An Ecoshift development team led by three PhD environmental scientists and policy analysts has developed a cloud-based system to help companies engage with their suppliers and use sustainability information to improve supply chain performance and reduce risk.
An Ecoshift development team led by three PhD environmental scientists and policy analysts has developed a cloud-based system to help companies engage with their suppliers and use sustainability information to improve supply chain performance and reduce risk.
SupplyShift is a secure, cloud-based enterprise sustainability management platform designed for companies with several suppliers to reduce risk and enhance sustainability in supply chains.
EcoShift says its new platform streamlines the process by encouraging competition and information-sharing to drive sustainability improvement. Buyers use it to collect and analyze supplier sustainability information and risk, and suppliers get a dashboard that tells them where they stand compared to their industry peers. While buyers gain access to more sustainable suppliers through the cloud-based sharing of information, suppliers get access to information about how to improve.
Supply chain management is quickly coming to the forefront of corporate sustainability, EcoShift says. While supply chain sustainability initiatives seek to manage risk, avoid costs associated with supply chain disruptions and prevent public relations issues from poor supplier practices, most tools for measuring and managing these issues are not fully developed, nor are the standards with which buyers assess suppliers.
SupplyShift officially launched at Tech Crunch Disrupt, which took place in New York City on April 29. The platform was selected as one of 30 contenders in Disrupt Startup Battlefield, a startup competition with hundreds of applicants. Several pilot companies have signed up as beta participants in the system.
Last year, EcoShift and the Carbon Design Group co-authored a series for Sustainable Brands that looked at the complex challenges of sustainable product design, the current state of LCA practices and tools, and how to integrate sustainability throughout the development process.
Published May 12, 2013 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT / 1am BST / 2am CEST
Managing Director, Sustainability & Social Impact
Deutsche Bank
Mike Hower is a sustainability communicator and connector committed to helping purpose-driven businesses and people unlock their full potential for positive impact. As founder and principal consultant at Hower Impact, he works with companies to translate sustainability strategy into stories that inform, engage and inspire investors, customers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders in the service of social, environmental and business goals. Through his Impact Hired initiative, he works to connect and engage corporate sustainability professionals at all stages of their careers.
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