{"id":66609,"date":"2022-06-08T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/microsoft-in-business\/?p=66609"},"modified":"2025-04-23T08:39:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T15:39:20","slug":"enabling-sustainable-supply-chains-with-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/microsoft-in-business\/sustainability\/2022\/06\/08\/enabling-sustainable-supply-chains-with-data\/","title":{"rendered":"Enabling sustainable supply chains with data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Customers and shareholders increasingly expect manufacturers to be proactive on sustainability and social responsibility\u2014and to be transparent about those results. PwC reports in their \u201cESG Reporting: Getting Started\u201d report, published in January 2022, that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is trending toward increasing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.[1]<\/sup><\/a> In fact, in 2021, SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated, \u201cWhen it comes to climate risk disclosures, investors are raising their hands and asking regulators for more\u2026Companies and investors alike would benefit from clear rules of the road.\u201d[2]<\/sup><\/a> To that end, the SEC is currently developing a climate impact disclosure rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even without these external pressures, sustainability in manufacturing is a worthy goal in itself, especially considering that manufacturing accounts for 76.6 percent of total U.S. emissions.[3]<\/sup><\/a> However, only 17 percent of those emissions are directly attributable to the manufacturing sector. The remainder comes from supporting industries in the manufacturing supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking outside the factory<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That means manufacturers seeking to reduce environmental impact must look beyond the boundaries of their own businesses and seek ways to increase the sustainability of supply chains. Many organizations recognize this need, with 59 percent reporting investment in sustainable supply chains.[4]<\/sup><\/a> Another survey reports that 69 percent of companies are now taking sustainability performance into consideration when selecting new suppliers and renewing contracts.[5]<\/sup><\/a> The way companies set sourcing strategies and ensure upstream transparency<\/a> can influence their overall environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who pursue these goals are discovering that they can have operational and bottom-line benefits, as well. In one study, 70 percent of procurement leaders saw supply chain resilience<\/a> as a desired outcome of sustainability efforts.[6]<\/sup><\/a> This finding points to the \u201ctriple bottom line\u201d of competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and social good\u2014something that can only be attained with high levels of visibility into supply chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving sustainability with data<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the right supply chain data and tools<\/a>, manufacturers are in a better position to identify inefficiencies, measure emissions, and implement targeted mitigation strategies. Through digital transformation strategies, organizations can target various avenues to reduce a company\u2019s environmental impact, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n