supply chain
Related content
New speaker confirmed for next week's supply chain ethics webinar
The senior compliance and supply chain manager for broadcasting company Sky will join representatives from M&S and Forum for the Future in edie's live webinar on Tuesday 25 July, which will discuss how businesses can enhance social sustainability through ethical supply chain management.
Brewing for the future: How MillerCoors slashed its water footprint through supplier engagement
A supply chain management philosophy built on engagement over enforcement enabled brewer MillerCoors to reduce its water footprint by 17% last year. Here, Matt Mace investigates how the firm has been galvanising the farmer community to create resilient, future-proofed beer supply chains.
Tesco commits to detox chemicals in clothing supply chain
Supermarket heavyweight Tesco has vowed to phase-out toxic chemicals in the supply chain of its F&F clothing line, by signing up to Greenpeace's DETOX campaign.
RE100 targets 500 companies after hitting 100-member milestone
EXCLUSIVE: The Climate Group's RE100 initiative to get firms to source 100% renewable electricity is targeting 500 members by 2020, with each signatory encouraged to promote the initiative to its suppliers, after passing the 100-member milestone on Tuesday (11 July).
Waitrose commits to 100% Fairtrade tea amid Sainsbury's alternative scheme controversy
British supermarket chain Waitrose has strengthened its commitment to source Fairtrade tea, as fellow retailer Sainsbury's continues to face criticism for launching its own 'Fairly Traded' sustainability standard.
Mars launches Farmer Income Lab to help eradicate smallholder poverty
Nutritional giant Mars has today (10 July) launched a programme which aims to foster cross-sector collaboration to improve smallholder farmer incomes across agricultural supply chains.
edie and ClimateCare extend partnership to support clean cooking
edie has extended its partnership with carbon offsetting organisation ClimateCare for another year, meaning that the carbon emissions associated with speaker and delegate travel to all of edie's sustainability conferences will be offset for the next 12 months.
How can businesses tackle Britain's food waste problem?
Financial incentives for redistribution and publicly reported data on food waste were among the proposals put forward by business and political figures at a high-level panel discussion about food waste in Westminster.
Unilever suspends sourcing from Indonesian palm oil supplier amid deforestation allegations
Global consumer goods firm Unilever has suspended sourcing from an Indonesian-based palm oil supplier which was found to be in breach of policy on deforestation and peatland clearance.
GSK partners with Schneider Electric to manage online supplier forum
Global chemicals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has confirmed that energy management specialist Schnieder Electric will lead its online community that enables suppliers to share best practice on energy efficiency and environmental performance.
Why business should prepare for a chokehold on food security
A report detailing how vulnerable "chokepoints" could threaten global food supply has heightened the need for food retailers to map and promote sustainable food production, with companies like McDonalds applying a "total supply chain approach" to food security.
HP launches new supplier emissions target and cartridges made from plastic bottles
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled new ink cartridge prototypes made from recycled plastic bottles from Haiti, while the company's newly-released sustainability report has outlined goals to target emissions in supply chains.
Apple targets supply chain efficiency through $1bn green bond
Apple has launched a dedicated funding stream to finance clean energy and environmental projects, through a $1bn green bond.
Dirty Fashion: Global retailers vow to respond to 'toxic' supply chain practices
Fashion retailers H&M and Marks and Spencer (M&S) have vowed to implement new supply chain management approaches, after a new report linked some of the world's largest fashion brands with highly-polluting facilities that are producing man-made viscose fibres.
Rainforest Alliance and UTZ to 'redefine sustainability standards' with merger
EXCLUSIVE: Businesses look set to benefit from a streamlined certification process within agriculture supply chains, after the Rainforest Alliance announced an intention "redefine the certification landscape" by merging with fellow sustainability certifiers UTZ.
Election 2017 manifesto matrix: What the parties have said on energy and the environment
It's decision time. Tension is mounting among the green business community ahead of the UK election - but which party offers the most promising green policy approach? Here, edie has rounded up the most important inclusions (and exclusions) from each of the main parties' manifestos into a single, easy-to- read document.
