How are supply chains impacting the planet and its people? Learn why sustainable supply chain management is important
What’s the standard course of a supply chain today? From raw materials in the ground, to a consumer, to a junkyard — from cradle to grave.The need for sustainable supply chain management is pressing. That is why the University of Liverpool's School of Management has dedicated a research center to discover how companies can achieve a more sustainable supply chain model.
Professor Jo Meehan works for the University of Liverpool Management School as a professor of Responsible Procurement and is the Centre for Sustainable Business director, she examines the importance of sustainable supply chains, slowing things down, and increasing transparency in every step of supply chain management.
Moving toward a circular sustainable supply chain model
Mining and manufacturing new materials takes an overwhelming amount of energy, even before the goods are transported across the world, used briefly, and disposed of.
"Manufacturing and operations are where our biggest carbon footprint lies, particularly in things like agriculture or fast fashion," Jo (pictured) explains.
Finite resources such as lithium, cobalt, oil, and gas significantly effect a supply chain's negative environmental impact. Every time we take these resources out of the ground, we deplete the number of resources available. They also take a large amount of energy to mine and transport from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Chile.
Jo's team looks towards a circular supply chain model to counter this issue.
"We need to think about how we can repair and reuse materials," Jo says. "Now, it's more a cradle-to-cradle model — how can materials at the end of a supply chain feedback as a raw material?"
However, materials such as lithium and cobalt occupy our supply chains and aren't designed to be reused. "Often, it takes more energy to break those products down than it does to make them new. So, the economic incentive isn't there," Jo says.
A right-to-repair law has cropped up in the UK and various parts of the EU. This legislation is pressing businesses to think about how they produce goods so they are repairable and can be reused more efficiently.
Along with trying to repair and reuse materials the circular supply chain model would look at coordinating and optimizing logistics, so no trucks or boats are traveling back with an empty load.
Reducing consumption in supply chains
Companies' pressure to provide an extensive selection of goods and materials quickly has a marked impact on our environment. Humans have become accustomed to next-day delivery, seeing tropical and out-of-season fruit and vegetables in the grocery store, and having anything they want at a press of a button.
Jo and the research team at Liverpool aim to push back on these expectations and find a new way of consuming.
"We have cheap clothes, made cheaply; you use them, dispose of them, then buy new ones," Jo explains. "The transformative change is breaking that demand for consumer products."
After a 12% drop in revenue during the pandemic, the global fast fashion industry has recovered with experts predicting the market will rise to $28 billion in revenue in 2023. Globally, the industry produces an estimated 92 million tons of textiles waste each year, and the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second.
Jo highlights how easing the pressures and demands of consumer supply chains starts at a local level. This can be seen with a move towards vintage clothes shopping or sharing models.
The Library of Things is an organization that lends out infrequently used resources, such as a jet washer or air fryer, to the local community. Apps for renting clothes or accessories for specific occasions, such as an interview or wedding, have also gained popularity.
"These new economic models are starting to pop up, which are starting to rethink this linear mindset of 'I want something? I must own it,'" Jo says.
Consumption issues don’t stop at fast fashion: our food consumption is also environmentally impactful. Instead of eating fruit and vegetables from local sources when grown naturally, we use excessive fertilizers and false heat to have a variety from every corner of the globe year-round.
"Strawberries don't grow all year round, and apples don't grow all year round. So, we shouldn't expect to see those in our supermarkets all year round."
Jo suggests a more seasonal, local approach to food — instead of expecting to have everything available all the time, there is a variety from season to season.
"This would make us consumers more in touch with the cycles of nature, rather than demanding everything all the time," she says.
Understanding modern slavery risks of supply chains
The more global and intricate supply chains become, the greater the risk of underpaid, neglected workers. Companies use countless materials and products daily, from paper to cotton to lithium batteries. The volume of complex supply chains that daily feed into companies makes it hard for businesses to know what goes on at every level.
"Part of the issue we have with businesses is that they don't have that connection of where their products come from," Jo says.
Jo and her team work with companies to identify modern slavery risks within their supply chains. One continuing area at risk of modern slavery is the cotton industry, with significant problems with forced labor and unfair wages — This is also a substantial problem with the fast fashion industry.
Jo reminds businesses, such as car or construction companies, that even though they don't work in fashion, they will still use cotton supply chains with employee uniforms or car seat materials.
"It's about breaking that down and going: what are all the various components? What are the stages of production? And how do we start to get visibility?"
To make supply chains more sustainable and try and reduce modern slavery risks, Jo discusses using blockchain to track workers at every stage of the process.
