Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Seven Sustainable SCM Lessons from Starbucks

Blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Company
Apr 29, 2011 1:45 PM ET

Taiga Company blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Compa…

Reviewing sustainable supply chain management progress over the past few years has revealed a growing emphasis on environmental awareness, social responsibility, and business sustainability actions in the supply chain.  Progressive companies, like IBM and Wal-Mart, have begun to evaluate inbound supply improvements and the ‘supplier role’ in creating more sustainable supply chains.   Shifting attention to Starbucks, the coffee super giant has a few lessons of its own to teach us about internal improvements. 

The Sourcing Innovation post, What Your Supply Chain Can Learn from Starbucks, examines the business sustainability characteristics that differentiate this sustainable supply chain management leader from its competitors and other major corporations.  Citing seven lessons learned, these insights create an opportunity to incorporate what the author defines as potential SCM organizational best practices.
 
1.    The supply management organization must see itself as part of a larger company.
 
2.    The supply management organization must balance cost reduction with social responsibility.
 
3.    The supply management organization must create an atmosphere of collaboration.
 

Home to one third of the earth's trees, the Taiga is the largest land-based biosphere and encircles the globe. Its immense oxygen production literally changes the atmosphere and refreshes the planet. It is this continuous renewal that has shaped Taiga Company's vision to drive similar change in the business world. Taiga Company seeks to be the "oxygen for your business".