4 Steps Towards A More Sustainable Supply Chain

Julie Starr • October 31, 2020



There is increasing pressure on companies to make sure that every step of the supply chain is as sustainable as it possibly can be. This comes from stakeholders, peers, customers, and the media.  It is for good reason; something needs to be done to protect the planet, and business and industry are some of the key players that can make the change.

By managing and improving sustainability in the supply chain, a business can conserve resources, save costs, discover new products and supply innovations, optimize processes, and increase productivity levels. 

While most businesses are keen to implement a sustainable supply chain, going about actually doing it is a whole different matter. It can be a complicated process, but not doing so is one of the biggest risks a business can take in an age where climate change is top of the agenda. Here, we look at four steps towards implementing a more sustainable supply chain.

Communicate expectations

Finding a balance between sustainability and making sure that you are maximizing your business profits is a challenge, but by communicating your expectations, you can make it much easier. You need to establish your expectations and communicate it to everyone else involved in your supply chain, via a sustainability code of conduct.

Of course, with this, you need to ensure that it does not affect the other aspects of your business too. Reliability and the swift payment of bills so that Skip Tracing is not necessary is essential in all levels of the supply chain, as well as transparency and communication.

Simplify your supply chain

In many cases, the supply chain can be made more sustainable simply by cutting it back and streamlining it. Analyze each step, look at the data, and see how you can combine this knowledge with automation and artificial intelligence to improve processes within the supply chain. Every adaptation that reduces waste,  lowers your carbon footprint , and speeds up productivity without compromising on safety and quality is a huge step towards a more sustainable – and simple – supply chain.

Make sure your supply and demand planning is reviewed regularly

A misalignment between what you need to produce and what you actually produce can mean huge wastage in raw materials, energy, and transportation. Again, this is where artificial intelligence and careful analysis of your forecasted supply and demand can ensure you only produce what you need, reducing the waste int terms of materials and resources and ensuring a more efficient manufacturing and supply process.

Keep an eye on environmental risks

Many supply chains already feel the effect of climate change, and as the issue deepens, it will affect more and more companies. Take into consideration external factors such as bush and wildfires, lower agricultural yields, extreme weather conditions, and drought, which can all impact the efficiency, speed, and quality of the supply chain. Having plans in place to mitigate the impact these have is essential  for maintaining a stable and reliable supply chain. For instance, partnering with experts like https://www.greshamsinc.com/ provides innovative solutions and insights to managing challenges you may face with a winter storm. Their expertise can help businesses adapt to changing conditions, ensuring operations remain seamless. 


By addressing these risks, head-on companies can build a supply chain that is more sustainable and capable of weathering unforeseen challenges. 

It is becoming more apparent than ever before that sustainability needs to be a focus of business. These four steps will go a long way to making sure that your business is heading in the right direction.

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.