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Olivia B

Feb 3, 2025

3

min read

Embracing the Second Era of Sustainable Sourcing

Companies are improving how they approach responsible supply chains.

Embracing the Second Era of Sustainable Sourcing

The majority of the environmental and social impacts of our material world occur in the supply chains that support every aspect of our global economy. The vague standards, “impact neutral” frameworks, and external certifications that defined the early days of corporate sustainability are past; the industry is entering a world of higher regulatory expectations, greater environmental literacy, and a renewed commitment to sustainable (or responsible) sourcing. Businesses are now seeking frameworks that emphasize positive impact, a holistic understanding of the risks in their supply chains, and outcome-focused commitments over promises and pilots.


At GreenBiz25, an annual event for Sustainable Business Leaders, companies come together to learn and collaborate around this next generation of sustainable supply chain goals. To facilitate this process, the Global Impact Collective and its partner, DT Global Commercial Advisory, will be hosting a joint workshop on the second era of sustainable sourcing, led by experts who have seen the shift firsthand. The event will showcase best practices across different industries and NGO sectors, then give participants an opportunity to consider ways of using these practices to advance their own sustainable sourcing goals.


“Past approaches to sustainable sourcing didn’t really evaluate, measure, and manage the actual outcomes,” recalls Seth Olson, a senior sustainability manager at DT Global Commercial Advisory. “Now, with the maturity of corporate sustainability as a profession, as well as sustainability science, it’s clear that you have to focus on driving improvements to increase business resilience.”


DT Global's paper Navigating the Future of Sustainable Sourcing: Strategies for Securing Resilient Supply Chains in Our Complex Global Agrifood Systems explores the rationale behind this change and offers advice for companies interested in leading the way. Sustainable sourcing is “when an organization actively and consciously sources products and services in an ethical, environmentally sustainable, and socially conscious way."


“Thinking holistically about social and environmental outcomes and having a good sense of economics helps businesses understand the value of strategies that integrate social and environmental outcomes alongside profits,” Seth says. “It's those improvements in outcomes that will lead not only to environmental and social resilience, but longer-term, to business resilience and business value as well.”


Any company whose supply chain relies on natural resources can understand the sustainability challenges laid out in this paper. Regulations, environmental standards, and even the definition of “sustainable” vary wildly across different countries, making it difficult for global businesses whose resources come from all over the world to create and implement cohesive strategies. Making things even more challenging, long-term impacts of sustainability measures are often difficult to quantify, and granular data is hard to come by, especially in developing countries. In the past, lack of data has led companies to prioritize clean, obvious numbers—such as their volume of sustainably sourced materials—to measure what they are doing rather than the impacts they are having. While such metrics aren’t useless, they risk obscuring larger issues in the supply chain that can’t be so easily measured.


So, what’s a proactive business to do? “A lot of this really boils down to the fact that there are no blanket solutions,” Seth says. “A solution that works in X environment won't necessarily work in Y environment. In fact, oftentimes it won’t.” Overcoming the challenges of collecting and measuring sustainability data is a vital start. “You have to first gain an understanding of your supply chains as granularly as possible. Once you understand this context, you can start to design solutions with the stakeholders and communities in those landscapes.”


The toolkit and skillset that are emerging will help food and beverage companies tackle these challenges and build solutions that address the complexity of truly responsible, sustainable sourcing. “I think that this paper represents one data point in a broader trend toward this recognition of the importance of local context and the need for a holistic approach including environmental, social and economic considerations,” Seth says. At GreenBiz25, companies will collaborate, in a pre-competitive space, to advance these goals, share knowledge, and make progress.


Want to learn more? Join Seth Olson and his co-facilitator, Judith Hochhauser Schneider, VP Partnership Develop at Global Impact Collective, on February 10th at 3:30pm at GreenBiz25 as we share additional insights and are joined by three experts from Google, World Wildlife Fund, and Levi Strauss & Co. This interactive workshop will allow participants to immediately apply new learnings to their own supply chains.

