In its just-released third benchmark report developed for the Electric Utility Industry Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance, CAPS Research focuses on suppliers' commitment to environmental sustainability. With data from 211 non-manufacturers and 81 manufacturers, the report assesses how key suppliers are addressing policy and environmental management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water consumption, waste and materials management, and innovation.

A majority of the manufacturers (73 percent) reported they have an environmental policy in place, and one third of those who do not yet have a policy in place expect to do so within the next year.  Only 44 percent of the non-manufacturers reported they have an environmental management policy in place, and only 27 percent of those who do not yet have a plan in place expect to do so within the next year. This data is fairly consistent with previous years' data, but overall there is about a four-percent increase in both manufacturers and non-manufacturers who have reported their environmental policies are in place.

It appears that suppliers, both large and small, will start seeing more pressure from their customers to implement an environmental management policy. Information on carbon management and environmental sustainability are being factored into supplier scorecards as companies are looking at their supply chains to help minimize their own carbon footprint.

The complimentary benchmark report, entitled "Supplier Environmental Sustainability Performance," is available on the CAPS Research public website www.capsresearch.org. First-time visitors will be prompted to register to access the study.

Source: CAPS Research