How To Become a Sustainable Supplier (3 Steps)

Climate change is real and it\u2019s happening now. Scientists have warned that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, we will pass the threshold of 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The damage resulting could be catastrophic and irreversible, affecting us all. Therefore, being a sustainable supplier is becoming increasingly important in winning and retaining customers. Demonstrating sustainability in your business operations and your supply chain creates competitive advantage, increased revenue, a strengthened brand and reduces risk. Being a sustainable supplier is increasingly important in winning and retaining customers. Suppliers constantly need to improve their sustainability credentials, particularly in response to information requests and pre-qualification questionnaires. In order to award contracts, many public sector organisations and private companies require their suppliers to provide evidence of sustainability in their business and their supply chain. Three steps to demonstrate you're a sustainable supplier Start with your organisation To ensure that you are a sustainable supplier, change must happen from within your business. Creating and communicating your sustainability objectives, plan and targets will help engage your staff and stakeholders in the process. This will enable you to improve your social and environmental impacts and achieve independent certifications as a result. Introduce a supplier questionnaire Most organisations are both supplier and procurer. This means it is important to present your expectations of own supply chain. You can start by introducing a supplier sustainability survey or include questions in a general questionnaire to ask your suppliers about their environmental credentials, policies and their initiatives. This will not only enable you to choose your suppliers with sustainability in mind, but also provide evidence of your supplier engagement to your customers. Your organisation can establish a minimum standard that it expects from its suppliers and by asking right at the beginning of the relationship it means that all parties are aware of expectations going forward. Present your environmental credentials in bids and tenders Pre-qualification questionnaires and information requests often include a section on sustainability. Being able to present concrete evidence and measured outputs quickly demonstrates that sustainability is important to your business. By measuring your carbon footprint and setting reduction targets you can quantify your positive environmental impacts. Mentioning any initiatives in your local community can improve your social value impacts and give you an edge over the competition. We hope these simple steps will give you a head start on new business pitches, increasing your score on bids and tenders by becoming a sustainable supplier.

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