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M entioning “ supply chains ” is no longer met with total incomprehension . Today ’ s consumers are now acutely aware of the lengthy and complex journey that the goods they purchase go through to reach the supermarket shelves . But more than this , they are also deeply concerned about the ethical implications of their consumer habits .
Raising the public ’ s consciousness about the impact of global supply chains comes down to David Attenborough ’ s Blue Planet II , or campaigning cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall ’ s War on Plastic documentary . Thanks to this awareness raising , supply chains have become the topic of dinner party conversation – now , it ’ s time for businesses to sit up and take notice .
With consumers increasingly interested in the provenance of the products they buy , corporations are under pressure to make their supply chains more transparent . They must also be able to answer questions covering carbon emissions to packaging to child labour – and for their answer to be the right one .
It ’ s becoming clear that companies are beginning to think of their supply chains in terms of the triple bottom line . Consumers are developing an increasing understanding of the impact that their purchasing behaviour has on the planet . As such ,
SEPTEMBER 2019