Navigating a linear supply chain is like driving down a one-way, dead-end street — movement is forced down a singular path and there’s only one place to go: the garbage. 

The performance and risk of an organization’s third-party ecosystem, including suppliers, vendors and service providers, are becoming increasingly linked to its business reputation, ethos and even its continued viability. 

When it comes to supply chain ESG, most companies have a lot of work ahead to achieve the deepest levels of program maturity. But it’s worth the effort.

Businesses typically fall into three categories in their sustainability adoption journey. This article will address those stages and how AI can enhance and advance sustainability initiatives.

Sustainability is a growing priority as investor and consumer pressure mounts, and governments around the world enact regulations that require organizations to report on emissions and climate-related risks.

Nearshoring satisfies customer demand, contributes to ESG goals, and creates a foundation for supply chain resiliency. 

For process manufacturers, a more sustainable plant is also more profitable, productive, efficient and resilient. Smart digitization strategies can help plants identify opportunities for improvement.

The largest multinational companies across multiple sectors are demonstrating a lack of real progress in addressing forced labor in supply chains.

As a supply chain organization, you are uniquely positioned to impact your own emission-reduction goals, as well as those of your upstream and downstream partners — so-called Scope 3 emissions.

Increasing pressures from investors and customers, coupled with a surge in climate change regulations, are forcing supply chains to transition to sustainable practices and curb their carbon footprint.