Agriculture

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Pacific Northwest: Leading the Nation in Food Waste Prevention

Writer's picture: Leslie HaleLeslie Hale
Jan 133 min read

The Pacific Northwest has become a beacon of leadership in food waste prevention, setting ambitious goals and pioneering innovative solutions to tackle one of the most pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. With a target to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, Washington is making waves through forward-thinking policies, groundbreaking partnerships, and community-driven initiatives. 


The state’s leadership is driven by its commitment to addressing climate change, improving food security, and fostering a circular economy. By focusing on prevention, recovery, and repurposing of food waste, Washington has emerged as a model for other states seeking to implement systemic change. 


To celebrate and further explore this leadership, we are thrilled to host an engaging panel discussion featuring four food waste experts who are shaping the future of food systems. This event brings together leaders from government, academia, and industry to share insights and inspire action. 


 

Event Overview 


Event: Food Waste Prevention Panel Discussion 

Date: Thursday, January 23rd 

Time:  5:00 - 8:00 pm 


Join us for an in-depth conversation with thought leaders and innovators who are driving change in Washington’s food waste landscape. This panel will explore challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions to prevent and minimize food waste across sectors. 



Meet Our Speakers 



Emily Hovis is an environmental health professional with extensive experience in public education, food safety, and environmental compliance. With a passion for promoting environmental health and public service, Emily serves as a member of the Washington State Retail Food Safety Advisory Council (FSAC) and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Food Recovery Committee. She is currently leading a Food Rescue Mapping project for Washington State. Beyond academia, Emily is the owner of Triple H Family Farm, a 33-acre livestock farm in Lewis County that focuses on conservation grazing and sustainable land management practices. Her unique blend of expertise in food safety and sustainable farming makes her a key voice in the conversation on food waste prevention.


 

Liz Fikejs - Senior Waste Prevention Program Manager, Seattle Public Utilities
Liz Fikejs - Senior Waste Prevention Program Manager, Seattle Public Utilities

With over 30 years of experience in local government, Liz Fikejs has dedicated her career to advancing conservation programs across natural resources. At Seattle Public Utilities, she leads initiatives to prevent food waste through public-private partnerships, including alliances with the Pacific Coast Collaborative. Starting in 2025, Liz will serve on the US Food Waste Pact Advisory Council, where she aims to accelerate systemic solutions to food waste. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to creating large-scale, sustainable change.




 


Leslie Mackie is a celebrated baker and founder of Macrina Bakery, a Seattle institution known for its dedication to community and sustainability. Leslie has been a pioneer in the baking industry’s efforts to reduce food waste, including collaborating with PCC and FareStart to repurpose leftover bread into croutons. Through her six cafes and robust wholesale operation, Leslie continues to lead by example, demonstrating how businesses can play a crucial role in building a circular food system.









 

Naomi Logan - Head of Product, Shelf Engine
Naomi Logan - Head of Product, Shelf Engine

As Head of Product at Shelf Engine, Naomi Logan oversees a team dedicated to developing innovative technologies that reduce waste in the retail food supply chain. Drawing from her background at Microsoft and USAID’s Digital Development team, Naomi combines data-driven decision-making with user-centered design to tackle food waste at a systems level. Her work at Shelf Engine exemplifies the potential of technology to transform how food is distributed and consumed, ultimately reducing climate impact. 


 

Why Washington Leads the Nation 


Washington’s leadership in food waste prevention is rooted in several key factors: 

  • Ambitious Goals: The state’s 50% reduction target aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing its commitment to global leadership. 

  • Innovation: Programs like the Pacific Coast Collaborative bring together public agencies and private organizations to tackle food waste holistically. 

  • Community Engagement: From hyperlocal composting programs to statewide food rescue mapping, Washington empowers communities to take action. 

  • Business Innovation: Companies like Shelf Engine and Macrina Bakery exemplify how local businesses are driving creative solutions. 



Join the Conversation 


This panel is a unique opportunity to learn from experts at the forefront of food waste prevention. Whether you’re a business leader, community advocate, policy maker or a concerned individual this event will inspire you to take action and be part of the solution. Together, we can build a future where food is valued, and waste is minimized. 

We look forward to seeing you there! 


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