It only makes sense that The 3M Company, with a business model resting almost entirely upon technology, would eventually get around to deploying it as a tool for realizing new operating efficiencies, while meeting rising customer demands for service.

A new wave of protectionism is threatening the stability of global supply chains.

Major manufacturers like Tesla and General Electric are facing a severe shortage of ethically sourced cobalt, and the metal is expected to increase in demand by 500 percent, says OilPrice.com. Amazon, too, needs the metal for its Kindle, and other consumer electronics are contributing to the demand and resulting shortage of supply.

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) announced in its sustainability report this month that it has reached its goal in palm oil traceability - achieving 98 percent traceability for palm oil and more than 95 percent for palm kernel oil, as well as 24 percent reduced water usage since 2008.

There was a time when contract manufacturers performed one specific task: making products, usually of a high-tech nature, while staying well behind the scenes. But that time is long gone.

Regulation is usually viewed by the private sector as a burden. But sometimes it makes good business sense.