First Green Supply Chain Forum hosted in Tianjin, China
Explore the Path of Enterprises’ Green Development from International Perspective
On October 22, 2015, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) convened the “Sustainable Development and Business Practices – 2015 Green Supply Chain Forum” jointly with Tianjin Green Supply Chain Center (TGCC), China Environmental United Certification Center (CEC), Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) in Tianjin. Over 200 distinguished guests from relevant government departments, NGOs, industry associations and 60 internationally well-known companies attended including: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), SEE Conservation, China National Textile And Apparel Council (CNTAC), China Electronics Standardization Association (CESA), Walmart, Apple, Microsoft, H&M, Marks&Spencer, Amazon, Unilever, Huawei, Lenovo, Panasonic, and Toyota.
Mr. Jindu Cui, the head of the Steering Group of Tianjin Green Supply Chain Management Pilot Project expressed his sincere wishes to the forum, hoping that the forum can be held on a timely, regular and customized basis from now on, to continually enhance the demonstration effect and multi-stakeholders communication.
Globally, sustainable production and consumption has drawn increasing attention. As a critical global production base, multiple stakeholders in China have attached more importance on developing a green supply. The forum consisted of a morning plenary session and four afternoon sub-sessions containing the themes of Green Procurement, Green Supply Chains and Green Consumption, Green Transformation of the Textile Industry and Green Supply Chain Innovation In the IT Industry. Speakers from the Ministry of Environment Protection, CNTAC, Apple, Microsoft, Panasonic, H&M, Unilever, Marks&Spencer, and others shared good practices on sustainable production and procurement.
The vice president of Walmart Global Sourcing, Mr. Guy Robertson, shared Walmart’s good practice of sustainable development projects on supply chain management and other businesses in the forum. He stated, “Walmart has kept good partnership with TSC. This May, Walmart Foundation announced a 5 million RMB grant to TSC to expand its efforts to support Chinese businesses in identifying and capturing sustainability improvement opportunities in Chinese product supply chains. We are really glad to see that TSC has made great progress in this area.”
UNEP Study Report – Sustainability of Supply Chains and Sustainable Public Procurement
In the forum, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) officially launched the Chinese version of “Sustainability of Supply Chains and Sustainable Public Procurement”. The study aims to encourage governments, enterprises, academic institutions and other stakeholders to raise awareness on sustainable development, discover the value of promoting sustainable supply chains and sustainable public procurement, and work together to promote sustainable production and consumption. Ms. Nanqing Jiang representing UNEP China gave briefing of the study, said that “This September, United Nations Sustainable Development Summit passed 17 Sustainable Development Goals in upcoming 15 years, the 12th goal is ‘ensuring responsible consumption and production’, guaranteeing the economic development with minimal resource and environmental effect. This study is a key milestone on promoting the understanding of the relevant concepts, challenges and opportunities of sustainable public procurement and sustainable supply chain.”
Mr. Weidong Zhou, the Managing Director of TSC Greater China stated, “It is a great honor for TSC to hold this forum with the partners together and support the translation and publication of the Chinese version of the study. Currently, it is the crucial time of accelerating the ecological civilization construction to achieve industrial green upgrade under China’s 13th Five-year Plan for National Economic and Social Development in China. TSC will bring its research strength and product sustainability tools to actively promote sustainable development and supply chain management in China’s manufacturing industry.”
Sustainable Product Certification, Tools and Platform
Considering current constraints in resources and environment carrying ability in China, increasing sustainable production and consumption will enlarge environmental capacity and help with sustainable development. Speakers discussed relevant sustainable issues respectively from international, domestic and local perspectives in the forum. Ms. Xiaodan Zhang, the manager of CEC introduced the development of sustainable product labeling program in China.
Mr. Weidong Zhou introduced TSC Product Sustainability Toolkits and their application in supply chain that how the toolkits could help buyers better evaluate and manage suppliers’ sustainability performance as well as help suppliers reduce the input on sustainability issues and make improvements of good quality and high efficiency.
The manager of Tianjin Green Supply Chain Center, Ms. Lingling Mu expressed expectations for the work in Tianjin, the first demonstration center of green supply chain cooperation network appointed by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The next step is to gradually build green supply chain management and product certification system with the participation of government, enterprises and public.”
Jon Johnson, the Chairman of the Board, TSC, said, “It is a pleasure to share TSC’s role and experience on promoting sustainable supply chain and sustainable development. I hope that the forum is a good start, leading to more cooperation in the future.”
