How Can Companies Improve Sustainability Efforts?

Supply chain sustainability is quickly moving from “nice to have” to “must have” for manufacturers that want to stay on preferred supplier lists. In a feature for Material Handling & Logistics, Indrani de Silva of Sphera explains that although many companies now publish ESG commitments, a surprising number still lack the systems and supplier engagement needed to deliver meaningful improvements. From her vantage point supporting global supply chains, she sees a persistent disconnect between high-level goals and the everyday procurement and logistics decisions that actually drive environmental and social impact.

For Rhode Island and Southern New England manufacturers, de Silva’s perspective offers a realistic roadmap. The companies that are pulling ahead are not necessarily those with large sustainability departments, but those that weave clear criteria and simple measurement into how they buy materials, choose partners and track performance. By focusing on practical steps—such as supplier codes of conduct, basic emissions data and consistent follow-up—smaller manufacturers can meet customer expectations, reduce risk and strengthen their competitiveness, even with limited internal resources.

Read the entire article here.