Sainsbury's prompts backlash from Fairtrade after developing its own 'Fairly Traded' eco-label
Sainsbury's has clashed with The Fairtrade Foundation after the supermarket group launched its own sustainability standard which effectively negates the need for external ethical certification labels on its products.
McDonald's and L'Oréal join CDP's zero-deforestation supply chain agenda
Fast-food giant McDonald's, global cosmetics firm L'Oréal and healthcare specialists Johnson & Johnson are among the first eight major companies that have agreed to disclose key supplier information to CDP to manage deforestation risks.
New natural capital metric a 'powerful lever for change', says Kering
EXCLUSIVE: A new natural capital biodiversity metric will act as an "internal change management tool" that allows companies to define and translate what environmental footprints look like in a business context, Kering's head of sustainable sourcing innovation has claimed.
Smurfit Kappa celebrates 10 years of sustainability excellence
Paper-based packaging company Smurfit Kappa has celebrated a "decade of excellence" in sustainability achievements, which have placed the firm well on-track to supersede its 2020 target to slash emissions by a quarter.
General Motors to source sustainable natural rubber tyres
Car manufacturer General Motors has made an industry-pioneering commitment to source sustainable natural rubber in its tyres, in a bid to help drive net-zero deforestation in the sector.
Meet the experts for free one-to-one advice
Let our experts steer you along the route to achieving best practice in sustainability, help you grasp complex issues, absorb new trends, deep dive into strategy and tackle challenges with confidence. And all in a one-to-one tailored consultation.
Balfour Beatty 'leading the way' on ISO 20400 sustainable procurement standard
UK construction contractor Balfour Beatty has become the first company globally to be assessed to the ISO 20400 standard for sustainable procurement, which was formally published last month.
Maximising value: How can your sustainability report drive engagement?
Businesses can maximise stakeholder engagement with sustainability through their reporting by encouraging internal participation in product design and exploiting digital tools to present data in new and exciting ways.
Responsible forestry sourcing demonstrates multiple business values for retailers, says WWF
Retailers that place a strong emphasis on sourcing polices that promote sustainable forestry are building better relationships with both consumers and employees, a new WWF report has revealed.
Experts share top tips to achieve supply chain sustainability
Representatives from the likes of BT, Land Securities and William Jackson Food Group have contributed to the latest instalment of edie's practical guides, which focuses on driving sustainability improvements within your supply chain.
Top tips to achieve supply chain sustainability
You’re only as strong as your weakest link. For sustainability professionals, supply chains can be highly complex and full of links that must be closely managed and supported to help achieve overarching corporate social responsibility standards.
Natural capital: Credible concept or spurious sustainability approach?
EXCLUSIVE: Natural capital accounting can be a "disaster" for sustainability professionals and is not an effective way of engaging the finance community with environmental issues, the head of sustainability and finance at UK brewer Adnams has said.
IOI commits to 'best-practice' peatland and deforestation plans
One of the world's biggest palm oil suppliers has committed to address deforestation and exploitation in its supply chain, which had caused major brands to cancel contracts with the firm.
Science-based targets 'critical' to achieve 2C world, BITC survey finds
The adoption of science-based-targets and the engaging with the supply chain are two of the biggest challenges facing sustainability professionals in the next decade, according to new research from Business in the Community (BITC).
Marine Stewardship Council unveils new sustainable seafood targets to mark 20th anniversary
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has celebrated its 20th anniversary by unveiling new targets to increase the amount of sustainable seafood caught across the world.
ISO 20400: New standard launched to support sustainable procurement
Organisations looking to integrate sustainability into procurement processes can now adopt the world's first international standard for sustainable procurement, which aims to increase supply chain transparency.
Report: Halving global emissions by 2040 achievable if businesses act now
Businesses must act now to halve global emissions by 2040 and "set the stage" for further reductions required in the second half of the century, according to new research from a diverse group of investors, companies and NGOs.
