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UN Global 2012 defines supply chain sustainability as “the management of environmental, social and economic impacts, and the encouragement of good governance practices, throughout the lifecycles of goods and services. The objective of supply chain sustainability is to create protect, and grow long-term environmental, social and economic value for all stakeholders involved in bringing products and services to market”
Supply chain sustainability needs to be built into the design/redesign of supply chains and become a feature of continuous improvement strategies of the supply chain. As such companies should develop a road map which should integrate environmental considerations into the supply chain, assess sustainability within the context of a number of elements.“
- Dr Pieter Nagel
Excerpt from The Good Chain, Fast Thinking Magazine, Spring 2011 Edition
Dr Pieter J A Nagel is currently Executive Director of the Alliance for Supply Chain Innovation and Senior Strategy Advisor, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, to Victoria University Melbourne.
This week, we are delighted to welcome on board the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Australia as an official Event Partner. The FSC brings an essential element to the event, reflecting the business need to consider environmental impacts when it comes to paper use and printing.
The FSC will be raising awareness of the FSC Accreditation, based around their mission to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
“The FSC’s involvement in the Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition is a fantastic addition to the event as a whole. The event, and exhibition in particular, will provide a wide range of solutions and information for businesses seeking practical solutions for a more sustainable future. Forestry protection plays a huge part in that, particularly for businesses with high volumes of paper and print production. We’re delighted that FSC Australia will be present at the event to provide the information and guidance businesses need to make informed, green choices”
- David McCarthy, Event Manager
Relating to the three pillars of sustainable strategy, FSC Australia has three core aims:
Environmentally appropriate forest management ensures that the harvest of timber and non-timber products maintains the forest’s biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes.
Socially beneficial forest management helps both local people and society at large to enjoy long term benefits and also provides strong incentives to local people to sustain the forest resources and adhere to long-term management plans.
Economically viable forest management means that forest operations are structured and managed so as to be sufficiently profitable, without generating financial profit at the expense of the forest resources, the ecosystem or affected communities. The tension between the need to generate adequate financial returns and the principles of responsible forest operations can be reduced through efforts to market forest products for their best value.
Using paper and printing practices with the FSC Accreditation offers tangible benefits, including:
FSC Australia will be exhibiting at the Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition on 3 & 4 May 2012 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. For further information, visit www.australiansustainability.com.au. You can also keep up to date with event news, speaker announcements and join the discussions on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
“As for Sustainability 4.0? The 3.0 era will render the term redundant. Instead of asking either “how can we turn a profit?” or “how can we minimize our impact?” managers will see those as two sides of the same coin. Sustainability will simply be how business is done.” —
- Yvon Chouinard, Jib Ellison and Rick Ridgeway
‘The Sustainable Economy’ - Harvard Business Review Oct 2011
This week we were fortunate enough attend SBA’s 20th Anniversary Event celebrating and reflecting on 20 years of helping businesses become more sustainable.
Andrew Petersen, SBA’s CEO, opened the afternoon on an inspiring note. “If yesterday saw an event which stopped a nation [the Melbourne Cup], today’s event will start a new dialogue”.
Indeed, the conversations were of hope, determination and calls for greater action and adoption of green initiatives. Opening with an insightful panel discussion between former Environment Ministers Ros Kelly (‘90-'94) and Robert Hill ('96-'01), the audience were given an historical overview of the sustainability debate from experienced Government leaders.
Ros Kelly spoke of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, noting that at that time, she believed it would be a very difficult task to get the Australian public to embrace a low carbon scheme. Almost 20 years on, Kelly believes that in order to sufficiently engage the community with green initiatives, some notable action is needed to stimulate conversation. Kelly noted, “The conversation has to exist within communities across the region for sustainable practices to maintain momentum”, therefore igniting behavioural and cultural change.
The focus is then shifted back to the private sector - what role does business have to play in driving these agendas and change? Kelly believes that businesses will only start to engage once environmental impact can be effectively measured and visibility of that increases. The topic of sustainablity will then become more easily understood, and placed into a tangible context.
Robert Hill also commented on this point, adding that to see sustainability leadership from the private sector, business need to see the benefits and competitive advantages in adopting sustainable practices.
