Recently, our CEO, Bauke Zeinstra, attended a lecture by Jo Mehaan, Professor of Responsible Procurement at the University of Liverpool. She shared a stark prediction: by 2035, we may reach a tipping point in environmental degradation. This makes the need for sustainable business practices, especially in supply chain management, more urgent than ever.
Mehaan warned that economies are growing so rapidly that, in just ten years, our planet won’t be able to support that growth. So, what does this mean for supply chains? At MAG45, we believe it’s time to move beyond simply ‘doing less harm’ and start actively working towards a regenerative economy.
In this article, you’ll discover solutions and practical examples of sustainable supply chain management.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
For global machine manufacturers, where thousands of items circulate daily, a fundamental shift is required to focus on renewable or refurbished items. It’s no longer about producing new items but maximizing the use of existing resources.
3 Examples of Sustainability in Supply Chain Management
These three real-world examples highlight the practical ways sustainability can be integrated into supply chains.
Example 1: Refurbished tail parts
Can refurbished machine parts really match the quality of new ones? At MAG45, the answer is a resounding yes. After a thorough inspection, we clean the items in a cleanroom and reintegrate them into the supply chain. Tools like drills can be reused 3 to 4 times, offering significant cost savings while also reducing environmental impact.
One of our clients already reuses over 100,000 items annually – a number that’s expected to double to 200,000 in the coming years. And despite concerns about quality, we guarantee that every refurbished item meets the same high standards as new products. Each item is carefully inspected and certified to ensure it delivers the same performance and reliability, making refurbishment a sustainable and effective solution.
Example 2: Packaging materials
Packaging is another area where sustainability can make an impact. While it’s common knowledge that paper can be recycled, there are more innovative solutions as well. Grass-based cartons, for instance. The carbon footprint of producing these grass cartons is 50% lower than that of traditional cardboard, as grass is easier and faster to source.
Example 3: Biodegradable gloves
In the high-tech and medical industries, gloves are an essential part of maintaining a sterile environment. Previously, millions of disposable gloves were used once and then discarded. Biodegradable gloves are a sustainable alternative.
These gloves maintain the same quality as traditional ones but break down naturally over time. This eliminates the need for oil-based materials and reduces waste.
MAG45’s Commitment to Reducing Its Carbon Footprint
At MAG45, we are not only helping our clients meet their sustainability goals; we are committed to reducing our own carbon footprint as well.
We’ve installed solar panels, switched to electric vehicles, and aim to be both energy-neutral and CO2-neutral by 2030. Additionally, we challenge our suppliers to provide sustainable solutions to us, pushing the entire supply chain toward more responsible practices.
Why Choose MAG45 for Sustainable Supply Chain Management?
We view sustainability as not just a goal, but rather as a responsibility. We believe that it’s our duty to do more than minimize harm – we aim to shift toward a regenerative economy.
One of our key ESG goals is to help our customers achieve their sustainability targets.
- We have extensive experience in reusing materials while maintaining the quality of new items.
- We actively source alternative, more sustainable products.
- We have a clear ESG policy and are dedicated to helping our customers reach their ESG goals
