Today there is lot of emphasis on sustainable supply chain. The general impression seems to be that sustainability means just maintaining the business as it is without disturbing mother nature. However, we must also look at the aspirations and expectations of various chain members in the entire supply chain. They will not be motivated unless there are signs of growth in the business. The real challenge therefore is to:
a) use energy resources that minimize the carbon footprint. The energy resources might be used for transportation, manufacturing, transmitting information, etc. during various legs of the supply chain.
b) use and encourage human resources who are sensitized and trained in minimizing the carbon footprint generated.
c) design and develop sustainable yet growth-oriented performance indicators to evaluate various chain members.
Although, generally the sustainability philosophy is seen in three main dimensions i.e. social / society; economics / business; and the environment / planet. In my understanding, the sustainability is such a diverse, vast, inclusive, multi and inter-disciplinary subject that it encapsulates 'everything'. For instance, even if we are considering an environmental aspect of sustainability of given scenario, the very same environmental aspect may still have associations with economic and social facets (as I have tried to capture to a limited extent in my paper which describes sustainability and obsolescence as two opposite notions). Thus, it can be boiling down to case-by-case basis. If one wants to consider business growth as part of a sustainable supply chain for a given scenario, then definitely one can. However, an explanation and justification should be given upfront. I do not know if this addresses your question or gives rise to even more questions! :-) particularly, when I am still learning the sustainability concept.
Also, I am thinking along the lines that although sustainability encircles 'everything' as said above, the challenge for us is how to integrate everything together under the umbrella of sustainability in once place in as seamless manner as possible. Not to mention, that spacial and temporal dimensions make this integration even more challenging.
Hope this helps one way or another.
Best wishes.
Dr. T. E. Butt
Continuing the constant growth cycle we've had since the Industrial Revolution is simply not sustainable as it relies on ever-increasing use of non-renewable resources. We're (Society and the Investment Community) going to have to change our expectations of "need" versus "want". We simply cannot supply an ever-increasing population with the basic needs of life, AND the luxuries of life they can afford. Can we continue to build and fly jets around the world to take all who want to go to far-off vacation spots? Can we continue to grow corn and sugar cane to turn it into ethanol to burn in our petrol tanks? Can we continue to slash rain forests to grow crops and feed cattle while sending more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, AND grow business at the same time. No.
Deshaurkh,
The growth of any business requires various ways to maintain income streams during profit downturns. A sustainable supply chain should provide a feasible solution for the business market it is to service.
Hunter
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