Case studies | Supply chain and operations
Managing the risk of a global supply chain
Generating value through CSR
Making sure products are environmentally friendly
US: Pharmaceuticals & life sciences
The client’s challenge
Our US client was concerned about the reputational risks associated with suppliers in its global supply chain. It had no process in place to monitor or influence supplier actions related to environmental, health, safety, or labour issues.
Our approach
We developed a supplier sustainability risk assessment methodology to be implemented across select supplier groups, including a field audit methodology and checklists for high-risk suppliers.
The benefits to the client
Our client immediately implemented PwC’s supplier sustainability risk assessment tool, identified and conducted field audits of high-risk suppliers, and strengthened management of reputational risks associated with global supply chain partners.
France: Hospitality & leisure
The client’s challenge
The ambition of a leading French-based global hotel operator was to reinforce its CSR leadership in the hospitality industry and beyond, and generate value through CSR. We were brought in to propose a new CSR strategy and CSR action plan aligned with this ambition. As part of our effort, we also worked on the client’s global footprint so we could identify its main environmental issues and support the definition of its strategy.
Our approach
We performed an environmental footprint of its upstream and downstream operations, based on life cycle analysis (LCA) and multi-criteria analysis (energy, carbon emissions, water, eutrophication and waste). We tailored our methodology to the client, and a two month peer review was also conducted by our hospitality and LCA experts.
We investigated the impacts of the upstream suppliers (food suppliers, laundry cleaning contractors, construction, etc), on-site and headquarter activities, and downstream suppliers (on-site waste treatment, end-of-life of buildings).
The benefits to the client
Our environmental impact assessment showed the client where its issues lay, which helped shape its new sustainable development strategy.
Belgium: Industrial manufacturing
The client’s challenge
Mounting competitive challenges and escalating environmental scrutiny in the marketplace led a division of a Belgium-based multinational manufacturer of high performance fire protection and insulation materials to proactively identify and communicate the environmental impacts of its products throughout Europe.
Our approach
We conducted a life-cycle analysis of the company's key products and prepared environmental product declarations (EPDs) in French, Dutch and German. We also prepared an interpretation of report methodology to ensure transparency and facilitate external review.
The benefits to the client
The EPDs and other findings were instrumental in allowing the client to quickly and easily respond to tenders which needed environmental data in several European countries, and to remain compliant with the European Commission’s integrated product policy (the policy attempts to create conditions in which environment-friendly products, or those with a reduced impact on the environment, will gain widespread acceptance among the European Union's member states).
