Traceability for a Sustainable Future

While 2020 was mostly focused on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, another catastrophe accelerated at an unprecedented rate — the climate crisis. From biodiversity loss and plastic pollution to deforestation and food insecurity, the events of last year only exacerbated the ever growing environmental issues that we face. It is easy to push issues to the side when you can’t see the immediate impacts, but the climate crisis is showing itself now more than ever, often in the form of devastating environmental events. Just this past February, the freezing temperatures in Texas served as a sobering example of how climate change and global warming are currently impacting us and will continue to increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.

Individual behavioural change is an important way to reduce our impact on the planet, but those who will have the greatest impact are industry and large corporations. A report from CDP found that “100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions since 1988” and that just “25 corporations and state-owned entities were responsible for more than half of global industrial emissions in that same period.”

“100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions since 1988”

If we want to have any chance of fighting climate change, large corporations and industry leaders need to clean up their act and create a sustainable path forward. One way to do this is through better understanding their supply chain processes and ensuring their practices do not have negative impacts on the planet. Supply chain transparency and traceability will not only allow companies to better understand their processes and work to make them more sustainable, but it will also allow them to share what they are doing with their customers, without greenwashing.

At Peer Ledger, we support companies on their journey toward greater supply chain transparency. Our MIMOSI Connect platform is an invaluable tool to help companies map and monitor their supply chains to ensure they are working in line with their values and brand promises. We believe that with responsible action and greater supply chain traceability, companies will step up to the plate to create a brighter and more sustainable future for everyone.

References

1. Earth.org (September, 2020), The Biggest Environmental Problems Of 2020. Retrieved from https://earth.org/the-biggest-environmental-problems-of-our-lifetime/
2. Earth.org (February, 2021), How Climate Change is Driving a Deep Freeze into Texas. Retrieved from https://earth.org/climate-change-is-driving-a-deep-freeze-into-texas/
3. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Extreme Weather and Climate Change. Retrieved from https://www.c2es.org/content/extreme-weather-and-climate-change/
4. Morten Fibieger Byskov (November, 2019), Focusing on how individuals can stop climate change is very convenient for corporations. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/90290795/focusing-on-how-individuals-can-stop-climate-change-is-very-convenient-for-corporations
5. Dr. Paul Griffin (July, 2017), The Carbon Majors Database CDP Carbon Majors Report 2017. Retrieved from https://b8f65cb373b1b7b15feb-c70d8ead6ced550b4d987d7c03fcdd1d.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/cms/reports/documents/000/002/327/original/Carbon-Majors-Report-2017.pdf?1499691240
6. Leyla Acaroglu (July, 2018), What is Greenwashing? How to Spot It and Stop it. Retrieved from https://medium.com/disruptive-design/what-is-greenwashing-how-to-spot-it-and-stop-it-c44f3d130d5