Choosing the right supply chain is key to being a good steward of the environment, says Darrell Zavitz, vice president, supply chain, at the Dow Chemical Company. Moreover, there's always good business value in waste reduction and energy conservation.

A highly effective way to get needed relief to victims of natural disasters is by marshaling the employees, equipment and expertise of logistics service providers, says Cliff Otto, president of Saddle Creek Corporation. That's the mission of ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network.