Fashion Revolution Week: Spotlight turns to supplier transparency as reports reveal slow progress
At the start of a week dedicated to generating awareness over sustainability issues in the fashion sector, a flurry of new reports have demanded greater transparency to help improve working conditions and wages in the clothing supply chain.
Walmart to cut one billion tonnes of supply chain emissions by 2030
The world's largest retailer has launched a sustainability platform which aims to slash one billion tonnes of emissions from its supply chain by 2030, as the company's latest CSR report reveals that 40 million tonnes of CO2 emissions have been avoided in the past decade.
Apple vows to 'pioneer' closed-loop mining supply chain
Tech giant Apple has pledged to "go deeper" in developing new products that promote the circular economy by using only renewable resources or recycled materials that negate the need to mine materials.
Premier Inn pledges to deliver three million sustainable fish and chip meals
Premier Inn has become the world's largest Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified national hotel chain, meaning an extra three million sustainable portions of fish and chips will be served across the UK each year.
O2 becomes first company to receive highest Carbon Trust Standard for supply chains
As the United Nations launches a framework to help businesses assess sustainability impacts, digital communications provider O2 has been named as the first organisation in the world to receive the highest Carbon Trust Standard for supply chains.
Tech firms urged to expand gaze to account for 'myriad' of conflict mineral risks
Tech companies may be exposed to human rights violations in supply chains by failing to examine the "myriad of risks" that can be found outside of the traditional homes of conflict minerals, a new report has found.
Collaboration for Impact: Insights Report
New research by Corporate Citizenship reveals that an era of collaboration is upon us. As companies aspire to achieve greater societal impact, they are moving away from traditional partnership models and seeking out new models of collaboration.
Kering named as founding partner for fashion innovation accelerator
Global luxury fashion group Kering has been announced as the first founding partner of a new innovation accelerator geared at invigorating sustainability within the fashion and apparel industries.
BMW and Volkswagen lead 'next level' automotive supply chain partnership
Ten global automotive giants including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen (VW) have launched a new partnership to integrate a common approach to sustainability throughout the automotive supply chain.
Wake up and smell the coffee: our shared responsibility to manage food and drink packaging waste
As edie's Resource Management month draws to a close, circular economy experts Libby Sandbrook (BITC) and Debbie Hitchen (Anthesis) explore the challenges and opportunities behind two of the most talked-about packaging waste issues of our generation: coffee cups and plastic bottles.
Apple triples supplier sites enrolled in energy efficiency programme
Apple has tripled the number of supplier sites listed in its energy efficiency programme aimed at reducing onsite emissions, and has also introduced a "first-of-its-kind" risk assessment tool covering supply chain risks related to material sourcing, environmental impact and health and safety.
Are waste management jobs at threat from automation?
As a new report warns that that waste, water and sewage management teams could be replaced by automated technology by 2030, a UK-based company has agreed to supply fuel cells for drones used for supply chain inventory tracking in the logistics sector.
The Body Shop outlines commitment to Modern Slavery Act
The Body Shop has developed a statement to comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, building on the beauty product retailer's ambition to be the world's "most ethical and truly sustainable business".
Kraft Heinz enhances sustainability goals as part of 'continued growth strategy'
Multinational food and beverage company Kraft Heinz has ramped-up its sustainability efforts with a new range of targets, spearheaded by an aim to reduce emissions by 15% globally by 2020.
Major firms commit to ending deforestation in cocoa supply chains
Senior executives from 12 leading coca and chocolate companies, including Mars, Mondelēz International and Nestlé, have heeded the advice of the Prince of Wales and agreed to end deforestation in the global cocoa supply chain.
Tech firms called upon to advance e-waste transparency
Major tech firms including Apple and Dell have been urged to improve transparency in electronics recycling supply chains by the global toxic trade watchdog organisation.
Asia Pulp & Paper advances forest conservation initiatives
One of the biggest pulp, paper and packaging firms has taken strides to cease all natural forest clearances within its suppliers and operations and promote best practice working standards for peatland management in Indonesia.