"We've got all this information about products. GPS lets us track all our trucks, planes, and boats."
So how can we use technology and data to understand more about where our products come from having visibility of products, but not just the product we need to have visibility of workers," Jo says.
The research center at Liverpool is gaining more and more insight into the need for sustainable supply chains both for the planet and for the people in it. Jo emphasizes the need for us to change our expectations and connect with supply chains on a more local, slower, and seasonal level.
Having worked with students at the Liverpool research center, Jo has high hopes for the future.
"Students will be the future leaders; they will lead the supply chains, leading these big companies making these big decisions. And the climate emergency and social inequality will be even bigger in their intuition than it is for us now."
This October, in recognition for the 20th anniversary of the school of management, Liverpool is launching the Center of Sustainable Business with Jo as the director. This center will be dedicated to holding companies accountable and driving change.
"It's very much about business not-as-usual. How does business need to change? How do we need to report non-financial information? How do we change accountability for business? How do we use technology to disrupt some of these consumer systems? How do we move to circularity and have more responsible consumption of products that requires new ways of thinking?"
BB Insights draws on the expertise of world leading business school professors to cover the most important business topics of today.
Student Reviews
University of Liverpool School of Management
My experience in UOL
Well I won't tell you about all the great things about this university. But I'll just tell you my honest experience about it.
I have visited almost all the places here. This university knows how take care of their students. Be it any aspect, be it career and placement department, be it societies, be it organising committees, they know what all issues a student can face and they are ready with the solutions already.
Professors here are so welcoming. You can literarily bother them ample number of times but they will still be so nice with you. They actually put a lot of efforts to make letures more fun. They try their best to focus on each and every student and check if they are comfortable or now.
Coming to the offerings. They know that there will be a lot of international students and there will be a lot of issues they will face in adjustment over here. So they organised a lot of events, distributed a lot of free vouchers just to make students feel welcomed over here.
Trust me if you are looking for a Uni for yourself or for someone, do add this one on your priority list.
Fantastic school
The lecturers are incredibly experienced in their field of study, and it shows when they teach. They know what they are talking about, and that instills a level of trust that you have made the right choice coming to this university. They are supportive and charismatic - exactly how lecturers should be!
The accommodation is all fantastic too. Homely, comfortable, so close to campus. Even Greenbank, which is a 15 minute bus journey from campus, has its perks (heavily discounted bus pass - from £400 to £60 and free gym membership).
There are so many societies too! Literally one for everything. During the society fair, they were all so welcoming which is so great to see.
The lecture theatres are all top-notch too. It feels so modernistic. It really feels like I have had a big step up from sixth form to university. I made the right choice by coming to UoL!
Original RedBrick Review!!
The Marketing Course at this uni a great course with exceptional industry connections - for example a brand assessment centre from The Hut Group and an assessment centre at Anfield Football Stadium! The campus is great as it is all connected and everything can be found there - so whether you are a Starbucks or Cafe Nero kind of person the campus has everything. Freshers is great with campus tours, city walks and course talks to connect you with fellow coursemates. Halls was also a great experience - I loved the halls packs where you can get free tshirts, baking kits and we even got free dominoes pizzas!!
Enjoyed every aspect of it!
My experience studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool has been amazing! All the lecturers and students have been so lovely and helpful. The management school building is my favourite place to study. I would recommend studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool because the content is so engaging and the assignments are creative.
Quality
Perfect learning methodologies and curriculums, the most i liked about my learning experience with University of Liverpool is the professionalism, in delivering the subjects and helping the students gaining more knowledge.
Amazing course
The marketing course at UOL is great the lecturers are helpful and provide in-person and online resources to succeed in assignments, and the careers department is extremely helpful. The modules are all relevant and have expanded my understanding of the marketing industry and consumer behaviour, social media and so on
The Best Experience
Currently in my Second Year studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool. Due to the big student culture in Liverpool, you soon feel completely at ease and at home. Staff are extremely helpful - there is always opportunities to ask for additional support/guidance. Each module is clear and well organised - this definitely helps in first year when it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the new workload. It’s very easy to find your way around due to it being a campus university as everything is in close proximity. I lived at Greenbank accommodation in my first year and the staff are so helpful and make you feel very well settled. There is a huge community feel and the modules are interactive meaning making friends is much easier and a lot less intimidating. If you’re considering attending this university and I honestly couldn’t recommend more - you’ll have the best experience!
