Sustainability for Purchasing & SCM –

There is a need to catch up

The year 2045 marks the 100th anniversary of the United Nations and the goal of the Vision2045 initiative is to inspire and motivate organizations around the world to actively participate in creating a more sustainable, better and fairer world for all people.

Motivation for us to accept the invitation to support the initiative as a management consultancy. Because for our industry, a special responsibility arises at the same time. As management consultancies, we can have a significant impact on all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations through our numerous consulting disciplines. Consultants reach thousands of decision-makers around the world every day and have a corresponding multiplier effect. We promote this understanding and, above all, work on appropriate solutions.

We are convinced that economic sustainability is the best starting point for a sustainable economy. After all, it is the economy or the individual companies that finance successful change.

Let's tackle it together sustainably, as successfully!

Top results are not possible without effective purchasing. If you are serious about sustainability, this is the place to start. Procurement alone has an influence on a good 50 % of the CO₂ footprint for medium-sized companies. Managing this footprint in a way that is effective for the bottom line and at the same time climate-friendly and sustainable is the central task of modern purchasing.

Bringing legal regulations on social and environmental requirements in line with profitability describes the business imperative. Companies must meet ambitious targets and still remain profitable. The days when social and ecological competence were dismissed as "soft factors" are over. What's more, those who are not at the forefront when it comes to the environment, climate and sustainability will damage their corporate value in the future - whether as a medium-sized company or a DAX-listed group.

It is time to create facts. In the next decade, the most successful companies will be those that integrate profitability and sustainability into their business in the best possible harmony.

Only economic sustainability creates a sustainable economy. We are ready - are you?

Purchasing and supply chain management are the business functions that can have a significant impact on a more sustainable economy. They impact every product, every screw, every component, every piece of food or clothing. Frameworks defined in supply chains directly impact the lives of all of us as we humans make, use and consume the products. As a business function, purchasing and SCM are relevant to the results of every single company, and they play a decisive role in determining competitiveness and economic success.

Sustainability Maturity Model

Together with the purchasing department, we put the supply chain to the test: With the Kerkhoff Sustainability Maturity Model, we conduct a needs-based as-is analysis for our cross-industry customers. Benchmarks show a strength/weakness profile and form an objective basis for the evaluation.

From the results, we derive a targeted and effective implementation concept of the supply chain and purchasing. Together with the process participants, we ensure successful implementation of the company-specific Sustainability Maturity Model.

Training and the use of software ensure sustainability and lead initiated improvements into an irreversible improvement process. This is a measure that pays tribute to the brand essence and, when implemented effectively, achieves a balance between investment and added value for the company.

Make the most sustainable decision per product groupake the most sustainable decision per product group

We enable purchasing to calculate the CO₂ footprint of different suppliers and make it comparable. With this support, purchasing has the chance to check supplier statements and compare them objectively.

In the past, the expectation was that purchasing would primarily optimize price. Temporarily, availability has gained the upper hand. Sustainability is a must. In the future, a reduced CO₂ footprint will take on the dimension of price in corporate decision-making.

In many areas, sustainability is already a product feature that significantly increases customers' willingness to pay - in other areas, this is emerging and offers lucrative design opportunities.

Cost and footprint calculation software

We use our calculation software to evaluate manufacturing costs. Simulations not only allow cost-side evaluations, but also provide values on the energy requirements of a wide range of manufacturing processes as needed. Our databases, which now contain more than 65,000 international indices, are increasingly being enriched with sustainability values. What has already found its way into customer projects is gradually being automated in the data standards.

As a licensed product, companies have the opportunity to access reliable data in order to underpin their own profitability calculations with key figures on sustainability.

It is crucial for success that environmental relevance is taken into account in digitization and included as hard factors in profitability calculations. Increasing complexity must be mastered through efficiency gains. Data and facts provide the best basis for consistent action, increased resilience in harmony with profitability and sustainability.

Environment, Social, Governance –

using regulatory changes as an opportunity

Companies that already operate an active supplier management system and deal with suppliers on an equal footing as partners generally have transparency about their direct suppliers.

To meet the regulatory requirements and implement economically sensible measures for a sustainably oriented value chain, we use our modular consulting approach, which supports company-specific strengths and allows risk management to be improved.

From a multitude of successful projects with medium-sized companies, it is our strength to achieve a pragmatic implementation with a high target focus. Economic efficiency and sustainability are not played off against each other, but are given a mathematical, factually objective basis for decision-making.