Report: Big businesses falling 'overwhelmingly behind' on human rights
A large majority of businesses are in danger of falling "overwhelmingly behind" on human rights issues, according to a new report which benchmarks the ethical performance of some of the world's biggest businesses.
Tesco unveils online supplier food waste 'hotline'
Tesco has today (13 March) launched an innovative online food waste 'hotline' to help the retailer work directly with suppliers and producers to identify and prevent potential supply chain food waste.
Innovation must be at heart of food waste fight, industry experts agree
EXCLUSIVE: Open-source innovation will be a central tool to help businesses meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3 objective of halving global food waste by 2030, a group of industry experts including the heads of Tesco and WRAP have told edie.
Carbon Trust forms partnership to reduce climate impact of livestock
The Carbon Trust has struck a deal with World Bank Group member International Finance Corporation (IFC) to enhance productivity and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the livestock supply chain.
Survey shows shoppers will purchase wonky fruit and veg, but only at a discount
The majority of supermarket customers are willing to buy imperfect fruit and vegetables, according to research, but only if the retailers deliver a significant discount on the misshapen products.
Burger King linked to alleged South American deforestation practices
The world's second largest burger chain, Burger King, has been accused of fuelling deforestation in Brazil and Bolivia through its "seeming unwillingness" to address practices linked to key soybean suppliers in South America.
The North Face and Timberland owner commits to sustainable forestry
VF Corporation, the parent company of global footwear and apparel brands The North Face, Timberland and Vans, has moved to minimise its impacts on deforestation with a new set of policies for the company's purchasing preferences and use of sustainable forest materials.
Twinings brews up new human rights framework in CSR drive
British tea brand Twinings has launched a pioneering global sustainability framework as part of a mission to improve the lives of half a million people in the global tea supply chain by 2020.
Third year's a charm for Primark's sustainable cotton initiative
High street retailer Primark has helped rural female farmers in India increase average profits by 247% through the third year of its Sustainable Cotton Programme.
How can we deliver a circular economy for novel materials?
The UK Government must embed circular economy thinking within its industrial strategy and place a particular focus on encouraging the recycling and recovery of 'novel' materials such as bioplastics and carbon fibre, a new report has claimed.
Kering shifts focus to supply chain with 2025 strategy
Global luxury fashion group Kering has today (25 January) revealed new targets which place a focus on emissions reductions and supply chain sustainability, as part of the next phase of its CSR strategy.
CDP: Big businesses are driving huge cuts in supply chain emissions
The world's largest corporate buyers are ramping up efforts to reduce emissions across their supply chains, according to the latest research from global disclosure organisation CDP.
Asda creates online food waste marketplace for suppliers
Supermarket giant Asda has launched an app that delivers an online platform for suppliers to exchange surplus food to help eliminate food waste in the supply chain.
The Body Shop accelerates CSR commitments through East Croydon innovation hub
EXCLUSIVE: The Body Shop has officially unveiled a £1m innovation hub in East Croydon that it claims will enhance the company's ability to reduce the environmental impact of its product category footprints and develop an innovation pipeline to deliver pioneering cosmetics produced from biodiversity hotspots.
Big ambitions: How SME's can become sustainability leaders
Next up in the series of contributed articles for edie's Sustainability Leadership Month, Andy Wood, chief executive of Suffolk-based brewer and distiller Adnams, outlines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can incorporate sustainability in their business agenda.
Big ambitions: How SME's can become sustainability leaders
Next up in the series of contributed articles for edie's Sustainability Leadership Month, Andy Wood, chief executive of Suffolk-based brewer and distiller Adnams, outlines how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can incorporate sustainability in their business agenda.
Cadbury alters Fairtrade partnership in an effort to boost sustainable cocoa sourcing
British confectionary giant Cadbury is extending its Cocoa Life sustainability initiative across all of its chocolate products in UK and Ireland by 2019, and will utilise the expertise of Fairtrade as a key partner in the programme.
VIDEO: 60-second sustainability skill - The Collaborator
The next in our series of sustainability skills videos sees Supply Chain Sustainability School chair Shaun McCarthy explain how sustainability professionals can use collaborative skills and techniques to drive positive change within their organisation and beyond.
