Those specialized sectors, with their need for strict regulatory compliance and product control, have lagged other industries in the use of third-party service providers. But the picture is beginning to change, says Angela Watson, UPS's vice president of enterprise sales for the healthcare sector.

These competitive modes have at least two things in common: Each took a drubbing in the past year or so, and each is cautiously optimistic that things are looking up.

There are three basic reasons why supply chain managers should pay attention to sustainability initiatives, says Kevin Smith, president and CEO of Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting.