ISM calls sustainability a critical part of supply management

Supply management decisions should be based upon the organization's written strategic plan as well as its sustainability and social responsibility policies. This is the official position of the world's first and largest supply management organization, Institute for Supply Management. For more than four years, ISM has provided tools, information and best practices to help supply management professionals gain executive support and internal consensus for social responsibility and sustainability initiatives.

ISM defines sustainability as "the ability to meet current needs without hindering the ability to meet the needs of future generations in terms of economic, environmental and social challenges.”

In a position statement released this month, ISM encourages supply management professionals to have a thorough understanding of their organization's sustainability and social responsibility concepts and policies, as well as their role within those policies and work with suppliers to achieve certain goals while adding value to the business. ISM's Position Statements are drafted at the staff and committee level, and then brought to the ISM Board of Directors for final approval. All ISM Position Statements can be found online at www.ism.ws. Select Media Room.

Supply professionals interested in successfully developing and integrating sustainability and social responsibility initiatives into their own organizations and supply chains may also wish to attend the inaugural Conference on Sustainability and Social Responsibility November 6-7, 2008 at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center in Adelphi, Maryland. Visit the ISM Web site for agenda, registration information and online registration. 

For more information, including ISM's Principles of Social Responsibility, visit ISM's Social Responsibility Web site at www.ism.ws/sr.

As the largest supply management institute in the world, the mission of Institute for Supply Management(TM) (ISM) is to lead supply management. By executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of excellence, influence building and information dissemination — including the renowned monthly ISM Report On Business — ISM continues to extend the global impact of supply management. ISM is proud to recognize professional excellence in supply management with awards such as the ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management and the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. ISM's membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals in 75 countries. Supply management professionals are responsible for trillions of dollars in the purchases of products and services annually. ISM is a member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).