Just because your supplier has a certification does not mean your project qualifies a green!
Today?s post is by Ron Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc.
The word green has been thrown around for years and driven? even further? and more detailed discussion relative to companies desire to reduce their carbon footprint. This has touched every segment of industry from producers to users and in trades a wide ranging as construction to energy.
I?m sure the term global warming is not new to anyone any more. It might be humorous if Jay Leno (it?s too bad he is gone) conducted one of his street segments to get passersby to try and define the term. Many don?t even care what your company is doing about it or that you have adopted triple bottom line accounting methods either. In fact most definitions as mentioned above would likely center around the crazy weather we have all experienced the last several years. (Know Your Audience)
Here?s an opinion for you. If your company?s buyers are vetting your supply chain for their green initiatives in order to support your own initiatives, you might not be getting what you think you are. The fact that a supplier is certified in some particular area such as LEED or The Marine Stewardship Council and you do business with them does not automatically transfer that certification or greenness or the savings associated with the process to your company or the specific product or project the vendor is supporting.
As an example, I was recently reading the Conversation Starters section of the Arizona Republic. A small blurb by Anastasia Swearingen a research analyst for the Environmental Policy Alliance titled MIS-LEEDING GREEN REFORM indicated that a comparison of buildings that were LEED certified vs. those that were non LEED certified showed that LEED certification has no bearing on buildings energy efficiency.
SafeSourcing maintains the SafeSourceIt? Supplier Database and constantly VETTS our suppliers to insure that your green standards are adhered to and deliver the benefits you expect them to as indicated in your terms and conditions and specifications.
If you?d like to learn more as to how SafeSourcing can assist your sourcing in support of your reduced carbon footprint initiatives, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Account Manager.
We look forward to and appreciate your comments.
