We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • ::COVID-19 COVERAGE::
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Join the "Green Team"
Perspective

Join the "Green Team"

July 1, 2009
James A. Cooke
No Comments

As our cover story points out, supply chain managers are in the best position to lead corporate environmental and sustainability initiatives. Because they are used to working both inside and outside the walls of the company, they have both the operational knowledge and the cross-functional relationships to make any such program succeed.

So far, though, few companies have seen a need to launch broad corporate sustainability programs; most have been limited in both scope and action. A recent survey by the consulting firm Accenture (summarized in our Forward Thinking section) found that three-quarters of the surveyed companies were engaged in such basic activities as recycling and installing energy-efficient lighting.

It seems likely that all companies will soon be required to carbon-map their supply chains to find ways to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

But companies will soon have to move beyond those basics and restructure their supply chains—and that means supply chain professionals should prepare to join the "Green Team." Legislation and regulations in the offing, particularly in the United States, will force companies to remove greenhouse gases from their manufacturing and distribution operations. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that it intends to put forward rules for limiting carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, the U.S. Congress, prodded by the Obama administration, will soon take up debate on a cap-and-trade program as a way to limit greenhouse gases. Such a system sets an overall limit on emissions but lets companies buy and sell their own allowances. Cap-and-trade programs are nothing new in Europe. The European in place since 2005, because the Union has had this type of program Kyoto Protocol treaty required most developed nations to adopt a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gases. (The United States did not sign that treaty.)

In addition to current initiatives, environmentalists are likely to step up their efforts worldwide to reduce carbon dioxide following recent reports in the journal Nature. The authors of two scientific studies published in the April 30, 2009, issue contend that about three-quarters of the world's fossil fuels must be left unused if we are to avoid dangerous climate changes. An increase in Earth's average temperature could melt Greenland's ice sheets, raising sea levels and worsening droughts, the scientists predict. The results of these studies will place more pressure on the United Nations climate talks when negotiators meet in Copenhagen this December to devise additional regulations.

Although I'm personally skeptical of these dire forecasts, I'm certain that lawmakers worldwide will be pressured to impose regulations that restrict carbon. That's why it seems likely that all companies will be required to carbon-map their supply chains to find ways to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. When that happens, supply chain professionals should be ready and willing to lead the charge.

  • Related Articles

    Wal-Mart's green label and you

    "Green" supply chains are still too costly

    Does your company need a supply chain SWAT team?

James A. Cooke is a supply chain software analyst. He was previously the editor of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly and a staff writer for DC Velocity.

Recent Articles by James A. Cooke

Getting smart about using software intelligence

The payback challenge

A farewell, with thanks

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • How to resolve your inventory dilemma

  • Container prices continue to drop

  • Regionalized supply chains: the key to resilience

  • Warehouse vacancy rates sink to 27-year low

  • Empty shipping containers stack up at U.S. port depots

Featured Video

Cccb7d13 710a 4473 8132 da8b6cc286f1

The Sportsman's Guide Case study: Increasing Accuracy & Productivity

Viewer Contributed
Thanks to the Lucas Warehouse Optimization Suite, The Sportsman's Guide has increased productivity, reduced training time, and experienced a boost in accuracy for both full-time staff and seasonal employees. Want to learn how Lucas can help your DC be more efficient, accurate, and safe while reducing labor costs?...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Case Study: Peak Teams helps boost headcount quickly on a short-term project

  • Breaking Bad: Conducting Full Truckload RFPs in the Age of Digital Freight Procurement

  • Omnitracs One – Last Mile Solutions

  • The enterprise shipper's guide to building a smarter truckload RFP

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2022. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing