Integration sozial-ökologischer Aspekte in die globalen Lieferketten

In addition to realizing economic goals such as cost reduction, quality assurance and risk reduction, the social-ecological design of the supply chain in the context of international procurement activities (global sourcing) gains increasing relevance in developing and emerging countries. This process is complex, given the various determining factors. The sustainability-oriented design of supply chain management places huge challenges on German companies in the global marketplace. Thereby, the motivations and instruments towards a sustainability-oriented supply chain management are manifold. Motivations range from image and reputation, as well as customer demands on environmental and energy management systems to more stringent legal requirements through to achieve a competitive advantage and cost reductions. In order to ensure social and environmental standards within global supply chains and especially in developing and emerging countries countries, a variety of measures and instruments are useful. Thereby, training and qualification of suppliers, regular spot checks, certifications and strict commitments with delivery contracts are gaining more and more importance.