| Please register to receive the benefits of our network-wide features. |
Register (free) |
Log In
|
| Please register to receive the benefits of our network-wide features. |
Register (free) |
Log In
|
Putting pressure on suppliers to produce and provide more environmentally friendly products is one way that buyers and procurement professionals can exert a positive influence on society. So is working cooperatively with government and nonprofits to create demand and opportunities. At the Socially and Environmentally Responsible Supply Chains conference convened in 2007 by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, executives from the HMO Kaiser Permanente, New Leaf Paper company, and the Environmental Protection Agency discuss how they are making a difference through encouraging innovation with suppliers.
Kaiser aims for "green" in its purchases at every level, from building materials, to medical and office supplies, to food. A commitment to ensuring that the products it procures are as environmentally friendly as possible contributes to the wellbeing of employees, customers, and the planet, and also stimulates demand for such goods throughout the supply chain.
The EPA has found that its Energy Star system, which rates products on their energy efficiency, has made it easy for consumers to do the math on costs and savings, giving them an incentive to buy more environmentally responsible products. It has thereby stimulated the design of new, more energy efficient products on the part of producers.
New Leaf Paper, which sells non-bleach paper made from post-consumer waste and non-wood fibers, is proving that you can catalyze a major shift in a supplier industry without a huge amount of capital by being a smart partner in the supply chain. New Leaf owns no mills, but works cooperatively with producers. The company has also worked with nonprofits, publishers, and printers to create the demand for recycled paper. As a result, more mills now produce clean, bright, post-consumer papers.
Panelists include:
Erica Plambeck is an expert in manufacturing operations and supply chain management, and her current research focuses on environmental sustainability. Plambeck is associate professor of operations, information, and technology in the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and senior fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment. She teaches Operations Management and Environmental Entrepreneurship. Plambeck received the Presidential Early Career Award for research in supply chain management, and was recognized as a faculty pioneer in social and environmental stewardship by World Resources Institute and the Aspen Institute. Plambeck grew up in the Midwest, received a BS in mathematics and industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, developed decision-models for European Union climate change policy as a Marshall Scholar at Cambridge University, and received her PhD in engineering economic systems and operations research from Stanford University.
Dean Edwards is the chief procurement officer for Kaiser Permanente. He leads the procurement and supply division, a multifunctional organization managing procurement and a supply chain that provides Kaiser with many of the products and services it needs. Edwards has more than 22 years of experience in various procurement-related leadership positions at Cadbury Schweppes (2002–2004) and SmithKline Beecham/Glaxo SmithKline (1992–2002). Edwards is an active member of the conference board for the Procurement Stream, the Institute for Supply Management, and CPO roundtables. He is also a board member of Broadlane. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of Leicester in England.
Jeff Mendelsohn, founder of New Leaf Paper in 1998, has played a significant role in the paper industry during the last decade by creating a new standard for environmental papers. His vision is to create a sustainable paper industry by developing demand for better environmental papers, with a focus on creating papers that can be used for everyday business needs. Jeff received a BA from Cornell University and studied international relations. He is active in the socially responsible business community and is a member of Social Venture Network and Business for Social Responsibility.
Dave Jones is an associate division director for waste management with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). His program responsibilities include the pollution prevention, waste minimization, recycling, energy conservation, industry partnership, and tribal solid waste programs. In his 30 years at EPA, Jones has been a manager for Superfund site clean-up, water permitting, water quality standards, drinking water, enforcement, wastewater treatment plant construction grant, information management, and hazardous waste management programs in the San Francisco Regional office. Jones received a BS and MS in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
Resources
This free podcast is from our Stanford Discussions series.
For The Conversations Network:
Play