IBM has made a significant step in cleaning up its global operations. It’s now requiring all of its suppliers in 90 different countries to install management systems to track environmental data like energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste and recycling levels. All suppliers must set environmental goals and publicly report their progress.
For large global companies like IBM, turning over a greener leaf starts with gathering environmental data on all parts of your supply chain. Once armed with that information, IBM will know where and how to make changes.
IBM is also requiring any subcontractors of their suppliers to track the same data if they’re a significant part of the supply chain. The company says their goal with this project is to systematize environmental management and sustainability so that all of its global partners are working with the same type of information and are easily able to set and reach environmental goals.
All suppliers will need to have these systems installed by early 2011. If they don’t comply, IBM says it will no longer do business with them.
via NY Times