Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Covers environmental and social sustainability practices in supply chain operations, including reducing carbon footprint and promoting ethical sourcing.

Course Overview:

This course provides participants with the strategic understanding and practical tools required to build and manage environmentally and socially responsible supply chains. It covers principles of sustainability, regulatory compliance, green logistics, ethical sourcing, and circular economy integration.

Participants will explore how to align sustainability goals with core supply chain strategies and use metrics, case studies, and frameworks to drive continuous improvement.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
○ Understand the key concepts and drivers of sustainable supply chain management
○ Identify environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities
○ Apply strategies to reduce carbon footprint and improve resource efficiency
○ Integrate circular economy principles into supply chain processes
○ Align procurement and logistics with sustainability frameworks and compliance
○ Develop KPIs to monitor, report, and improve supply chain sustainability

Target Audience:

○ Supply Chain Managers and Directors
○ Sustainability Officers and ESG Professionals
○ Procurement and Sourcing Managers
○ Operations and Logistics Managers
○ Compliance and Risk Management Teams
○ Consultants and Strategy Planners

Course Delivery Method:

○ Expert-led workshops (in-person or live online)
○ Group exercises and sustainability simulations
○ Case studies from global best practices
○ Toolkit walkthroughs for carbon tracking and supplier assessment
○ Templates for sustainability policy development and reporting
○ Interactive breakout discussions and strategy mapping

Course Outlines

Module 1: Introduction to Sustainability in Supply Chains

○ Definition and dimensions of sustainability (Environmental, Social, Economic)
○ The business case for sustainability in supply chains
○ Regulatory drivers and stakeholder expectations
○ Overview of global frameworks (UN SDGs, GRI, ISO 14001, etc.)
○ Supply chain sustainability trends and challenges

Module 2: Environmental Responsibility and Green Logistics

○ Reducing carbon emissions in transport and logistics
○ Route optimization and energy-efficient transportation
○ Sustainable warehousing practices (lighting, cooling, packaging)
○ Life cycle analysis (LCA) and carbon footprint tracking
○ Emission standards and regulatory reporting

Module 3: Social Responsibility and Ethical Sourcing

○ Understanding social risks: labor conditions, fair wages, diversity
○ Ethical sourcing principles and supplier code of conduct
○ Supplier audits and human rights due diligence
○ Engaging local communities and social impact initiatives
○ Addressing conflict minerals and modern slavery risks

Module 4: Circular Supply Chain and Waste Reduction

○ Introduction to circular economy principles
○ Designing out waste and pollution in supply chains
○ Reverse logistics and product take-back strategies
○ Remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling in SCM
○ Zero-waste supply chain case studies

Module 5: Sustainable Procurement and Supplier Collaboration

○ Green procurement policy and evaluation criteria
○ ESG rating tools and platforms
○ Building sustainability into supplier scorecards
○ Joint innovation with suppliers to meet ESG goals
○ Managing trade-offs in cost, quality, and sustainability

Module 6: Monitoring, Reporting, and Strategic Integration

○ Defining sustainability KPIs and scorecards
○ Sustainability audits and assurance practices
○ Building sustainability into strategic sourcing and S&OP
○ Reporting under GRI, CDP, and other standards
○ Communicating sustainability performance to stakeholders