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We help companies throughout the product supply chain create sustainable businesses.
Our consulting services include creating enterprise-level sustainability visions, goals and strategies; re-engineering internal processes to reflect sustainable best practices; maximizing the sustainability of today's complex supply chains and assisting with communicating sustainability information in writing and in media.
Our training services include webinars and in-person seminars for large to small groups on topics ranging from GHG accounting to Mastering Supply Chain Sustainability and Social Responsibility. We can custom design training to suit your needs.
We work in a variety of industries. We are extremely sensitive to clients' budgets and their capacity for change.
Whether it's an environmental or social responsibility issue, our team of professionals is ready to help your business. Please contact us to learn how we can help you.
Call 212-343-1006 today.
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Greetings!
In this newsletter edition, our Feature Article recaps the just-ended Sustainable Brands '13 Conference, another great sustainability-focused gathering.
In our Ideas You Can Use Now section, we provide some tips about capitalizing on the information we gleaned at SB '13.
Finally, in the Calendar section, we suggest some sustainability-related events in the coming month or two that you might want to investigate.
Happy reading!
P.S. Keep up with us on:
Facebook Twitter: www.twitter.com/RobertWKunn Website: www.kuhnassociatesllc.com |
 Feature Article: Recap of Sustainable Brands '13
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Hundreds of retail brands executives, sustainability experts, NGO leaders, innovators and others have just returned to their desks from San Diego, where Sustainable Brands held its annual conference at the Paradise Point Resort. This four-day event was full of educational content and high-level networking. There was a lot to take in that can't be covered here, but it's worth recapping some of the things that resonated with me:
- The energy, creativity and focus of those in attendance. Everything from a songwriter launching her "Cool the World" initiative to packaging buyers discussing dematerialization of CPG item-level packaging.
- A panel discussion about how 3D printing and innovative data analysis are transforming manufacturing and supply chain operations into lean and efficient machines.
- Target, Sprint and others discussing how they scorecard their top suppliers on sustainability. In particular, how it's part of an entire supplier engagement program around sustainability.
- BASF offering updates about the innovative chemistry it is bringing to product packaging. Think biobased AND biodegradable ... even for some food-grade packaging!
- A serious group roundtable focusing on human rights and labor rights issues in the Asian supply chain. Divergent views and no quick fix here.
- Caesars Entertainment and Veraworks showing how they were able to quantify an ROI on social responsibility investments.
- Representatives of the Sustainable Procurement Council talking about the July launch of this initiative to set standards and establish ratings around sustainable purchasing.
Get in touch if you'd like more details about what I heard and saw; I would be happy to share more insights. Call me at 212-343-1006 or email robert@kuhnassociatesllc.com.
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Ideas You Can Use Now!
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Here are some ideas about how leverage my Sustainable Brands take-aways: - Review your data collection and analysis strategy to ensure that you are focusing on material information and mining that data in real time for information that can help you address environmental and social impacts in your supply chain. A great example of a third-party solution in social responsibility is recently-launched Labor Voices, Inc. (www.laborvoices.com), which is bringing brands real-time information about labor conditions in their suppliers.
- Make sure that your scorecard program isn't the only supplier accountability tool in your toolkit. Mentoring, capacity-building, impact sourcing and other tools are part of an integrated supplier-focused sustainability strategy.
- Make sure you have a risk identification and mitigation strategy regarding human and labor rights in your supply chain. Pay particular attention to suppliers based in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia ... but be aware that abuses can happen anywhere.
- Keep up with developments at the Sustainable Purchasing Council. Register for their July 23 online launch webcast at www.purchasingcouncil.org.
If you have questions or comments on these or other "best practices" in sustainability, please contact us. We have the ability to craft solutions for you in all these areas. Contact us now by calling 212-343-1006 or emailing us at info@kuhnassociatesllc.com.
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Calendar of Events
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Here are a few of the many interesting sustainability events happening in the coming month that we think worthy of your attention: July 8 - 11, San Diego, CA - Intersolar North American Conference brings more sustainability solutions to the Golden State. Join experts in the PV, energy storage and distribution industries to learn about solar technology, deployment and financing. Visit http://www.intersolar.us/en/intersolar.html to learn more and to register for this event. July 14 - 16, Seattle, WA - The Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association come together to jointly sponsor the Global Sustainability Summit, with tracks focusing on:
- packaging and waste
- education and communication
- innovation and technology
- supply chain management
You can learn more and get more information by visiting http://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/2013TPASustainabilitySummit July 28, Los Angeles, CA - The 4th Women in Green Forum hosts it West Coast event, bringing together women working in the sustainability space. To register and for more information, visit www.womeningreenforum.com. |
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Thanks for reading! Please contact us today to discuss anything you've read here, suggest a topic for a future Newsletter edition or learn how we can help you build a more sustainable business.
Call 212-343-1006 or email us at
Sincerely, |
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