consumption
- Generate less waste 
- Adapt more energy-efficient systems/processes
- Manage inventory to avoid overstocking
- Reduce logistics-related impacts (emissions) 

 

According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), global supply chains account for 80% of the planet’s carbon emissions. Of these, more than 90% of the companies in the supply chains are small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Via EcoVadis

The company says it will trace the source of wood-based fabrics, like viscose and rayon, used in its products, and will eliminate sources connected with rainforest destruction and human rights violations. The new policy will apply across its operations as Ralph Lauren “continues to work on its framework for tracking, assessing and developing purchasing guidelines for the raw materials used in its products.”

Via EcoVadis

The world’s most popular food and household companies are selling food, cosmetics and other everyday staples containing palm oil tainted by shocking human rights abuses in Indonesia, with children as young as eight working in hazardous conditions, said Amnesty International in a new report published today.
The report, The great palm oil scandal: Labour abuses behind big brand names, investigates palm oil plantations in Indonesia run by the world’s biggest palm oil grower, Singapore-based agri-business Wilmar, tracing palm oil to nine global firms: AFAMSA, ADM, Colgate-Palmolive, Elevance, Kellogg’s, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever.

Via EcoVadis

Lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret has pledged to trace the sources of its wood-based fabrics, joining the ranks of fashion companies addressing human rights and deforestation, its parent company said.
In a new policy statement, parent company L Brands said it aimed to eliminate sources of wood pulp, used to make rayon, viscose and modal, that contribute to rainforest destruction or violate the rights of local people.

Via EcoVadis

Many companies are lagging in their efforts to achieve compliance with a spate of new laws and regulations worldwide for reporting on the used of forced labor within their supply chains, according to a report by Deloitte.
Driving the sluggishness in some measure is a lack of guidance from regulators and governments on how to comply — far different from the scenario when the SEC’s rules on conflict minerals, written to satisfy a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act, took effect in 2011.

Via EcoVadis

Between April and July of 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) uncovered wage violations at 85% of the 77 independent Southern California factories investigated, reported the Los Angeles Times last week. Ross Dress for Less, Forever 21 and T.J. Maxx were found to have close ties to the suppliers with the most offenses. Roughly $1.1 million in unpaid wages are owed workers.

Via EcoVadis