The Ultimate Guide to: Sustainable Supply

12 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH @specialityfood T he most sustainable businesses are those thinking creatively and with the future in mind; making in-the- moment decisions to fight fires as they occur might have stood you well in the past, but we must all invest time in thinking – and planning – for a better future. It would be simplistic to view the creation of a future-proof supply chain as purely being a matter of being more considerate of our natural environment – as vital as that is – instead, businesses must take a multi-pronged approach to weather upcoming storms. From the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as changing weather patterns and domestic challenges, businesses can no longer keep themselves busy with the day-to-day operations of their businesses and ignore impending perils. We all know that unsustainable processes must be a thing of the past, and with consumers more empowered than ever to demand change – and create it using the power of their wallets – businesses should feel empowered to evolve for the health of their operations as well as the wider world. It’s easy to become overwhelmed in this area, and it’s a long journey, but we can only start with the first step. We can all do something tomorrow, this week or this month tomake a small change, so do it! PAUL HARGREAVES, CEO OF COTSWOLD FAYRE THE FUTURE IS SUSTAINABLE Creative thinking is the way forward, and by being proactive you will stand the next chapters of your business – and the planet – in good stead HOW TO: CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN Nahuel Tunon, head of sustainable sourcing at Fairtrade Foundation 1 INVEST IN YOUR NETWORK “Businesses must avoid cutting and running from their supply chains. Currently, many individual businesses pay for and hold supply chain risks alone, often switching from producer to producer in an attempt to maintain their advantage, but this can add extra costs, burdens and inefficiency to supply chains. This also creates great uncertainty for farmers and workers who struggle to make critical and much-needed longer term investments in their farms and communities. 2 DON’T GREENWASH “Businesses must also be careful they aren’t greenwashing their supply chains and the impacts they are having on people and the environment. Not only are consumers alert to this behaviour, it also fails to recognise and be upfront about the real challenges that all companies face in ensuring their supply chains remain sustainable and ethical. 3 DON’T RELY ON CERTIFICATION “Whilst certifications like the FAIRTRADE Mark can support businesses to meet high standards in their supply chains, it is important to remember that certification doesn’t replace a companies’ own human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD). It must also be ensured that the burden of compliance with any new legislation is not transferred to producers and farmers.”