Labour rights the 'next big challenge' for corporates, says M&S
Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) has moved beyond dealing with ethical trade as a singularity to encompass human rights movements and modern slavery issues, and it should now be a core strategy for businesses.
INFOGRAPHIC: Energy efficiency benchmarking survey
edie, in association with E.ON, conducted a survey with selected readers responsible for energy management, asking them to identify the energy efficiency activity they had already completed or had underway.
Stella McCartney: Fashion is literally getting away with murder
British fashion designer Stella McCartney has called on clothing manufacturers to take more responsibility for the environmental impact of the products they produce and stop the "unglamorous" sourcing of unsustainable and unethical products.
Food waste activists call for policy overhaul
Prominent food waste campaigners Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Tristram Stuart have called on the UK Government to implement several food waste policies such as labelling reform, national reduction targets and the strengthened role of an independent adjudicator between supermarkets and suppliers.
Primark signs up to WRAP's sustainable clothing plan
Five leading clothing brands and retailers including Primark and Peak Performance have signed up to WRAPs cooperative European Clothing Action Plan (ECAP) initiative, which aims to promote sustainable clothing across the continent.
Palm oil sector agrees on unified 'no deforestation' approach
A host of multinational organisations including Unilever, Cargill and Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) have agreed upon a single, unified definition of "no deforestation" for the palm oil industry.
Supply chain barriers stall business 'journey' to end modern slavery, report finds
Almost exactly a year to the day since the Modern Slavery Act came into force in Britain, a new report has found that business efforts to address modern slavery face several risks and barriers such as supply chain complexity, commercial priorities and transparency dilemmas.
The Magnificent Seven: Food and beverage giants commit to water stewardship challenge
Sustainability advocacy group Ceres has tasked seven global food and beverage companies, including Diageo, General Mills, Kellogg and PepsiCo, to participate in a collaborative challenge aimed at strengthening sourcing and water stewardship action plans.
How Britain's retailers can solve the Syrian refugee supply chain quandary
The shock revelation that Syrian refugee children have been found making clothes for a number of British fashion brands serves to highlight the desperate need for more robust procedures and increased collaboration among businesses to drive truly sustainable and ethical supply chains.
Tea value network delivering supply chain sustainability in Malawi
A multi-stakeholder coalition including Tesco, Marks & Spencer (M&S), and Unilever has made significant progress towards achieving a competitive Malawian tea sector where workers earn a living wage and smallholders earn a living income by 2020.
Industry leaders unite to develop deforestation guidance
Mars, L'Oreal and Tetra Pak are among a host of international businesses that have come together to form a new cross-sector initiative to help tackle deforestation and develop better climate change accounting methods.
Construction industry unaware of modern slavery risks, survey finds
In the same week the UK marked Anti-Slavery Day (18 October), a survey has found that more than half of construction businesses would not know what action to take if modern slavery was encountered in their supply chain.
edie explains: ISO 50001
This ISO 50001 guide, produced in association with edie's supporting partner NQA, provides an in-depth summary of the ISO 50001 Standard which can be used by an organisation to establish and maintain a continuous level of energy performance improvements.
Food manufacturers unveil 2025 targets to deliver 'sustainable food system of the future'
McCain Foods, Cadbury, Coca-Cola GB and McVitie's are among a host of British food and drink manufacturers that have developed a series of ambitious new sustainability commitments this week.
Retailers and restaurants stepping up to the plate on sustainable seafood
Fisheries, supermarkets and foodservice businesses are together driving up demand for traceable, sustainable seafood as a new report from the Marine Stewardship council (MSC) reveals that the volume of MSC-certified catch increased by a further 6% last year.
WRAP's National Recycling Guidelines
Following extensive consultation with the recycling industry, WRAP has developed a list of items that can and cannot be recycled, along with how they should be presented by householders. This document outlines how and why the recycling guidelines have been developed, including a summary of results from consumer testing.
