Four Procurement Trends to Keep Top-of-Mind in 2023
Almost three years after the onset of the pandemic, supply chains may have recovered from early pandemic hurdles, but new challenges and trends have emerged as the economy changed.
Almost three years after the onset of the pandemic, supply chains may have recovered from early pandemic hurdles, but new challenges and trends have emerged as the economy changed.
Paper is one of the most utilized tools in the workplace and is likely a large part of a business’s spending, so the price of paper is a main concern. However, price is just one component of the total cost of buying and consuming paper. Other factors that impact cost include performance, consistency, appearance, and manufacturer support.
For many years, companies have focused sustainability efforts around their own carbon footprint, but today they have shifted their attention to the entire life cycle of their product or service.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains have faced unprecedented challenges at every step of the process. Logistical problems have affected multiple industries, and regardless of your specific sector of business, challenges and accompanying trends are expected to continue.
Over the years, the rules for what can be claimed as a product made in the U.S. has changed. Originally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that the product had to be completely made in the U.S. or close to it.
Since sustainability is still relatively new to procurement practices, the ability to express these benefits in financial terms is one of the key drivers needed to make a case for implementing sustainable practices into business models.
Our society, planet, and markets are changing at a rapid rate, so we must ask ourselves if the sustainable efforts we’re making now are enough.
As the conversation around “going green” and sustainability continues to evolve, consumers and businesses alike are forced to look at the role we play in this. For consumers, that often means taking a deeper look into the business you’re buying from.
Collaboration between business partners happens organically after spending enough time together, allowing them to harmonize quality production and ethical working standards. Similarly, supply chain collaboration is when autonomous businesses begin working together to improve operations in their supply chain.
While implementing sustainable practices within a business can be challenging, leaders are starting to see that improving ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies can increase the performance of their business!
The first step to understanding your manufacturer’s commitment to sustainability is to check for third-party certification, which in the forest products industry are the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
As sustainability continues to become a driving force for companies, it’s important to understand the extent of the efforts being taken by companies across the United States. Many companies and organizations have sustainability goals set in order to meet stakeholder and customer expectations.