Sustainability Magazine July 2021 | Page 115

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SUSTAINABLE SOURCING individuals who can bring fresh ideas , other points of view , different experiences and niche customer understanding into this mix .
“ After carbon , diversity and inclusion are a very big topic ”, counters Thaler .
Diversity and inclusion are sustainable goals that are a lot more visible to consumers , than going carbon neutral . With social initiatives such as The Valuable 500 , companies want to be seen on the right side of history , welcoming minorities and the underrepresented . They also want to implement climate policies in their supply chains . “ There is so much

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85 % of consumers are more likely to buy from a company with a reputation for sustainability than from a neutral company innovation in green technology right now ,” says Thaler .

“ Today you can scan the goods at a store to see where the products are from . The traceability and visibility are making people accountable : where are you getting this from , how are you growing this , do they have a target to be emission-free ?”, questioned Bureau .
So how can climate policy affect supply chains ?
“ It needs to be on a global scale ”, states Thaler . “ The EU is planning ‘ The EU Carbon Tax ’, which will tax every product . This will have a significant impact on supply chains and the cost of products for many companies .”
“ Policy is interesting ”, agrees Bureau . “ There is still plenty of opportunity for improvement . We can change our policy in one country , but if others do not follow suit … It takes everybody .”
Ultimately the winners in this new business environment will be those who embrace sustainable approaches , including managing their impact on the climate .
“ If your competitors do not [ implement climate policy in their supply chains ], then you will expand in market share . You will grow your revenue . Sustainable supply chains are a differentiator ”, explains Thaler .
“ Supply chain sustainability and diversity delivers high impact across the business ”, agrees Bureau .
Following the various calamities of 2020 , supply chain risks are entering a new era of global concern . As the planet unites against climate change and for international trade , strong relationships can be built on the desire to protect the planet , maintain empathy and mitigate risk . sustainabilitymag . com 115