Sustainable Practices That Support the Global Supply Chain

Supply chain management plays a crucial role in creating a cleaner, more just world. Industry leaders note that supply chains account for much of a company’s environmental and social impacts, prompting organizations to invest in eco-friendly operations, ethical sourcing and smarter technology.

Research from supply chain associations and technology firms shows that companies adopting sustainable practices can reduce emissions, cut waste, strengthen resilience and improve transparency across their networks.

But what do these sustainable supply chain practices look like? A degree in supply chain management can prepare you to take a lead role in creating them.

What Is a Sustainable Supply Chain?

A common definition of sustainability is the ability to meet present-day needs without compromising the abilities of future generations to meet them. Sustainability focuses on three kinds of responsibility.

Environmental: Reducing impact on the environment, such as cutting emissions, using renewable energy and recycling waste
Social: Promoting human rights and ethical labor practices, such as providing safe workplaces and fair wages
Financial: Ensuring that programs are financially sustainable by managing operating costs, minimizing risks of major losses and helping comply with regulations

Those goals can be applied to any of the links in a supply chain, from the beginning to the end of a product’s life cycle.

What Are Challenges for Sustainable Supply Chains?

Sustainability may sound promising in theory, but implementing it in supply chains isn’t always easy. They can be long and complicated, posing various challenges to achieving sustainable change.

Reducing Waste

Wasteful processes and overproduction cost companies and consumers money while adding to solid waste in landfills.

Reducing Emissions

To reduce the release of greenhouse gasses and hazardous chemicals, companies must look beyond their own immediate operations.

Ensuring Supplier Compliance

To meet their sustainability goals, companies need to set standards for suppliers, screen for suppliers who are able to meet them and ensure compliance.

Tracking Progress

To ensure that suppliers are meeting standards, companies must devise methods to monitor them, such as audits and electronic sensors.

What Are Solutions for Sustainable Supply Chains?

Although sustainable supply chains can present daunting challenges, companies are using a wide range of innovative practices to overcome them.

Supplier Codes of Conduct

Sustainable companies lay out specific supplier standards in codes of conduct. The global agribusiness leader Cargill, for example, requires the following of its suppliers:

Labor protections, fair wages and a human rights policy
Standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water use
Environmental policies on fiber packaging, palm oil, forests and animal welfare

Life Cycle Assessments

To analyze the impacts of each link in a supply chain, companies conduct product life cycle assessments. Those assessments include steps before and after manufacturing.

Mining, harvesting and procuring materials
Transporting and distributing
Marketing, retailing and usage by consumers
Recycling or disposing of waste

Internet of Things Monitoring

The Internet of Things (IoT) lets companies measure supplier compliance in real time by using sensors connected to the internet. Various kinds of sensors can promote various aspects of sustainability.

Gas sensors can ensure that emissions controls are working.
Temperature and humidity sensors can prevent perishable food waste.
GPS sensors can track routes and locations of delivery vehicles.

Sustainable Transportation

Transportation makes up 28% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Companies are using a variety of strategies to reduce them. Below are a few examples:

Energy-efficient and all-electric vehicles
Alternative fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol made from agricultural waste
Computerized fleet management to make routes more efficient and reduce miles driven

Career Paths in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Sustainable supply chains offer positions in a wide variety of industries and employers, from manufacturing and trade to government.

Supply Chain Manager

Supply chain managers coordinate all aspects of a company’s supply chain, from recruiting suppliers to distributing finished products. Much of the work is managing relationships among the players in this complex network.

According to the BLS, as of May 2024, supply chain managers earned a median annual salary of $102,010. Jobs were projected to grow by 6% from 2024 to 2034, compared with 3% for all occupations.

Logistician

Logisticians manage the transport of materials and goods. They ensure that parts arrive at the right time, that products get to stores and that costs are controlled along the way.

The median annual salary for logisticians was $80,880 in May 2024, the BLS reports. The bureau forecasts 10-year job growth of 17% between 2024 and 2034.

Purchasing Manager

Purchasing managers oversee the procurement of both raw materials and parts. Their responsibilities include finding suppliers, negotiating contracts and prices and product quality control.

The median annual salary of purchasing managers was $139,510 in 2024, according to the BLS. The bureau expects job openings to increase by 3% between 2024 and 2034.

How to Build Skills in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Developing strong skills in sustainable supply chain management takes intentional learning, hands‑on experience and a willingness to adapt as new technologies and standards emerge. Here are practical ways aspiring professionals can build the capabilities that employers look for:

Strengthen analytical skills by practicing data interpretation, learning basic forecasting methods, and using tools that help evaluate supplier performance or environmental impact.
Build communication and collaboration abilities by working on cross‑functional projects, presenting findings clearly and learning how to translate technical insights into actionable recommendations.
Develop problem‑solving skills through real or simulated supply chain challenges, such as reducing waste, improving efficiency or identifying ethical sourcing alternatives.
Gain experience with supply chain software by exploring platforms used for inventory management, logistics planning or sustainability tracking. Many offer free demos or training modules.
Learn about sustainability frameworks such as circular economy principles, responsible sourcing standards and environmental compliance requirements.
Improve project management skills by leading small initiatives, coordinating timelines, or managing tasks that require attention to detail and follow-through.
Practice adaptability and continuous learning by embracing new tools, experimenting with innovative solutions and staying open to evolving sustainability expectations.

Explore a Career in Supply Chain Management

With increasing concerns about the environmental and social impacts of business, supply chain management offers practical ways to create a more sustainable future. A degree program such as the Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Supply Chain Management at Appalachian State University can prepare students to become professionals in the field.

The program covers all aspects of supply chains — procurement, sourcing, logistics, manufacturing, distribution and quality management — while allowing students to interact with experts and earn certifications.

Learn more about how App State Online’s program can lead to a career in sustainable supply chain management.

Recommended Readings:

What Does a Supply Chain Analyst Do?

What Is Supply Chain Data Analytics and Why Does It Matter?

The Importance of Procurement Specialists

Sources:

EPA, Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

IBM, “What Is Sustainable Supply Chain Management?”

Indeed, Key Supply Chain Manager Skills: A Guide for Job Seekers

Oracle NetSuite, “What Is Supply Chain Sustainability and Why Is It Important?”

SAP, “What Is a Sustainable Supply Chain?”

United Nations, Food Loss and Waste Account for 8-10% of Annual Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Cost USD 1 Trillion Annually