One more sign that we’ve reached a tipping point in the way businesses look at their logistics and distribution systems: British electronics chain PC World is sharing delivery-truck space with a sister company. Think that’s all well and good for businesses that operate under the same corporate umbrella, but don’t see the value for a company like yours? Have you checked the price of diesel lately? By Phil Berry

Global trends - such as the move toward "green" - are pushing supply chain complexity to new heights. Thanks to IT advances, the agility that is so critical to business success is more attainable than ever, says John Sookias, director at supply chain management firm Syncron. (Supply Chain Standard) Read more...

To truly green their supply chains, companies must consider their shipping platform - the way they package product in shipping containers for transport. When selecting or evaluating a shipping platform, companies should answer these five key questions. (IndustryWeek) Read more...

Chris Joyce, manager of REI's new LEED-certified distribution center in Pennsylvania, gives advice for going green. (Modern Materials Handling) Read more...

Green is better, but it may not always be best. Columnist Adrian Gonzalez points out that many green products and initiatives have tradeoffs that companies and consumers can't afford to ignore.

I'm learning that green doesn't go with everything, like those strange-shade-of-green pants abandoned in my closet.  The last time I wore them, all it took was a raised eyebrow from my wife for me to head back upstairs, head-down defeated.

Green aspirations top the business agenda in 2008, and that starts with an examination of a company's supply chain. But determining the carbon footprint of any supply chain is a complicated, expensive and uncertain endeavor. (CIO) Read more...

Going green can drive environmental and bottom-line benefits at the same time, but it takes an organizational culture change and a long-term perspective. This cover story from Supply & Demand Chain Executive makes the case that the best place to start a green initiative is inside the four walls of the enterprise. Read more...

Global companies like Hewlett Packard and IBM have long considered the environmental and social performance of their suppliers. Recently, many others have begun to show positive signs (hello, Wal-Mart). Opportunities abound! Now is the time for you, the supplier, to begin telling your sustainability story. Here are my top tips for selling yourself as a green asset to business customers. By Phil Berry

How do suppliers get companies to pay attention to their green offerings? The smart ones save procurement professionals a lot of legwork by seeking independent verification for their own environmental claims. Here's how some savvy SMEs are grabbing a bigger slice of the green-purchasing pie. (Smart Company) Read more...

Regular audits are a critical component of any green supply chain strategy, but how do they work? Hewlett-Packard's Karl Daumueller, a veteran of supplier checks, explains the HP Supplier Code of Conduct and discusses how the company's audits deliver results. (BusinessGreen) Read more...

The International Herald Tribune calls it "Phase 3" of the greening of corporate America: Companies have embraced alternative energy, bought hybrid fleets, and otherwise cleaned up their own acts. Many have helped customers go green, stocking green products, selling carbon offsets along with airline tickets, or letting them choose to pay extra for "green" electricity. Now they're looking to their supply chains as the next frontier for combating climate change. Read more...

Think you've got to use industrial cleaners to get your facilities up to spec? Think again. SLM editor-at-large Andrew Winston has seen a product innovation he thinks might just be the Prius of janitorial products a machine that can make floors sparkle without using any chemicals at all.

Companies that want to get ahead of the curve and stay there need to begin thinking green now and develop an approach to sourcing and supply chain management that factors this new reality into their plans. It sounds like a daunting task. But with the following ten simple steps, procurement organizations can jumpstart their efforts and get on the path to success. (Electronics Supply & Manufacturing) Read more...

Auto makers' efforts to green their products and processes means good news for Chemico Systems, Inc. The 18-year-old company, which helps businesses reduce chemical consumption in their plants and switch to cleaners with lower toxin levels, expects revenues to jump 35% this year. (Detroit Free Press) Read more...

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With companies eager to adapt to a new era of customer needs, regulations and competitive realities, green sourcing has become tantamount to ensuring that goods and services maintain high environmental standards while maximizing revenue potential. To help companies quickly develop a greener approach to sourcing and supply chain management with minimal investment, spend management solutions provider Ariba offers these ten best practices.

Keith Huckle, global chief product steward and risk manager for Dow Corning's new ventures and advanced materials business, discusses corporate responsibility and product stewardship in the supply chain. (Electronic News) Read more...

How to reduce energy consumption and carbon output in procurement, production, and distribution. By Peter Parry, Joseph Martha, and Georgina Grenon, strategy+business

During a recent conference at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, leading businesses including Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Disney, Gap, Timberland, and Hewlett-Packard shared some insight into their efforts to green the supply chain. GreenBiz columnist Nik Kaestner identified ten common themes.

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Mark Albion, author of True to Yourself and co-founder of Net Impact, considers the true costs of products.

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Marsha Willard, consultant and co-author, Business Guide to Sustainability, says working with your supply chain can make all the difference.