Commercial, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  June 28, 2017

GSK ramps efforts toward carbon neutral supply chain

Global healthcare and pharmaceutical company GSK has joined a host of other large corporations making moves to encourage and promote sustainability and energy efficiency among their suppliers.

The company has hired a third party to manage its GSK Supplier Exchange platform, an online community of 700 members that represent 360 of GSK’s suppliers, to increase the amount of resources available to help them improve their environmental performance and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, according to a June 28 news release.

GSK has set a goal to reduce the carbon emissions in its supply chain by 25% by 2020, with the help of the GSK Supplier Exchange, which will now be managed by Schneider Electric. Longer-term, GSK is targeting a carbon neutral value chain by 2050. More than half of the healthcare giant’s emissions are currently tied to materials and services, according to the release.

Through the exchange, GSK’s suppliers will be provided with resources to help them transition to more efficient energy management, with an ultimate goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with GSK’s business operations. The GSK Supplier Exchange will deliver content and provide a forum for collaboration and networking, helping accelerate sustainability and efficiency projects.

“GSK recognizes that reducing our carbon footprint requires action across our entire value chain,” Matt Wilson, head of the environmental sustainability centre of excellence at GSK, said in a statement.

GSK’s efforts to engage its supply chain with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions reductions reflects a broader trend among large commercial and industrial companies. A recent example of this was Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s recent “Project Gigaton,” an initiative that will provide resources to Wal-Mart’s network of suppliers to help educate and support them on carbon emissions reduction programs.

Apple Inc. has also been working with its suppliers to transition to renewable energy use; most recently, Apple announced that Jabil Circuit Inc., which makes aluminum for the company, committed to using 100% renewable energy to power its Apple-related operations.

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