Hill continued, “There has to be leadership and an ongoing conversation in the private sector to drive the climate change debate across the region”.
A second panel discussion saw contributions from former SBA CEO’s, Fiona Wain and John Cole. The passion and drive was evident as they both spoke about the headway the climate change topic has made over the past 20 years, but also of how much more there is to do.
Wain’s determination and urgency was clear as she spoke of her thoughts, hopes and fears for the community and our shared environment. When discussing the private and public sector’s impact on the environment as we stand today, Wain notes with clarity, the outlook is “urgent, it’s grave and it’s coming to a place near us”.
The biggest and most powerful moment of the afternoon seemed to ring though as Wain stated; “[when asked] 'What’s the cost of action? I would ask, 'What’s the cost on inaction?’ ”
A very positive and lingering thought was left by current CEO, Andrew Petersen, as he noted that “climate change is the catalyst for businesses to understand how sustainability plays a vital part in the private sector”.
The afternoon event held at Customs House was supported by Object Consulting, and we were joined by MD, Gerry Carroll. Gerry outlined how the information technology industry, it’s products and services can play a critical role in sustainability within the private sector. Increased efficiencies across many resources, reporting and insight can contribute to informed decision making within the business environment.
“We are aware of the contribution that IT can make to improve environmental and corporate outcomes and believe that greener work practices and the development of sustainable client solutions will simultaneously produce business and environmental benefits.”
- Object Consulting
Reading List, recommended by Fiona Wain:
Six degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet - Mark Lynas
The Seventh Gate - Richard Zimler
Thanks to SBA, Ros Kelly, Robert Hill, Fiona Wain, John Cole, Gerry Carroll, Andrew Petersen & April Pressler for an insightful event.
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Patagonia is playing an active part in keeping used clothing in circulation. Send them your worn togs, and they’ll refurbish and help resell them. Or, if the clothing is beyond repair, they’ll recycle as much of it as humanly possible.
As a business idea, it may seem like a good way to reduce sales. But that’s only if you don’t understand the power of the brand…Common Threads powerfully reinforces Patagonia’s ethos and brand. If anything, it will turn loyal followers into proselytizing zealots and newbies into diehards.
” —- Marc Stoiber on Patagonia’s Common Threads initiative.
Marc is a creative director, writer, innovator and green brand specialist. He also speaks and blogs extensively on trends that will influence the destiny of today’s brands.
Read the full article at CSRWire
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We’re really excited to announce that Australian Sustainability will be working with Climate Friendly over the coming months as our official Carbon Offset Partner.
Climate Friendly is a pioneer in providing innovative carbon management solutions to businesses and households around the world who are ready to act to prevent climate change. We are proud to be working with the Climate Friendly team to ensure the event delivers a live hub for the sustainability community that is living and breathing its sustainable ethos.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be working with the Climate Friendly team for Australian Sustainability 2012. It is essential that our event demonstrates sustainable solutions and concepts where possible. In addition to sourcing sustainable alternatives, it’s fantastic for us to know that carbon emissions generated from key aspects such as electricity, travel, food and waste will be offset.”
- David McCarthy, Australian Sustainability Event Manager
As a ‘profit for purpose’ company Climate Friendly is committed to ensuring the highest standards of quality in the voluntary carbon sector. Climate Friendly are a founding member of ICROA, a not-for-profit alliance of leading carbon reduction and offset organisations. It provides leadership and a unified voice advocating for rigorous industry standards. As an ICROA member, Climate Friendly supports a reduce-and-offset approach to carbon management, and complies with the ICROA Code of Best Practice.
One of the many services that Climate Friendly offer their clients is assisting them to calculate their business’ carbon emissions. A key question for businesses is: “How do I know how much my business is impacting the environment” – this information will help answer those questions.
Find out more about Climate Friendly.
“The idea in its purest form is that you reorient your business model around the fact that there’s an intersection between where your company is trying to go, and what’s best for society. [CSR] is not a department or a job title – it’s a strategy for a firm to be successful over the next few decades.” —
Margaret Coady, Director of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy on Corporate Social Responsibility
Read the full article at Mashable