Sustainable management for sustainable growth is becoming the benchmark for lasting corporate success. Today, customers, investors and other interested parties increasingly expect a company to address the three pillars of sustainability and take ecological, economic and social aspects into account. This means that suppliers are also becoming a focus of attention, as they have an impact on the CSR balance sheet. Value-based supply chain management: Read more about it here.
Today, anyone can research information about the environmental compatibility of products or services - and the social conditions under which they were created - with just a few clicks. Black sheep who are outed in the process have a hard time restoring their good reputation. Sales and orders are jeopardized - that is not how you achieve sustainable corporate success. The consequence: sustainability factors belong in supply chain management (SCM).
The crucial step: Sustainable supply chain management
High material quality without fluctuations, and at the best possible price: typical tasks and goals of a purchasing department, and the most important parameters in the interaction of supply chains. So far. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the supply chain takes the critical next step and is characterized by a much broader view of the supply chain: Sustainability goals are now integrated into the supply chain.
What does CSR actually mean?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the responsibility that companies have to society through the impact of their business activities. The measures resulting from the perception of this responsibility are interpreted as a voluntary contribution to sustainable development.CSR refers to the three pillars of sustainability and thus encompasses all ecological, economic and social aspects of corporate activity. The basic references for sustainability requirements are primarily the ILO Declaration of Principles, the OECD Principles and the principles of the UN Global Compact. Through the question of compliance with the requirements, CSR is directly linked to the issues of credibility and compliance, both of which are essential aspects of supplier audits.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) is guided on the one hand by a good reputation for social responsibility, and on the other by compliance with legal requirements, including occupational health and safety and fair pay. The aim is to achieve sustainable, resource-conserving products and services for the relevant interested parties - these are customers as well as policy makers or the company's own suppliers.
So 21st century buyers must now take into account the triad of social, environmental and economic factors in their procurement processes - and know that, for example, the lifecycle of a product must have as little harmful impact as possible on the environment and people. But how can companies keep an eye on their supply chains?
Conclusion: Sustainable supply chain management with supplier audits
Sustainable management, taking into account ecological, economic and social aspects, is the prerequisite for lasting corporate success. To meet sustainability requirements, companies must familiarize themselves with market requirements and determine what is applicable to them.
An essential role is played by penetrating the variety of sustainability initiatives and sustainability standards, what they reference and what the drivers (interested parties) are, with a view to the interplay between "politics - company - customer - supplier". For supplier audits, industry and customer-specific standards are primarily used, usually based on document reviews and/or conducted as on-site audits.
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Altan Dayankac
Global Program Manager and Senior Sustainability Manager of DQS Group and international expert on numerous sustainability, climate, environmental, and occupational safety topics. Altan Dayankac also contributes his expertise as an author and moderator to HSE and sustainability committees and at various professional events.