ABSTRACT
A chemical company faces quite different drivers for sustainability than, say, a public transport provider, as they have different supply chains, different customers and come under different legislation. In generic terms, the drivers affecting business are: legislation and standards; cost pressures; availability of materials/continuity of supply; environmental risk reduction; reputational damage; customer demand; and the moral imperative. Environmentally damaging substances are always at risk from legislation. Legislation impacts can be wider than just bans, but can include mandatory disclosures. BP and Tesco have also suffered serious reputational damage recently as a result of the actions of their suppliers – in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the 'horse-burger' scandal, respectively. Customer demand provides a business opportunity too. De-risking supply chains can be a business opportunity for business-to-business businesses too. Throughout history, there have always been companies with a strong sense of moral purpose. The moral imperative viewpoint often makes decision-making more straightforward.
