2Sustain

Last month, the Network for Business Sustainability released a report describing the top sustainability challenges facing business in 2010.

The Network for Business Sustainability is a group of 300 researchers and 1000 business leaders representing each of Canada’s major economic sectors, and this new report demonstrates that companies today are looking beyond measuring their own carbon footprint to understanding their wider environmental and social impacts.

According to the report, the seven fundamental sustainability challenges facing businesses in 2010 are:

1.    How can we measure and value a firm’s ecological impacts (i.e. its ecological footprint)?
2.    How can we build an enduring corporate culture of sustainability?
3.    How can we promote and ensure sustainability within our supply chains?
4.    How can we incorporate sustainability into employee incentives?
5.    What business risks are associated with water quality and water shortage?
6.    What is the aboriginal perspective on business sustainability, and what are the best approaches for constructively engaging aboriginal communities?
7.    How do we measure the economic impact of NIMBY (“not in my backyard”)-ism?

When I look at this list I can’t help but think how great it is to see recognition of the supply chain as a key sustainability priority for 2010.

I’m not surprised –after all, the vast majority of a company’s carbon footprint is embedded in its supply chain, and that means that the supplier network represents a wide range of both challenges and opportunities for mitigating climate impacts. But at the same time, it IS encouraging to see how mainstream the idea of the “sustainable supply chain” has become over the past few years.

Without a doubt, there’s a growing awareness among consumers. And of course, new corporate programs, such as Walmart’s Sustainable Product Index initiative and Ingersoll Rand’s supplier survey, have helped drive the sea change, as well.

Take a look at the Network for Business Sustainability’s full report, titled “2010: Knowledge Priorities for Business Sustainability.” By identifying these seven challenges, the Network has provided a framework for you to start building (or fine-tuning) your sustainability plan so that it effectively manages the risks –and the opportunities –intrinsic to today’s complex, global business environment.