Waste management industry unites to develop 'first ever' National Recycling Guidelines
Britain's rising recycling contamination levels could be pulled back on track thanks to a new set of guidelines developed by the waste management industry which detail exactly what can and cannot be accepted for recycling at the kerbside.
Ikea and McDonald's go 'all-in' for sustainable coffee
Furniture retailer Ikea and fast food business McDonald's have both announced fresh commitments to sell coffee from certified-sustainable sources.
Sainsbury's boss clashes with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall over food waste management
Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe has fended off a fresh wave of criticism from celebrity chef-turned-eco-warrior Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall about the "ridiculous system" of exacting cosmetic standards of the fruit and veg sold by Britain's supermarkets.
Green buildings deliver better thinking and better health, study finds
Employees working in certified 'green' buildings are likely to have better cognitive abilities, fewer 'sick building' symptoms and higher sleep quality scores than those working in non-certified buildings, according to a new study conducted in the US.
Scotch whisky makers set 'challenging' green goals
The Scottish whisky industry has this week unveiled four new "challenging" sustainability targets in an effort to reduce carbon, drive water efficiency and embrace circular economy models in the supply chain.
Nandos, Subway and Iceland join WRAP's waste reduction commitment
Wrap's voluntary Courtauld Commitment 2025 - which seeks to reduce the resource intensity of Britain's food and drink sector by 20% - has added 30 new signatories this week, taking its representation to 95% of the nation's food retail market.
Competitive retail nature placing supply chain performance at risk
EXCLUSIVE: Retailers need to ask "honest" questions as to whether current emphasis on competition over collaboration is actually stifling business growth and transparency, by damaging supply chains that can't cater to minimal standards from day one.
The best retailers for the world: Driving responsible retail and one-planet prosperity
Low-carbon, resource-efficient retail is the only way forward, but we might also need to dig deeper if we are to find one-planet prosperity. Ahead of Wednesday's Responsible Retail Conference, Mike Townsend explores the real challenges and opportunities - along with evidence of an innovative shift - taking place in Sweden.
Three years on from Rana Plaza: How The Bangladesh Accord plans to leave a positive supply chain legacy
Three years on from the Rana Plaza tragedy, edie's Matt Mace speaks to the executive director of the Bangladesh Accord Rob Wayss on why the seemingly "slow movement" of improving safety standards in the country shouldn't take away from the "unprecedented progress" shown by willing brand signatories.
Could this new industry framework reinvigorate England's recycling rates?
England would see a much-needed increase in recycling, an improvement in the quality of recycled materials and a more comprehensive waste management service for households if a new, collaborative industry framework is adopted, WRAP has claimed.
A Resourceful Future – Expanding the UK Economy
This report by SUEZ reveals that more than £9bn could be added to the UK economy by integrating circular economy principles into the country’s emerging industrial strategy.
Co-op calls on retailers to 'move with us' on plastics recycling action plan
The Co-op has become the first retailer to sign up to the 'Plastic Industry Recycling Action Plan (PIRAP), and is calling on other retailers to follow suit.
Can 'wonky veg' unite consumers and supermarkets in the food waste battle?
With UK supermarkets struggling to meet impending food waste targets, a new questionnaire reveals that retailers believe consumers are more than willing to turn to wonky veg as a sustainable solution that would be a "clear benefit to all".
Caffé Nero triples sustainable farming training scheme
Coffee shop chain Caffé Nero has is tripling its efforts to promote sustainable practices to coffee farmers as a means to improve the "transparency and addressability" of its supply chain.
Surveys reveal growing consumer demand for food supply chain ethics
New research has revealed that an overwhelming majority of UK consumers believe it is the responsibility of Governments and businesses to guarantee food supply chain sustainability, while a separate YouGov poll has found that most Brits would now be willing to pay a premium for products which possess strong green credentials.
edie Responsible Retail Conference programme
Can sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand? Are current retail business models fit for purpose if we are to deliver the transformational change needed to create a low-carbon, zero-waste economy? Download now.
Help on making an RSS Feed
