SGS-Maine Pointe releases three-part e-book on supply chain ESG
SGS-Maine Pointe, a global operations and supply chain consultancy, has released the final volume in a three-part e-book series on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in the supply chain.
The series – which was published by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Global Supply Chain Institute (GSCI) – began with “The Simple Guide to ESG in the Supply Chain.” Part one explains what ESG is, why it is critical to corporate growth, and how it can be seen as an investment rather than a cost. It also examines why supply chains are central to ESG strategy and highlights the broad opportunities for improving ESG performance.
Part two – “Best Practices Implement ESG in the Supply Chain” – examines best practices, including shaping ESG goals by first being clear about an organization’s purpose. The paper also delves into the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) and its impact on ESG requirements and efforts.
The final part concludes with a discussion of the return on investment (ROI) that can be generated by an effective ESG program.
“Throughout this series, we have shared why ESG has become such an important issue, specifics on how to implement it sustainably and effectively, and in this final paper, how implementing best practices in ESG actually fits in with the corporate directive of maintaining a profit and generating an ROI,” said Jeff Staub, CEO at SGS-Maine Pointe. “It is critically important that we align ESG clearly and meaningfully into the core mission of how companies operate or risk greenwashing backlash.”
The final paper details how companies can calculate the ROI of ESG and explores existing studies that show a positive relationship between ESG and financial performance. The paper also includes a case study of large integrated energy company that partnered with Maine Pointe on ESG and supply chain optimization.
“We believe that ESG investments can be a win-win for all stakeholders,” said Alan Amling, distinguished fellow, GSCI and author of the paper. “ESG investments can create an immediate payback in terms of even simple changes such as switching from incandescent bulbs to LEDs, investing in employee relations, and reducing waste throughout the supply chain.”
SGS-Maine Pointe and GSCI were also featured in a recent podcast hosted by SupplyChainBrain where they discussed the opportunities in ESG and how business leaders are beginning to understand the long-term value creation potential of ESG.