Culture
One of my favourite things about this university is the diversity of its people. I met so many different people during my time here, from all different backgrounds and experiences. Not only did these people provide me with insight and knowledge into their own cultures and beliefs, they also allowed me to learn about and understand different ways of life that I would have otherwise never been exposed to. The tutors were also incredibly supportive on this course and allowed me to excel.
Great university!
I did my undergrad in film studies at LJMU and I honestly could not recommend it enough. It has the perfect mix of practical and theory work that prepares you for any job possible in the film industry, from lighting tech to AD. The university lecturers were also very attentive, and I felt comfortable enough with them to seek their help if I ever had an issue or concern, academic or personal. LJMU gave me experiences I would not have got anywhere else, offering summer placements completely free that broadened my horizons. The fact the campus is interspersed around the city also makes it very convenient.
Law Program
UoL has been a great school to attend so far. I attend UoL's campus in the Cayman Islands, Truman Bodden Law School. Being on such a small island, it has been great with the personal face-to-face with lecturers in understanding topics.
My experience in UOL
Well I won't tell you about all the great things about this university. But I'll just tell you my honest experience about it.
I have visited almost all the places here. This university knows how take care of their students. Be it any aspect, be it career and placement department, be it societies, be it organising committees, they know what all issues a student can face and they are ready with the solutions already.
Professors here are so welcoming. You can literarily bother them ample number of times but they will still be so nice with you. They actually put a lot of efforts to make letures more fun. They try their best to focus on each and every student and check if they are comfortable or now.
Coming to the offerings. They know that there will be a lot of international students and there will be a lot of issues they will face in adjustment over here. So they organised a lot of events, distributed a lot of free vouchers just to make students feel welcomed over here.
Trust me if you are looking for a Uni for yourself or for someone, do add this one on your priority list.
Fantastic school
The lecturers are incredibly experienced in their field of study, and it shows when they teach. They know what they are talking about, and that instills a level of trust that you have made the right choice coming to this university. They are supportive and charismatic - exactly how lecturers should be!
The accommodation is all fantastic too. Homely, comfortable, so close to campus. Even Greenbank, which is a 15 minute bus journey from campus, has its perks (heavily discounted bus pass - from £400 to £60 and free gym membership).
There are so many societies too! Literally one for everything. During the society fair, they were all so welcoming which is so great to see.
The lecture theatres are all top-notch too. It feels so modernistic. It really feels like I have had a big step up from sixth form to university. I made the right choice by coming to UoL!
Original RedBrick Review!!
The Marketing Course at this uni a great course with exceptional industry connections - for example a brand assessment centre from The Hut Group and an assessment centre at Anfield Football Stadium! The campus is great as it is all connected and everything can be found there - so whether you are a Starbucks or Cafe Nero kind of person the campus has everything. Freshers is great with campus tours, city walks and course talks to connect you with fellow coursemates. Halls was also a great experience - I loved the halls packs where you can get free tshirts, baking kits and we even got free dominoes pizzas!!
Enjoyed every aspect of it!
My experience studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool has been amazing! All the lecturers and students have been so lovely and helpful. The management school building is my favourite place to study. I would recommend studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool because the content is so engaging and the assignments are creative.
Quality
Perfect learning methodologies and curriculums, the most i liked about my learning experience with University of Liverpool is the professionalism, in delivering the subjects and helping the students gaining more knowledge.
Amazing course
The marketing course at UOL is great the lecturers are helpful and provide in-person and online resources to succeed in assignments, and the careers department is extremely helpful. The modules are all relevant and have expanded my understanding of the marketing industry and consumer behaviour, social media and so on
The Best Experience
Currently in my Second Year studying Marketing at the University of Liverpool. Due to the big student culture in Liverpool, you soon feel completely at ease and at home. Staff are extremely helpful - there is always opportunities to ask for additional support/guidance. Each module is clear and well organised - this definitely helps in first year when it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the new workload. It’s very easy to find your way around due to it being a campus university as everything is in close proximity. I lived at Greenbank accommodation in my first year and the staff are so helpful and make you feel very well settled. There is a huge community feel and the modules are interactive meaning making friends is much easier and a lot less intimidating. If you’re considering attending this university and I honestly couldn’t recommend more - you’ll have the best experience!
Culture
One of my favourite things about this university is the diversity of its people. I met so many different people during my time here, from all different backgrounds and experiences. Not only did these people provide me with insight and knowledge into their own cultures and beliefs, they also allowed me to learn about and understand different ways of life that I would have otherwise never been exposed to. The tutors were also incredibly supportive on this course and allowed me to excel.
