‘Sustainable procurement, human element ’
A Sa result of mounting environmental and social challenges affecting the entire globe, many organisations now place sustainability as a priority within their strategic goals. In this landscape, procurement has an enormous role to play in embedding sustainability into everyday practices and across the wider supply chain. With most of our impact on the environment and our communities sitting in the supply chain clearly, we cannot become truly sustainable without our suppliers.
In our last article, we discussed sustainability overview, and we pointed out the triple-bottom-line which incorporate; people, planet and profit (3Ps)
We shall discuss each of the aspects individually, add corporate social responsibility, examine the relationship of each and how they play in achieving success of any business. This time, we want to take a dive into the people (human capital) and (consumers) aspect.
Sustainability
There are only two constants in sustainability. People and planet. With these two alone, maybe the world would have been a great place. The introduction of profit caused pressure on both the planet and the people raising concerns and the need to discuss sustainability world over.
People sustainability encompasses the development of skills and human capacity to support the functions, efficiency, and development of the profiting organisation and to promote the wellbeing of communities around the company and society that interact with the products of that company.
To break it down, we shall look at the owners of the company, workers of the company, consumers of the products, non-consumers but those affected by the processes of the company.
Let’s take an example of a sugar manufacturing company.
We have people growing the sugarcane, working on the farms.
We have people near the sugar cane farms, affected by the chemicals used to treat the sugarcane gardens.
We have people transporting the sugarcane to the factory, their safety.
We have people in the factory, safety issues against heat, equipment and tools, chemicals used to process the sugar. We have people living outside of the factory, getting affected by sugar cane and sugar waste like sugarcane bagasse, press mud, molasses, sugar beet mud, and pulp, which they can use to their benefit or tolerate as it affects them negatively.
We have people in the lower supply chain of the factory, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and the final consumers. All these people need to be safe and able to benefit from the chain without being injured physically, emotionally, or financially.
What are we looking for or at in the people aspects.
Development
Sustainable Development Goal eight is about ‘decent work and economic growth’ and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which were established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015
The key role of decent work for all in achieving sustainable development is highlighted by Sustainable Development Goal eight which aims to ‘promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’. Decent work, employment creation, social protection, rights at work and social dialogue represent integral elements of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, crucial aspects of decent work are broadly rooted in the targets of many of the other 16 goals. People sustainability is an approach to the procurement and business process that embeds ESG issues and CSR practices at the heart of its specifications and its process. But how can it be achieved,
What are the aspects that need to be looked at; Create employment and not take it away, here we are looking at a company opening with an aim of creating jobs and not closing as there will be people affected by its closure.
Create provisions for the disabled to be included in the work environment like lifts, slide ways on the staircases.
Progressive salary, an employee should not get the same salary for five years. The argument is that over the period, they have learnt several things (value), and the economy too is fast changing. Training and development of the employees to capacitate them with the right tools and skillset to enable them to do their work well.
Safety measures to cater for their well being like helmets, safety jackets, human baskets, warning signs and all.
Disposal
Good working environment with good light, comfortable seats, tables.
Treat waste before it is disposed off in the water bodies, landfills, and environment.
Proper waste disposal
Initiate and support community initiatives like education, health campaigns, and wellness. The Human element in our supply chains should be developed, nurtured and valued at all times as it is the most precious asset any business could ever own.