--- description: Supply Chain Sustainability involves the efforts of companies to assess ecological & societal consequences of products through supply chain. title: What is Supply Chain Sustainability? - Energy Theory image: https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Supply-Chain-Sustainability.jpg --- Close Menu - [About](https://energytheory.com/about-us/) - [EV](https://energytheory.com/category/electric-vehicles/) - [FAQs](https://energytheory.com/category/faqs/) - [Glossary](https://energytheory.com/category/glossary/) - [Green](https://energytheory.com/category/green/) - [Renewable](https://energytheory.com/category/renewable/) - [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) - [Energy Economy](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-economy/) - [Energy Services](https://energytheory.com/category/energy-services/) - [Solar](https://energytheory.com/category/solar/) - [Sustainable](https://energytheory.com/category/sustainable/) - [News](https://energytheory.com/category/latest-news/) - Language [![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png)](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish ![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian ![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified) ![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch ![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish ![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German ![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi ![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese ![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish ![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese ![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian [![Energy Theory](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2e3rtgthghnm.png)](https://energytheory.com/ "Energy Theory") ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![es](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/es.svg) Spanish ![fr](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fr.svg) French ![en](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/en.svg) English ![it](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/it.svg) Italian ![zh-CN](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/zh-CN.svg) Chinese (Simplified) ![nl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/nl.svg) Dutch ![fi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/fi.svg) Finnish ![de](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/de.svg) German ![hi](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/hi.svg) Hindi ![ja](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ja.svg) Japanese ![pl](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pl.svg) Polish ![pt](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/pt.svg) Portuguese ![ru](https://cdn.gtranslate.net/flags/svg/ru.svg) Russian [Glossary](https://energytheory.com/category/glossary/) # What is Supply Chain Sustainability? By [Elliot Clark](https://energytheory.com/author/elliot_clark/)November 25, 20233 Mins Read ![Supply Chain Sustainability](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Supply-Chain-Sustainability-1024x683.jpg "What is Supply Chain Sustainability?") Supply Chain Sustainability involves the endeavors of **companies to assess the ecological and societal consequences of their products’ voyage through the supply chain,** encompassing everything from raw material acquisition and production to storage, transportation, and delivery. The objective is to reduce environmental impact by addressing aspects like energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation while simultaneously fostering positive effects on individuals and communities associated with their operations. These considerations go beyond the conventional corporate supply chain priorities related to revenue and profit. Studies reveal that, in the majority of firms, the supply chain **constitutes a substantial portion of their environmental** footprint. Due to the inherent characteristics of supply chains, encompassing energy-intensive production and global transportation, impactful changes are more achievable by focusing on the supply chain rather than other business functions. The intricate web of supplier connections and cross-border operations poses challenges to supply chain sustainability, impeding visibility into critical operational aspects, such as labor conditions in distant supplier factories. ### **What is Supply Chain Management?** Supply Chain Management involves the **orchestration of sourcing production, inventory control and transportation** across all entities within a supply chain to optimize efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction. Numerous enterprises achieve substantial time and cost benefits through the assessment and enhancement of their supply chain management practices. **Also See:** [What is Greenwashing?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-greenwashing/) ### **What is Sustainable Supply Chain Management?** Traditional supply chain management emphasizes the swiftness, cost-effectiveness, and dependability of operations. In contrast, sustainable supply chain management expands its objectives to **include upholding environmental and societal values.** This entails tackling worldwide challenges such as climate change, water security, deforestation, human rights, fair labor practices, and corruption. ### **What are Supply Chain Sustainability Statistics?** As businesses increasingly prioritize supply chain sustainability, key statistics highlight significant trends: - **Societal Risk:** The [US Department of Labour](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ILAB/ListofGoods.pdf) identified 148 goods from 76 countries associated with child or forced labor in 2018, prompting efforts to eradicate these practices through tools like the Comply Chain App. - **Progress**: CDP reports positive strides in emissions reduction, with 29% of 7000 suppliers to major corporations noting a decrease in emissions in their 2019 survey. - **Environmental Impact:** [Accordi](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/starting-at-the-source-sustainability-in-supply-chains) [ng to Mckinsey and Company](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/starting-at-the-source-sustainability-in-supply-chains), the supply chain contributes over 90% to the environmental footprint of most consumer goods companies - **Consumer Demand:** Almost half of U.S. consumers express a willingness to alter purchasing habits to minimize environmental impact. - **Data Systems:** According to a 2019 survey by the [Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)](https://www.cdp.net/en/research/global-reports/changing-the-chain), 65% of corporate members leverage environmental metrics for supplier management, holding partners accountable to sustainable supply chain goals. **Recommended:** [What is Blue Economy?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-blue-economy/) Share. 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With a background in environmental science, he has a deep understanding of the issues facing our planet and is committed to educating others on how they can make a difference. #### Related Posts [![Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Post-consumer-recycled-PCR-content.png "What is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content?")](https://energytheory.com/what-is-post-consumer-recycled-pcr-content/ "What is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content?") #### [What is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-post-consumer-recycled-pcr-content/) April 9, 2024 [![Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Heating-Seasonal-Performance-Factor-HSPF.jpg "What is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)?")](https://energytheory.com/what-is-heating-seasonal-performance-factor-hspf/ "What is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)?") #### [What is Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-heating-seasonal-performance-factor-hspf/) February 3, 2024 [![What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)](https://energytheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/What-is-Annual-Fuel-Utilization-Efficiency-AFUE.jpg "What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)?")](https://energytheory.com/what-is-annual-fuel-utilization-efficiency-afue/ "What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)?") #### [What is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)?](https://energytheory.com/what-is-annual-fuel-utilization-efficiency-afue/) February 2, 2024 Add A Comment Leave A Reply [Cancel Reply](https://energytheory.com/what-is-supply-chain-sustainability/#respond) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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