sustainability and your supply chain

"It was a strategic decision. We were in a privileged position, because how many other industries back in July 2000 had been given the road map to say 'well PVC industry if you truly want to be sustainable then you need to address 5 key challenges' " Sector Sustainability Director, a major polymers manufacturer The stakeholders in your business want to see you competing in a sustainable market. They also want you to compete successfully in that market. Business sustainability addresses both issues, and your sustainability outcomes need to combine collaborative measures, where you use the collective power of your competitors to drive sustainablity in your market, with competitive measures, where you aim to gain first-mover advantage. If some of your suppliers see you as a key customer, then you can have a big influence on the market in which you both operate by capturing and implementing a sustainable procurement policy. "You have to [collaborate]. No business can do this on its own." Head of Corporate Responsibility, FTSE 100 retailer