Supply chain management: embracing the net-zero carbon challenge

The carbon used or generated by industrial supply chains is a significant factor in a company's ambition to become low carbon. Indeed, some governments are designing their Covid-19 recovery packages to favour low carbon businesses or sectors.

This is part of a series, find out more about creating a resilient supply chain regime.

There are a number of different routes by which industrial companies can seek to decarbonise, although it is generally acknowledged that some form or other of supply chain buy-in is required. The pandemic has created challenges for many companies and their suppliers but it has also often brought them closer together, with greater levels of dialogue, support and cooperation between the supply chain than ever before as they seek to jointly maintain production despite the difficult circumstances.

Companies can take advantage of this closer collaboration to start, or to increase the pace of, their decarbonisation journeys. It is going to become increasingly difficult for large carbon emitters to survive without making changes as governments increase the scrutiny, regulation and penalties for those that don't embrace the net-zero challenge.

It is also expected that consumers will start to scrutinise companies and processes around their low carbon credentials. Investors are already doing so through the efforts of the likes of the G20's Taskforce on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFDs) - and some countries are moving towards making these disclosures mandatory -  which is pre-empting regulation in many countries.

Now is the time to act, and to engage your supply chain on this important global issue.

Where has the net-zero carbon target come from?

The 2015 Paris Agreement, signed by over 190 countries around the world including the EU, India, China and Brazil, aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C and requires signatories to 'balance' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This has been interpreted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as requiring global carbon dioxide emissions to reach net-zero (negative emissions) by 2050.

Why should companies be considering their carbon footprint?

Industrial companies generate a substantial amount of global carbon emissions - as high as around two thirds of total carbon emissions in some countries.

Industries including cement, ceramics, chemicals, food and drink, glass, iron and steel, oil refining, pulp and paper and many others generate emissions in a number of ways, including:

• the fuel and resources used in their processes;
• their buildings and operations;
• the way in which their supplied parts are manufactured; and
• transport and logistics.

Many governments around the world have committed to the aims of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5%, and many have implemented targets to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. It is clear that reaching these targets will require governments to incentivise the industrial sector to decarbonise, and that doing so will require disrupting the typical models and processes that these sectors have relied on for many years.

Initially, the global focus tended to be on a company's direct emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) ('scope 1'); along with indirect emissions from generation of purchased energy ('scope 2'). However, there is now increasing pressure and focus on the need to incentivise companies to reduce the GHG emissions generated within their supply chain in producing their products, and in the use of their products by consumers and others ('scope 3').

These incentives may take the form of carbon taxes; loans or subsidies for early adopters of new approaches; reduced subsidies for high carbon fuels and processes; planning and building control restrictions; certain fuels and approaches being restricted or phased out through legislation; or requiring public disclosure of each company's carbon 'footprint'.

It is also increasingly apparent that stakeholders, investors, regulators and even the general public are pressuring companies to show a strong, verifiable commitment to carbon reduction strategies in respect of scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions. As a result, many major household name companies have already announced their own carbon reduction plans.

Case study: decarbonising the automotive supply chain

The global transport sector is often a particular area of focus when considering how to reduce carbon emissions, with road transport often cited as being responsible for around 15% of global carbon emissions. In that respect, many countries are forcing a move away from petrol and diesel vehicles - including the UK, which recently announced that its planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans would be brought forward to 2030.

However, the carbon generated by the automotive industry is much broader than that emitted by vehicles on the road with fuel and resources; buildings and operations; manufacturing processes and transport and logistics of parts and finished vehicles all having a part to play. Decarbonisation of the automotive sector will therefore require more than just moving away from producing petrol and diesel vehicles.

It is generally accepted that the emissions from vehicles sold by the automotive industry, and those created in the supply chain to make those vehicles, will be scope 3 emissions. A combination of the incentives listed above, tailored for the automotive industry and with a particular focus on scope 3 emissions, will be required.

Over recent months the industry has recognised the importance of addressing, and being seen to be addressing, decarbonisation. As a result, many major automotive companies have already announced their own carbon reduction plans - including Bentley, Ford, Volvo and Nissan.

Announcing the targets is one thing, but achieving them can be a complex endeavour, particularly for companies with a global supply chain. A typical automotive supply chain will involve supply, manufacturing and distribution across many businesses of different sizes and capabilities, and involve multiple geographies. For this reason, many different approaches will be likely needed to tackle the decarbonisation of all aspects of the supply chain.

How should companies tackle decarbonisation of their supply chains?

The first step on a decarbonisation journey is to fully understand your company's 'carbon footprint'. This assessment should include all aspects of the production cycle in respect of the products or processes that you sell.

Many industrial companies are looking to incentivise their supply chain to help reduce their carbon footprint as part of their own decarbonisation strategy. We have supported various global businesses to structure and implement incentives including:

• communicating the company's decarbonisation strategy through literature, workshops and dialogue;
• forming a decarbonisation steering group with representatives from the company and its key suppliers, with a focus on continuous improvement in terms of carbon performance;
• ensuring that all tenders by the company to potential suppliers assess the supplier's carbon 'credentials' and move the cost-carbon balance in favour of low carbon solutions;
• including requirements in supply chain agreements such as measurement and reporting of relevant carbon emissions, carbon targets to be achieved and decarbonisation innovation and process to be at the forefront of the supplied service;
• adopting incentive structures to reward the supply chain for making lower carbon choices for the benefit of the company;
• embedding 'low carbon thinking' mechanisms into how the supply chain interacts with and delivers for the company including mission statements, training and signing non-binding charters.