Suppliers "R" Us
 
This week we feature the latest supply chain report from the Carbon Disclosure Project, which highlights remarkable growth in awareness and action on the part of suppliers while also emphasizing that they have a long way to go. The latter point should surprise no one: These suppliers are companies -- often similar to our own -- that face many of the same challenges and obstacles that we do. Or worse, especially if they are closer to primary extraction and processing. It is critical that we partner effectively with our suppliers to reduce our overall combined -- or life cycle -- emissions rather than just "off-'load" the most challenging parts of the problem to them.
 
And this is not just a matter of "playing nice:" Failure to take a full supply chain or life cycle approach can also bite us back. For example, see the story on emerging regulations in the U.K. that may (unintentionally) drive companies to outsource more and more services in order to "manage down" their footprint. This is not the result any of us are looking for.

Eric Olson is senior vice president of advisory services at BSR.

This report shows what more than 700 suppliers to companies in the Carbon Disclosure Project are doing to be aware of climate change risks, set goals and take action on reducing their emissions.

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