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Addressing Supply Chain Challenges in the COVID-19 Era

Since the “new world order” ushered in a new era in global trade some 30 years ago with the end of the Cold War, barriers to trade have continued to tumble. “GATT” (the “General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade” rounds of global trade talks that began in 1947) gave way to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.  New rules were applied, and trade continued to become “more liberalized”.  Corporate interests responded with dispersal of many their operations.

Large manufacturing companies spread out their sourcing to many new areas of the world, building a substantial network of suppliers in far-off lands. Mid-sized and smaller firms followed the example and began to source globally.  Manufacturing moved from “home country” to many other countries over time. 

As companies set up their operations in many countries and sourced almost everywhere; fleets of cargo vessels plied the seas with stacks of containers on their decks.

Result:  today’s diverse, complex, spread out networks of tier one, two and three suppliers, many in China and East Asia and Pacifica nations, have dramatically changed the face of “home country companies” (such as in North America and Europe).

Therein, we find the risk!  Today we present two commentaries for you on today’s global supply chains and how to make these more links sustainable -- and to address the inherent risk in the supply chain mix.
Writing in SupplyChainBrain, David Cahn suggests “…it is essential for companies and their supply chains to realize that customers prefer to engage with organizations that are focused on environmental sustainability. Significant opportunities exist for leveraging people, processes and technologies to achieve operational efficiencies.”

He suggests five steps in “the Pursuit of Sustainability” that spans the corporate enterprise.  His five areas “ripe for improvement” include: sourcing; manufacturing; recycling; packaging; transportation. There are numerous tips in each of the categories that may be of value to your organization. 

Author David Cahn is global marketing director for Elemica, a Digital Supply Network for manufacturers that automates and provides visibility into supply chains. 

Visibility and understanding the risks inherent in supply chains is important and our second commentary for you comes from our colleague Pam Styles, who poses the question:  “what’s in your supply chain mix”?
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed countless concerns for corporate managers, and for investors and providers of capital -- including global supply chain management issues, Pam writes.  And, she suggests, ESG/sustainability practitioners may be able to offer unique vantage to assist the debrief in collaboration with company supply chain experts and management teams.

Her comments are directed at investor relations officers (IROs) who are on point to answer analyst and investor questions about supply chain risks and issues as well as to corporate ESG practitioners.

Pam concludes: When it comes to Sustainability – climate change is important but supply chain is urgent.  Pam is a long-time Fellow of G&A Institute and a valued collaborator on client projects. She is a long-time member of NIRI and the NIRI Senior Roundtable.

Featured Stories

The Pursuit of Sustainability Spans the Enterprise   
Source: Supply Chain Brain - These days, it’s essential for companies and their supply chains to realize that customers prefer to engage with organizations that are focused on environmental sustainability. Significant opportunities exist for leveraging...

Corporate ESG Stakeholders – Supply Chain Management – What’s in Your Supply Chain Mix?
Pam Styles commentary in G&A Institute’s Sustainability Update
Does your company regularly review and remediate identifiable aggregate risks across the company’s supply chain and associated third-party relationships?

G&A Institute Sustainability Update™
Informative, insightful, thought provoking
Governance & Accountability Institute's blog focusing on the sustainable world evolving daily before our eyes. Read it, absorb it, question it and challenge.

Watching the Watchers – What Investors & ESG Raters Are Doing in the Virus Crisis

It’s Earth Day Again – Let’s Celebrate – and Pledge Again to Defend Mother Earth!

Corporate ESG Stakeholders – Supply Chain Management – What’s in Your Supply Chain Mix?

Technology: Providing Vital Components Influencing the Fight Against COVID-19

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Sustainability Standard Setters & Policy Makers

• Creating a sustainable sand industry requires greater regulation – here’s why (Source: World Finance)
• Now Is the Time to Detox the Fashion Industry — Here's How to Do It (Source: Sustainable Brands)
• Stahl Becomes Member of Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (Source: Coatings World)
• Construction industry progress towards sustainability with renewable materials (Source: Recycling Magazine)
• How companies led the way on clean energy in Virginia(Source: GreenBiz)

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ESG / Sustainable & Responsible Investment

• BlackRock Expands Sustainable Investments with the Close of a $5.1 Billion Energy and Power Infrastructure Fund (Source: Environmental Leader)
• Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2020 (Source: Relief Web)
• European Commission Published Consultation on Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy (Source: National Law Review)

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COVID-19: During the Crisis / Post-Crisis / Recovery

• Planning for the economic recovery from COVID-19: A sustainability checklist for policymakers (Source: World Bank Blogs)
• Covid-19 may change corporate sustainability as we know it (Source: Gulf Business)
• COVID-19 may put sustainability concerns on the sideline (Source: Food Business News)
  
• Pandemic, Plastics And The Continuing Quest For Sustainability (Source: Forbes)

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Corporate Sustainability / ESG

• FCA Releases 2019 Sustainability Report Highlighting Environmental, Social and Economic Initiatives (Source: PR Newswire)
• 2019 Sustainability Report highlights how PPL Corporation is moving energy forward for our community, customers and shareowners (Source: Yahoo Finance)
  
• Whirlpool Corporation Raises the Bar for Environmental Commitment and Progress in 2019 Sustainability Report (Source: Baker City Herald)

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From the Agora: Consumers & Sustainability

• 10 Sustainable Home Decor Brands You Should Be Shopping (Source: Real Simple)
• Now Is the Time to Detox the Fashion Industry — Here's How to Do It (Source: Sustainable Brands)
• With A Younger Consumer Base, Companies Are Turning To Sustainable Solutions (Source: Forbes)
  
• Supporting Responsible and Sustainable Businesses: Café 440 (Source: Earth 911)

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Global Sustainability : Forward Momentum!

• Europe: Ensuring a modern and sustainable agriculture sector (Source: Open Access Government)
• This plant beats corn and sugarcane for sustainable biofuel(Source: Anthropocene Magazine)
• Earth Day 2020: Why Compostable Plastics Are Not Sustainable (Source: Plastics Today)
  
• NextGen Aircraft Design is Key to Aviation Sustainability (Source: NASA)

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Sustainability Data That Matters

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The Sustainability Highlights eNewsletter is prepared by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. Copyrights for other providers are noted where appropriate. Please credit the source if quoted. Content © 2009 - 2020 - All Rights Reserved.

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