Do your suppliers adhere to all of ISO?s environmental standards?

January 13th, 2010

ISO is a great place to review guidelines and standards to support your environmental programs and make sure that your suppliers are doing the same thing.

ISO has published a new, updated brochure providing a basic introduction, as its title indicates, to Environmental management ? The ISO 14000 family of International Standards. The 12-page, color brochure is the latest edition of a successful publication first released in 1998, two years after the launching of the first standards in the ISO 14000 family

The International Organization for Standardization widely known as ISO, is an international standard -setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates world-wide industrial and commercial standards. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. While ISO defines itself as a non ? governmental, its ability to set standards that often become law, either through treaties or national standards makes it more powerful than most non-governmental organizations. In practice, ISO acts as a consortium with strong links to governments.

The SafeSourceIt? Supplier Database holds it suppliers accountable to many ISO standards including 14000, 7002, 9001 and 22000.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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Creating a sustainable e-procurement or reverse auction program is based on more than just savings.

January 12th, 2010

Reduction in cost of goods and services is a no brainer when you ask why companies should run reverse auctions. The real question is can you do it over and over again with the same categories year after year.

Primary success in e-procurement programs such as reverse auctions of which there are many types is in many cases measured by cost reductions. That?s because within a budget period they drop directly to a company?s bottom line plus or minus some switching costs. On more than one occasion I have heard; ?did we hit a home run?? Less emphasis seems to be placed on cost avoidance in an up market and creating a sustainable process. This often results in less spend be assigned to these very effective tools then should be.

In order to ensure that results are sustainable; the strategies for all targeted e-procurement categories require consistent deployment across all departments throughout the host company. This is accomplished by utilizing a well planned repeatable process for category selection and discovery, supplier selection, and a solid strategy that is well understood by all buyers and category managers for negotiation and the award of business process.

Supplier selection and management is a critical stage that requires the understanding and participation of all sourcing professionals within an organization. One small mistake by anyone within the procurement or supply chain organization could negatively impact the potential results of an e-procurement event. Historical long term relationships that drive behind the scene comments like; ?don?t worry we?ll be fine? to a long term supplier may drive inappropriate bid behavior and lack of ongoing credibility with your program. Not to mention the potential legal implications.

If you are not having the results you would like to or have less than twenty percent your total corporate spend assigned to e-procurement tool?s that are offered in the form of? Software as a Service or cloud computing, ask your provider why?

We appreciate and look forward to your comments

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Why is the use of reverse auctions by retailers up?

January 11th, 2010

I was watching a reverse auction with a customer last week and some of the comments from the CEO and his team may shed some light as to why?

From mid tier one retailers on down the use of reverse auctions has been very limited since their inception at the end of the 1990?s. The reason is because there was very little focus on the retail segment and the tools were also very difficult to use and expensive. If retailer?s think a tool is so complicated that they can not do it themselves, they won?t use them.

We are seeing a small uptick in e-negotiation tools in retail and this author believes that some of the following quotes from the folks watching a reverse auction last week may be the reason why.

1.??This was pretty simple to do?
2.??If we hired someone we could do these ourselves with you guys?
3.??This is fun?
4.??You mean the reports are already available?
5.??I love the sports concept?
6.??It was easy to follow the marquis and what was going on from one screen?
7.??The multiple color schemes were great?
8.??I can?t believe how fast you guys set this up?
9.??We saved that much money and only have to pay what we discussed?
10.??Can we do another one today?
11.??I may get a promotion out of this?
12.??I love that calculator at the end of the bid process?
13.??I like all of the supplier data that was accessible during the auction?
14.??Now I know how the big guys get the pricing they do?

So what does this all mean for retail procurement professionals? It means that today?s tools are easier to use, more interactive, maintain your attention during an auction,? integrate gaming technology to keep it fun and are lower cost than their predecessors.

This all adds up to a focus on retailers entire spend both indirect and direct as well resulting in increased utilization by middle market and large retailers alike.

If you would like to have fun, save money and do it quickly, please visit us at www.safesoucing.com.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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What is Green-e certification? Does your company’s CSR program mandate the purchase of renewable energy products?

January 8th, 2010

Suppliers of renewable energy products should be required to have Green-e certification and all new and remodel retail construction should buy certified renewable products.

For over ten years, the nonprofit Center for Resources (CRS) has developed and implemented consumer-protection standards for the voluntary renewable energy market through the Green-e program.

What is Green-e? Green-e is the nation’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products. It is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions.
Green-e Energy certifies renewable energy products sold to residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale customers. Certification services are available to all companies selling renewable energy. The process to get a renewable energy product certified varies depending on the type of product seeking certification, based on the following two categories of companies offering renewable energy products.

Ask your procurement solutions provider if they can tell you what companies carry this certification. SafeSourcing can.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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What is Green-e certification? Does your company?s CSR program mandate the purchase of renewable energy products?

January 8th, 2010

Suppliers of renewable energy products should be required to have Green-e certification and all new and remodel retail construction should buy certified renewable products.

For over ten years, the nonprofit Center for Resources (CRS) has developed and implemented consumer-protection standards for the voluntary renewable energy market through the Green-e program.

