Best of the Blog: Top 5 Posts of 2018

January 4, 2019 Anna Kapica-Harward

 

As is nearly always the case, January is the time for a bit of reflection and review. One of the great things about this time of year is to dig into analytics and see what topics were of particular interest over the past year to those who care about transparency in global supply chains.

A quick look at our most widely read blog posts over the past twelve months suggests that CSR and procurement professionals around the globe are increasingly interested in regulations related to sustainability as well as new technologies that can help drive truly sustainable supply chains. And it is hardly surprising: Sustainable procurement has become an integral function responsible for mitigating risks, protecting and improving brand reputation, and driving revenue and innovation.

So, without further banter, below are the top five most popular blogs of 2018:

  1. How Effective Are the CSR Clauses in Your Contracts?

Getting by far the most interest, a post about our own study, conducted in partnership with Affectio Mutandi, leading consultants in Legal, CSR, Corporate and Public Affairs, tops the list. The study surveyed more than 560 businesses around the globe to see how they use contracts to address transparency in their supply chains. It found that, while on the whole businesses are interested in ensuring supply chain transparency through contracts, as many as 75 percent of CSR clauses are too generic. It also suggests practical solutions for making CSR clauses in contracts more specific and enforceable.

  1. The Environmental Crackdown in China: Supply Chains Impacts Continue

A huge number of businesses around the globe have felt the impact of the environmental crackdown in China, which saw more than 30,000 companies penalized for environmental violations. This article provides a thorough analysis of how the crackdown unfolded, a mini case study of losses in the aluminium market and outlines ways in which companies can prepare their supply chains to withstand this kind of impact, including comprehensive sustainability ratings from EcoVadis.

  1. Three Key Factors Purchasing Teams Should Consider for 2018 Risk Management Strategy

When it comes to risk management strategy, there is plenty that will keep purchasing and supply managers awake at night. Based on an analysis of dozens of supplier sustainability programs, this article describes three factors that we believe are essential in addressing the shifting conditions of sustainability risks and opportunities.

  1. How We Can Leverage Blockchain to Increase Transparency in Supply Chains

Providing a close look at the innovative technology which gained prominence since the introduction of bitcoin, this posts looks at how businesses can apply blockchain to improve supply chain management by tracking the origins of a product from beginning to end. The post offers interesting examples from major companies, such as Maersk and IBM, and suggests EcoVadis Assessment could be combined with blockchain to improve trust and transparency in the supply chains in a whole range of industries.

  1. ISO 20400: Building Value Through a New Standard for Sustainable Procurement

Introduced over a year ago following four years’ work and international negotiations, including active participation from EcoVadis’ Sylvain Guyoton, Senior Vice President of Research, ISO 20400 is a new international standard for sustainable procurement. Our post not only offers a practical overview of its key benefits but also suggests ways in which you can make the most of it using EcoVadis Ratings.

It is with great excitement we are looking forward to a productive 2019 to bring you more inspiring thought leadership, original research and ground-breaking reports that will drive change and boost transparency in global supply chains.

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