The call for sustainable business practices is under pressure from the economic downturn. Many among us note that, for most business leaders, the bottom line required to succeed during tough times overshadows any desire to implement green practices in the supply chain or other functions. Aside from the environmental ramifications of such skepticism, the temptation to treat sustainability as an optional endeavor fails to take into account that "green business" is becoming increasingly synonymous with "successful business."
Supply management will undoubtedly play an important role in a corporate world of finite resources and upcoming legislation. The emergence of Web-based supply management automation tools that can enforce the use of sustainable products, support responsible suppliers and institutionalize the processes required to transform green ideals into real fiscal policies has made the procurement function perhaps the greatest arbiter for supporting a sustainable, fiscally sound business model. In fact, supply management's ability to foster this change is already being proven.