What is Green-e? Green-e is the nation’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products. It is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions.
Green-e Energy certifies renewable energy products sold to residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale customers. Certification services are available to all companies selling renewable energy. The process to get a renewable energy product certified varies depending on the type of product seeking certification, based on the following two categories of companies offering renewable energy products.

Ask your procurement solutions provider if they can tell you what companies carry this certification. SafeSourcing can.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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What is Green Seal Certification?

January 6th, 2010

If you are a supplier, retailer or manufacturer and involved in sustainable and environmentally supported sales or procurement, Green Seal is a standard and certification you should be aware of.

At Safesourcing, Green Seal is one of the supplier certifications we monitor in support of our customers Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Green Seal Certification ensures that a product meets rigorous, science-based environmental leadership standards. This gives manufacturers the assurance to back up their claims and purchasers confidence that certified products are better for human health and the environment

Founded in 1989, Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Their industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life

Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups and governments at all levels to “green” the production and purchasing chain. We utilize a life-cycle approach, which means we evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal.

To learn more about environmentally focused procurement programs please visit www.safesourcing.com.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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What is NSF Certification and how do you become certified.

January 5th, 2010

As a supplier, if your company is looking for a team to help you with your sustainability and product safety initiatives please contact NSF.

At SafeSourcing we check our suppliers for their safety and environmental certifications. NSF is among the standards that we look for to ensure a suppliers engagement in sustainable initiatives.

NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company?, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety. For 65 years, NSF has been committed to public health, safety, and protection of the environment. While focusing on food, water, indoor air, and the environment, NSF develops national standards

According to NSF businesses interested in growing sustainability can improve total business results. NSF sustainable business solutions add credibility, cost savings, and long-term value to a company’s sustainability program.

If you want to learn more about SafeSourcing and our initiatives to support sustainability and product safety please visit our website.

We look forward to and appreaciate your comments.

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What is Fair Trade Certification?

January 4th, 2010

Let?s stat the new year right and look at some certifications that all sourcing professionals should be aware of and all solutions providers should hold their suppliers accountable to.

Fair Trade Certification Overview:

The Fair Trade Certified? label guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product. Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla. TransFair USA licenses companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict international Fair Trade standards.
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Fair Trade principles include:
??Fair prices:
?? Fair labor conditions:
?? Direct trade:
??Democratic and transparent organizations:
??Community development:
??Environmental sustainability

If you are a supplier, do the right thing and get certified.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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Happy New Year 2010 from SafeSourcing

January 1st, 2010

We wish you prosperity in the New Year and look forward to helping you reduce your procurement costs!

History shows that in selected categories, buyers have saved as much as 30-40% with SafeSourcing?s e-procurement services. Studies indicate that a 5% saving in procurement costs translates into an effective increase in sales growth of 30%.

Our SafeSourceIt? North American Retail supplier database of over 350,000 suppliers contains more than? twenty-five unique certification standards that are supported by our best practice initiatives such as GFSI, ISO 22000, Green Seal, ECO-LOGO, Fair Trade, SQF and Certified Humane Raised & Hand-Fed.

SafeSourcing is committed to proactively supporting safety and environmental standards in the global supply chain. We donate 10% of our net profits to retail education and green and safety initiatives as mandated by our customers.

To simplify your procurement process and reduce your procurement costs throughout 2010, contact SafeSourcing! We look forward to assisting you!

Thank you for all of your support in 2009. We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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Food Safety for Retailers should be a high priority New Years Resolution!

December 31st, 2009

If you read the daily news, it is no surprise that this should be a primary focus. One article I read today was titled ?Tainted meat sickens 19 people in 16 States?.

In addition to that article the two papers I read today had a total of seven other articles or opinions on safe consumables including a focus on airport food, school cafeteria food, fast food and others. Houston we have a problem!

Today?s procurement knowledge workers responsible for purchasing consumables for their customer base are growing more concerned in their ability to procure safe products, suppliers to deliver safe products, or farms and manufacturers to produce safe products.

So what can be done to improve the situation? To begin with buyers require fresh reliable data. This begins with understanding your trading partners? commitment to food and consumable product safety.? From a pure sourcing perspective asking simple questions like; how do you insure that the new sources of supply that you offer us for inclusion in e-procurement events will deliver safe products? The answer is not as simple as just responding by saying we or they support GFSI, SQF or any number of other safe food initiatives. The answer should be that as a vendor they have a large data rich supplier database from which to choose new sources of supply that is easily searchable by the retailer which includes safety data and basic RFI information. Additionally, all suppliers, brokers, manufacturers and others should be held accountable to a variety of safe food standards as elements of the data. Although this is just the first step in supplier selection, it is an important one. A tangential analysis should be ranking these suppliers based on the safety standards they adhere to versus what the industry considers to be best practice implementation. Additionally an e-procurement partner should be able to provide easy access to industry safety updates and alerts on a daily basis and a consistent refresh of the supplier database, based on new information as it becomes available such as suppliers that have failed or missed inspections or had other types of violations. Although traceability also enters into this discussion, it is also something that is required after a product has failed, been recalled or caused illness.

To conclude your questioning of your sourcing solution provider a final step should be; Show me!

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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