2Sustain

Earlier this year, toy and game maker Hasbro, Inc. directed its suppliers to stop using paper sourced from unsustainably managed forests.

Now, the company has unveiled a comprehensive policy intended to ensure that all procurement decisions align with the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and support sustainable forest management.

Hasbro’s new Paper and Forest Procurement Policy (PFPP):

• sets stringent vendor requirements for credible third party certification (such as the Forest Stewardship Council) of fiber.
• requires that no sources of Mixed Tropical Hardwood (MTH) virgin fiber be used in products, including packaging.

The PFPP underscores a goal Hasbro already had established: By 2015, the company wants 90 percent usage of paper packaging and in-box game content derived from recycled material or sources that practice sustainable forest management. (For 2011, the goal is 75 percent.)

In addition, Hasbro has taken the supplementary step of achieving Forest Stewardship Council certification for its US manufacturing facility, and the company is pursuing similar certification for its manufacturing facility in Ireland.

According to Kathrin Belliveau, Hasbro’s Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Government Affairs, the company recognizes these moves have important strategic benefits. As I’ve mentioned before, “peak deforestation” creates three specific valuation risks for your company and its associated investment portfolios: (more…)

With the economy showing clear signs of improvement, the demand for procurement software is expected to rise.

Naturally, that’s good news for us here at Aravo, and I agree with Michael Koploy who points out at The Software Advice Blog, that there are several reasons why businesses will be accelerating their investment in procurement management systems over the coming year. In particular, Michael says he has his eye on these six trends:
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BT wants to drive further engagement on climate change, and the company now expects its suppliers to actively manage and drive engagement in this area within their own supply chains, as well.

Last month, BT introduced a Climate Change procurement standard that will apply to all suppliers. One of the first of its kind in the UK, this new standard includes three minimum expectations to be undertaken by all contracted suppliers. Specifically, BT suppliers must: (more…)

Is your company missing out on cost savings because you’re not using resources efficiently? Could managing resources more efficiently help you realize other benefits, as well? A new report by EEF, the manufacturers’ organization, and Barclays Commercial Bank suggests the answer to both questions is an unqualified “yes.”

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Below is an excerpt from a speech by Wal Mart CEO Lee Scott at a recent conference for Wal Mart suppliers. In case you missed it have a look below – very interesting comments, particularly in the context of our discussion here on the meaning of sustainability.

In my opinion Wal Mart is well on their way to achieving something that most companies have found somewhat elusive to date: not only talking the talk, but walking the walk. While it remains to be seen if Wal Mart can execute on their lofty goals around reduced energy usage, less wasteful packaging, reduced toxicity, energy efficient stores, etc, I would say they are off to an admirable start. They are even doing things like working with Act Now (Adam Werbach’s sustainability consulting firm) to educate the 1.3 million Wal Mart employees on what they can do to improve sustainability in their own lives.

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