How to Develop a Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy?

Connecting the global supply chain is like connecting the dots between customers and businesses across the world. But it may sound a bit dramatic, but things like the supply chain cause adverse effects on the environment. 

The ‘What and Why’ of Sustainable Supply Chain

Have you ever considered the journey your favorite products take before they reach you? Well, supply chain sustainability is all about considering the impact of that journey on the environment and the people that are involved in delivering that product to you.

If we simply put it, then it’s a company’s effort to ensure that every step of their product’s journey – from sourcing raw materials to production, storage, transportation, and delivery – is done in a way that is mindful of the environment and the people involved. It can be achieved by taking the necessary steps to reduce waste, minimize emissions, and ensure fair labour practices along the way.

By implementing sustainable supply chain practices, companies can not only reduce their environmental footprint but also improve their reputation and customer loyalty. After all, who wouldn’t want to support a company that cares about the planet and its people, right?

We can help you automate your Supply Chain and make it more sustainable with our software solutions.

Steps for Sustainable Supply Chain

• Improve Pinpoint areas to promote sustainability

You need to analyse the pinpoints of your entire supply chain, breaking it down into various factors and identifying the areas that can be improved. Few elements will be very easy to identify as haulage will emit emissions that can be considered.

But there will be plenty of other things that you might miss out on at ‌first glance. It might be the chemicals produced at your company or working conditions are below standard laws. There can be other issues as well like health and safety risks missing at your office. 

If you haven’t addressed these issues already you need to start looking for them before it’s too late.

• Reduce Packaging Materials

Packaging is always the main concern when you are dealing with products. You need to have attractive packaging to attract more customers but you also need to take care of the materials you use while packaging the products. 

“Are these materials harmful to the environment?”

You can try to reduce it by using packaging material that can be recycled so your consumers might use it again, you can also ask them to recycle it, and if they do you give them royalty points which they can use on their next purchase. This will not only increase recycling but also the loyalty of customers towards your products. 

• Evaluate the Supplier

You are working with in the most sustainable manner. But what if your suppliers are not? You need to set clear expectations for your suppliers. For example, from one, you might be getting material for your clothes or plastic for your products. 

Your business might be any, but you must evaluate your suppliers before purchasing their products or working with them.

• Set Clear Expectations

You need to identify priorities, outline guidelines, and establish metrics. It involves outlining specific guidelines and requirements for suppliers and other stakeholders to follow, with the goal of promoting environmentally and socially responsible practices. You can hold them accountable if they don’t do the same. This helps reduce environmental effects, improve working conditions, and build a more resilient and sustainable business for the future.

• Practice Sustainable Standards

You need to follow the procedures and standards that are internationally verified and follow sustainable practices that are certified already. You need to also ask your customers, investors and other stakeholders to perform them as well.

• Ideas. Innovation. Optimization. 

You need to think of ideas that are out of the box. They’re always valued. But your ideas need to be implemented in such a way that it increases the sustainability of supply chain management. You need to always search for opportunities to recycle waste, encourage efficiency and use more renewable resources that don’t affect the earth.

• Transportation Cost

To increase sustainability, you need to always ensure that your transportation vehicles adhere to all the laws of society. You need to encourage your drivers to always get their vehicles checked at intervals. And if necessary get the vehicles repaired when there is any minor problem as it can also lead to more fuel consumption increasing the transportation cost.

• Monitor Performance

You need to have a system at your factory or office to measure the performance of the business. It can be considered by looking at the waste caused by materials or the chemicals that are emulated when products are made. You need to always keep your consumers, stakeholders and suppliers aware of this performance by showing them data so they can also follow this. 

• Reduce Stock

If you want to run your business more efficiently and avoid wasting resources, it’s a good idea to keep your inventory to a minimum. You need to only hold the number of products you need on hand, and not hoard excess stock that could go bad or become outdated soon. 

You need to have some careful planning to figure out how much inventory you need, but it’s worth it in the long run. When you keep your inventory lean, you can be more responsive to what your customers want and stay nimble in a competitive market. So why hold on to extra stuff when you can simplify your business and save some cash?

Winding up

To sum it up, sustainable supply chain management involves considering the impact of a product’s journey on the environment and the people involved in delivering it. And by following the above steps, you can develop a sustainable supply chain strategy that promotes social and environmental responsibility while also driving long-term profitability and competitiveness in the market.

So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to take action towards a more sustainable future. We can surely help you out contact us today.