Sustainable Supply Chains
October 1, 2014
Bridget Ferrari

Sustainability
What is it?
Sustainability is a strategy that minimizes business risk and material
waste today to ensure future economic survival
Short Term: Risk Management
Ensuring sound economic operations to minimize
impacts of unexpected environmental, safety
and social issues
Sustainability
Long Term: Strategic Investment
• Investment today for operational longevity
• Minimizes material usage to prolong
availability
Sustainability is an investment in future business growth, longevity and
operational capacity

Sustainable Supply Chains
What is it?
The way we buy goods and services to ensure value for money
(Profits) while taking into account social (People) and environmental
(Planet) impact over the lifetime of the product or service
People
Profits
Planet
• Design for whole product
lifecycle
• Optimize product design for
reuse
• Reduce, reuse, recycle,
repurpose
• Total cost of ownership
• Socially responsible profits
• Transparency in financials
• Enhance presence in
communities
• Minimize impact of
operations throughout
supply

Sustainable Supply Chains
Why?
1960s Kennedy called for a man on the moon before the end of the decade; the
technology developed in support of the Space Race resulted in
Internet
Weather predictors
GPS
Networked communications (email)
CAT Scans and MRI
Filters for potable water
Sustainability is driving new innovation, job growth and technology
Alternative Energy
Smart Cities
Biomimicry
Social sourcing

5
Is it in reference
to how “green” a
product is?
Is it in reference
to how “green”
the suppliers
manufacturing
processes are?
Is it in reference
to how “green”
the suppliers
supply chain is?
Is it all of these?
What is a Sustainable Supply Chain?

6
Further Recommended Resources
Environmental Leader
2 Degrees
Supply Chain 24/7
GreenBiz.com
Riskybusiness.org
My contact information:
ferrarib@comcast.net