Dell brings Green strategy to its supply base

PC giant joins Carbon Disclosure Project program to help suppliers report carbon emissions

By Dave Hannon -- Purchasing, 11/30/2007 6:37:00 AM

PC giant Dell announced today it will push its Green initiatives to its supply base by joining the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration (SCLC). This will allow Dell to work more closely with its suppliers on implementing standardized carbon reporting requirements.

“Our global supply chain is integral to Dell’s long-term commitment to become the greenest technology company on earth,” said Martin Garvin, Dell’s chief procurement officer and senior vice president in a company statement. “This means partnering with suppliers, customers and stakeholders to drive meaningful and positive change.”

The Carbon Disclosure Project launched the SCLC in October. The goal is create a standardized method of measuring a supply chain’s carbon footprint. According to a statement from the CDP, “By creating one standardized system, one single request for disclosure will be sent on behalf of all the members of the SCLC. This will vastly decrease the burden on suppliers who might otherwise receive a number of separate requests, all asking for similar information.”

In announcing the SCLC in October, Paul Dickinson, CEO of the CDP, pointed out that “For many companies it is the supply chain that makes up the vast majority of their emissions, so this initiative is vital in helping them reduce their total carbon footprint.”

Other companies enrolled in the SCLC include Tesco, Unilever, Cadbury Schweppes, Imperial Tobacco, Procter & Gamble and Nestle.