WEEK-9 Learning Objectives • Describe the environmental expectations on businesses in relation to production activities, and how these are evolving • Explain how eco-efficiency can both reduce environmental impacts and improve profitability, and describe successful strategies for implementing eco-efficiency in a business • Explain how businesses can use life cycle assessment to develop strategies for more sustainable production and describe emerging sustainable production concepts. Essential Reading • Moscardo et al (2013), Chapters 11 • General Mills commits to sustainable sourcing of half its raw materials by 2020 available at https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/supply-chain/resources/general-mills-commits-sustainable-sourcing-half-its-raw-materials-by-2020/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Community&utm_campaign=3142032_13.10.01+EH&utm_content=pic&dm_i=1ILQ,1VCEO,82VFCS,6PCRY,1. • Building Sustainable Supply Chains - Agri-Business Olam International's 2013 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report available at http://olamonline.com/wp-content/files_mf/1381482991OlamCRS2013.pdf?utm_source=Master+List&utm_campaign=6eed29f191-Olam+Oct+13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_92af8574fc-6eed29f191-5734005 Recommended Reading • See http://nbs.net/knowledge/operations-teaching/ • How Renault's circular thinking is driving down waste available at: Please access reading via this link. Video Watch and Reflect Watch and reflect on the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) video available at http://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableseafood. Now read the articles on McDonald’s plan to deliver sustainable beef to all customers by 2016 at at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-10/nrn-maccas-meat/5194234 and http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/01/07/inside-mcdonalds-quest-sustainable-beef. Consider what ‘sustainable’ means in these examples and who defines the terminology? How can a Big Mac be sustainable when it contains 550 calories and more than half of an adult’s daily recommended intake of fat? How will consumers be able to audit and assess the veracity of these claims of sustainability? You may choose to record your thoughts to these questions. Case Study and Weekly Discussion Forum The report Working on the Right Shoes or ‘Stop Child Labour – School is the best place to work’ (SCL) gives an overview of the progress made in addressing child labour and other labour rights in the leather footwear sector. It focuses on what has happened in the sector and what has been done by 28 footwear companies since the launch of the campaign. The report is a follow-up of a report on the same topic published in December 2012. Read and reflect on the report available at http://www.indianet.nl/WorkingOnTheRightShoes.html. Now put yourself in the shoes of the CEOs at Wolky and Gabor respectively. How would you respond to these accusations of impropriety in your supply chain ? What actions could you implement both internally and externally to address the issues raised in the report? Write a brief, 250 word action plan to address the questions and post on the Weekly Discussion Forum and in your Learning Journal under Week Eleven. The media is already commenting on the report - see http://ethicalperformance.com/article/8136?utm_source=Master+List&utm_campaign=44325f4d5c-The+week+in+CSR...+New+weekly+poll!&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_92af8574fc-44325f4d5c-5734005 - so you will need to act swiftly and decisively. Summary Chapter 11 focuses more on the environmental impacts of production rather than broader issues of sustainability. Regardless it provides a useful insight into how businesses have moved away from simply reducing pollution to a greater focus on resource efficiency with the resulting economic and environmental benefits. The text discusses eco-efficiency and life cycle analysis as useful tools in the pursuit for more sustainable production processes. Finally remember that this is the final week of the Learning Journal which needs to be finalised and submitted by midnight on 15 May 2014.