The Green Supply Chain; Cutting Out Weak Links

As companies evaluate their carbon footprints, supply chains are one area of business that have come under increased scrutiny. Making the complex network of manufacturers, packagers, shippers, wholesalers and retailers greener, it protects the environment, saves energy, and ultimately reduces costs.
Ways in which cost is reduced and reduced carbon footprint: advancement of electronic network systems, thus making communications between all links in the SCM paperless and efficient.
Measuring Carbon Footprint
To green a supply chain, a company must evaluate the situation. This can be accomplished either by having a thorough walk through by an environmental consultant or other environmental experts.
To do a thorough investigation of a supply chain, companies can turn to software like Infor's SCM Network Design. The latest release of this supply chain management and modeling software includes the capability of analyzing the environmental impact of a company's supply chain. The software's sustainability criteria let companies evaluate the carbon emissions related to the production, storage and transportation of the goods they sell.
Green Communication
With the advancement of digital communications between companies and their suppliers and transporters it can make a big difference in the environmental impact of a supply chain. This reduces the use of paper, decrease unnecessary transportation, and cost as well as error rates. Verizon Business has partnered with GXS, a provider of B2B supply chain integration and collaboration products, to help clients communicate electronically with their manufacturers, distributors and shipping companies.
With the environment as a consideration, in the SCM it greatly impacts the advancement and success of a company.