Reflecting on Sustainable Supply Chain Orchestration by Deborah Dull and Douglas Kent, it’s clear that this book brings a refreshing perspective on what supply chain professionals can do to make a meaningful impact in the area of sustainability. The authors challenge the notion that sustainability is too large or too systemic an issue for supply chain teams to influence. In fact, they provide practical ways that supply chain professionals can contribute to sustainability goals. Here are just some that resonated with me, and typical of what you can do:
1. Integrating Sustainability into S&OP/IBP Meetings
One of the most actionable insights from the book is the integration of sustainability metrics into Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes. Traditionally, these meetings focus on balancing supply and demand, but Dull and Kent suggest incorporating sustainability factors like carbon footprints or energy consumption into decision-making processes. By embedding sustainability into regular business discussions, companies can make incremental yet significant strides toward greener operations.
This is a simple but powerful shift. It not only keeps sustainability on the radar but also ties it to business performance metrics, making it easier for decision-makers to weigh sustainable options alongside traditional cost and service factors.
2. Control Towers for Greater Visibility
Supply chain control towers are often used to improve visibility and enhance real-time decision-making, but Dull and Kent advocate for using them as a tool to highlight sustainability metrics. This involves leveraging technology to track sustainability-related data such as emissions, energy use, and waste, making it accessible across the supply chain.
The book challenges supply chain professionals to utilize these towers not just for operational metrics like stock levels and delivery times, but also for sustainability indicators. This increased visibility allows companies to make more informed decisions that account for both performance and environmental impact.
3. Investigating Fair Trade Codes of Conduct for Sourcing
Another fascinating point is the encouragement to look deeper into how fair trade codes of conduct can guide sourcing decisions. Fair trade isn’t just about the ethical treatment of workers, but also about building more sustainable, resilient supply chains. By ensuring fair labor practices and reducing environmental harm in supplier networks, companies can help create a more equitable and sustainable global supply system.
Dull and Kent suggest that supply chain professionals should be champions of these codes, ensuring that suppliers adhere to fair trade principles and exploring how these standards can be integrated into everyday sourcing practices.
4. Sourcing Non-Virgin Materials
One of the more compelling ideas from Sustainable Supply Chain Orchestration is promoting the use of non-virgin materials—recycled or reclaimed resources—instead of sourcing new raw materials. The authors discuss how companies can drive this initiative by encouraging their suppliers to adopt similar practices.
This not only reduces the overall demand for virgin materials, which often require energy-intensive processes to extract and refine, but it also fosters a circular economy. For supply chain professionals, this means building relationships with suppliers that prioritize sustainability and are open to using alternative materials.
5. Focus on Scope 3 Emissions Reporting
Finally, the book stresses the importance of Scope 3 emissions—those generated throughout the supply chain, including by suppliers and customers. Often the most difficult to track, Scope 3 emissions are critical to a company’s overall carbon footprint. Dull and Kent argue that supply chain teams are in a unique position to address these emissions by fostering transparency and accountability with suppliers.
Focusing on Scope 3 emissions forces companies to think beyond their own operations and consider their entire supply chain’s impact. The challenge for supply chain professionals is to engage suppliers and gather the necessary data to report these emissions accurately.
Final Thoughts
Deborah Dull and Douglas Kent’s Sustainable Supply Chain Orchestration provides both a rallying call and a roadmap for supply chain professionals looking to take tangible action on sustainability. From integrating sustainability into everyday processes to fostering transparency in emissions reporting, the book emphasizes that supply chain teams are not powerless. On the contrary, they hold the keys to driving real, meaningful change in sustainability.
By taking these steps, supply chain professionals can move beyond incremental improvements and begin to reshape the way their companies approach sustainability—turning large-scale issues into manageable, actionable strategies.
