Green supply chains create jobs
Green supply chains (GSCs), like all things labeled “green” are becoming more popular in the business world. Universities are providing courses in Green supply chain management. Professors are researching GSCs. The government has released one publication on the benefits of implementing GSCs. All of these efforts are directed towards the adoption, implementation and improvement of GSCs across all types of manufacturing and business. As a result of those efforts GSCs are creating “green jobs”.
What is a green supply chain? It is making sure that all stages of the manufacturing and business process are sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Everything from the choice of raw materials through manufacture of, transportation of and final disposal of the product should be good for the environment.
GSC managers make sure that every part of that process is as green as it can be. They are the ones that look for and procure the most environmentally responsible raw materials, the lowest carbon footprint transportation, and the innovations in the entire process that make it more cost effect and carbon neutral. Finally, GSC managers look for ways that the end of their products life cycle, the products will either be able to be recycled or disposed of in such a way that the environment is not harmed. For example, the computer recycling options that have been created by many computer manufacturers.
The University of San Francisco Online has supply chain management courses as well as advanced specialized certificate programs that cover GSC management and lean supply chain management. GreenSupplyChain.org provides online certification programs for GSC professionals as well as corporate training, university programs, workshops and conferences for everyone from students to such corporations as Disney, IBM, CDW, LG, Waste Management, GSA, FedEx, and Cigna. Green Supply Network also provides certification programs in partnership with GreenSupplyChain.org. GreenSupplyChain.com provides a section on best practices and resources for GSC managers.
Last April a GSC Summit was held in London. Speakers were from such diverse companies as IKEA, L’Oreal, and McDonalds. Topics covered everything from “Future Trends” to “Working with suppliers from developing countries”. Of course, one of the topics was “Increase visibility in the supply chain to safeguard your green agenda” or how to market your green initiatives.
Patrick Penfield, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Practice, Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, published an article "Sustainability Can Be A Competitive Advantage" in 2007. Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) published the article on their website and has a news piece from just last week on "Carbon management is becoming a key part of corporate supply chain strategy for major global companies". Last weeks article shows the importance of reducing carbon emissions in the supply chain.
Nearly 90% of the 44 CDP Supply Chain member companies … have an established strategy to engage with suppliers on carbon related issues and 91% of members have a board level executive responsible for climate change, compared to 80% within the Global 500 constituents. In addition, 90% have an emissions or energy reduction plan in place, compared to 51% in the Global 500.
Edie Schmidt, Associate Professor of Industrial Technology at Purdue University and graduate student Sorraya Khiewnavawongsa published an extended abstract on “’Green’ Power To The Supply Chain” covering the benefits, barriers and implementation of GSCs.
The EPA published a 58 page booklet on The Lean and Green Supply Chain in 2000 for materials managers and supply chain managers to help them reduce costs and improve their environmental impact.
With all of these publications, courses and websites addressing GSCs, you can only hope that company carbon footprints are shrinking if for no other reason than the image boost that going “green” provides. GSC managers are critical to companies efforts to reduce carbon footprints. All of these publications, courses and websites are geared to providing the skills that are needed for employment as a GSC manager, a job that will continue to grow in importance and need.
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