Report: Few companies measure carbon footprint

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A survey by Accenture shows that only a small number of companies monitor their supply chains’ carbon footprints, let alone put green initiatives in place.

Only 10 percent of the companies covered by Accenture’s survey in May and June of 2008 of 245 supply chain executives “actively model” their carbon footprints, according to Jonathan Wright, global director for supply chain fulfillment at the firm.

Wright said companies aren’t putting sustainability high enough on its list of priorities, something that will change if more companies employ sustainability executives at the boardroom level.

“There has to be a top-down initiative,” he said.

Wright acknowledged it is difficult to assess a company’s footprint without any global standard driving the issue, saying, “It’s a relatively complex initiative.”

But Wright also said companies too often use the lack of global standards as an “excuse” to avoid spending time and money on “going green.” Many local and regional standards are emerging worldwide, he said, and this can serve as a blueprint for corporate policy.

“You can use those standards to set a standard across your business,” he said.

Not all business are afraid to go green, though. According to the survey, oranizations that show top-quartile performance in both customer service and cost effectiveness—or supply chain “masters” as they are called—are more than twice as likely to be keeping track of their supply chains and putting green measures in place.

“Retailers, I believe, are ahead of the curve,” Wright said.

In addition, 38 percent of respondents said they have started at least one green initiative in their transport fleets, and 86 percent of the respondents have started at least one initiative in their warehouses, such as natural light, energy-efficient bulbs, and recycling.