Each week, the Erb Institute shares a collection of news and updates regarding business sustainability. This month, the Erb Institute blog and social media are focusing on a key aspect of both business and sustainability: supply chain.

Sustainable Business News – 2/10/2018 – 2/16/2018

Supply Chain

What we feed animals is key to a sustainable future for food

GreenBiz

“Last week, over a plant-rich lunch underneath the Phoenix sun, a diverse group of GreenBiz attendees gathered to discuss all things protein. On the table was a question that the Protein Challenge group has been wrestling with the past few years: As we approach the 9 billion global population mark in 2040, how will we feed people enough protein in a way that’s affordable, healthy and good for the planet?

What’s clear about this grand challenge is that we need to tackle both production and consumption.”

Study finds complicated efficacy of supply chain sustainability measures

The Stanford Daily

While ethical consumerism is often touted as a potential solution for climate change and other environmental problems, recent research from Stanford suggests it might be a less clear practice than previously believed. According to the study, supply chain sustainability efforts are overestimated by consumers thanks to the proliferation of media coverage and “sustainable” product labeling.”

Why green consumerism isn’t taking off

Erb Perspective Blog

“If sustainability is so “in,” why aren’t more people buying ethically made clothes? The past few decades have changed the shape of the apparel industry. A few iconic media scandals over child labor and sweatshop labor have made Western shoppers sensitive to certain social responsibility topics. People are willing to pay 5 percent more for a product to ensure that it was made under ethical working conditions. The rise of conscious consumption has created new consumer markets in which labels like fair trade, organic and “made in USA” comingle and overlap.”Building better supply chains requires better data

Thinking more sustainably across the apparel supply chain

Sustainable Brands

“Sustainable production standards for clothing continue to rise, with attention to sustainable materials and practices becoming a more integral part of the global apparel industry. In an effort to mitigate its impact on the environment, the sector has been taking important steps toward more sustainable product solutions.

But are we doing enough?“

Ferrero pledges an ethical and sustainable supply chain in latest CSR report

TriplePundit

“It’s Valentine’s Day, which means many of us are going to reach for that box of chocolate for a gift (or for ourselves) – last year, estimates suggested almost $2 billion was spent on chocolate and candy in the U.S. alone. Spending on chocolate has become easier for consumers, as market forces have resulted in the price of chocolate decreasing in recent years.

But there are several long-term threats to the global chocolate industry, not the least of which is climate change. Concerns over human rights have also convinced more consumers to be discerning about the choices they make when purchasing chocolate. Companies have responded in kind, as many have started to partner with nonprofits on projects ranging from mapping tools to supply chain transparency.”

Primark sheds light on supply chain with global sourcing map tool

Sustainable Brands

“Primark, a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has developed a new online tool that is helping usher in a new era of transparency for the retailer. The Global Sourcing Map allows consumers to access information about the 1071 factories and suppliers that make up the company’s supply chain.

‘For a number of years, we’ve been working closely with industry partners sharing information about where Primark products are made. This has included, for example, details of our suppliers, their factories, as well as our supply chain practices,” said a spokesperson for Primark. “Partners have extended from bodies such as the Ethical Trading Initiative to organizations monitoring industry standards, notably the International Labor Organization’s Better Work program.'”Do you want to contribute to the conversation? Tweet us @erbinstitute!