Supply Chain Management
BCCCC combines the most valuable aspects of a professional network and the knowledge resources of a leading academic institution. Our membership includes 500+ corporate citizenship-focused companies and over 10,000 individual professionals from around the world. Our purpose is to help our members get optimal results from environmental, social, and governance efforts by supporting their decision making with empirical evidence, and offering real-time peer support.
LEARN: Grow Your Supply Chain Management Knowledge
BCCCC aims to help corporate citizenship professionals know more, do more, and achieve more. Learning is a key piece of what we offer. And because we are housed in Boston College's prestigious Carroll School of Management, you can trust we are well-positioned to help you grow your knowledge—whether you choose to take a course, earn your certificate, or simply read our latest articles on environmental sustainability.
Take a Course
BCCCC offers nearly two dozen self-paced, online courses, including Integrating Corporate Citizenship throughout Your Supply Chain and Fundamentals of Sustainability Reporting. Browse all our online course options.
Earn Your Certificate
BCCCC's Sustainability Reporting certificate is a globally recognized credential in the field. We also offer more general certification in all dimensions of corporate citizenship, management, and leadership.
Join the Center
Some of our best learning opportunities (research, conversations with other sustainability professionals, webinars, etc.) is reserved for our members. Ask us about membership for your company!
Bundle and Save
Did you know you can combine your membership with add-ons like online courses, in-person learning, or team training?
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Featured Article
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN ACTION
For companies with stated values regarding equity and economic inclusion, supplier diversity is an important part of practicing what you preach.
DISCUSS: Opportunities to Engage with Supply Chain Management Peers
Our roots in one of world's leading business schools is one advantage we can offer the corporate citizenship community. Our membership—comprised of 10,000+ professionals from companies around the world—is another. Executives come to BCCCC for opportunities to discuss, share, ideate, collaborate... We offer a variety of formats and forums for this purpose. Please note that all of the following discussion venues, not including our annual Conference, are exclusively available to BCCCC members. We welcome you to learn more about each one, and ask about membership for your company.
Sustainability professionals are talking. Don't miss out on their conversations. Ask about joining the Center so you can gain access to all the discussions noted above.
WATCH: The Latest Videos on Responsible Supply Chain Issues
BCCCC maintains a robust video library on CSR and ESG topics like responsible supply chain management. Many of these videos—including main stage sessions from our annual Conference and monthly webinar recordings—are available to BCCCC members only. If you would like to request one-time access to a video as a non-member, please inquire below.
WEBINAR CLIP: Human and Labor Rights in Global Supply Chains
Watch this brief clip from the full-length webinar. To watch the full video, log into your member account or, if your company hasn't joined BCCCC yet, ask about membership.
This is just one of many supply-chain-related video assets our Center maintains. Would you like access to ALL the Center's webinar content—both live and on-demand?
Catch Up on the Latest Research on Responsible Supply Chains
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Multinational corporations can exert positive social impact without compromising their bottom lines by implementing wage-related interventions in their supply chains to increase worker earnings.
Researchers considered more than 6,100 factory-year observations from approximately 1,800 unique factories in nine countries from 2012-2019....
Executives love stories and they need facts. Delivered twice monthly, this series of research studies can help you create the best business case for your programs. If your company is a member, you have access to hundreds of these program-defining studies. Simply log in to browse them. If your company is not yet a member, ask us about joining!
Recommended Reading on Supply Chain Management
STATE OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Access: BCCCC Members Only; Executive Summary Available for Non-Members
Reading Time: 30 minutes
Helpful When: Exploring how business leaders view environmental sustainability
ESG PROCESS GOVERANCE TOOLKIT
Access: BCCCC Members Only; Non-Members Request Access via ccc@bc.edu
Reading Time: 60 minutes
Helpful When: Reorganizing ESG processes to address new regulations
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Access: Open to All
Reading Time: 15 minutes
Helpful When: Catching up on sustainability best practices for professional services firms
Would you like to access one or more of the members-only benefits on this page? Ask us about membership! Once you join, BCCCC benefits extend to everyone at your company.
Member Voices | Sustainability in Manufacturing & Retail
Barjouth Aguilar
“Throughout our discussions this year, three key themes have emerged. First, climate action must extend beyond company walls. For manufacturing and retail organizations, addressing impacts and establishing partnerships across the entire value chain is essential to meaningful progress. Second, comprehensive sustainability governance has become increasingly critical as regulatory requirements intensify worldwide. Third, human rights considerations now touch every aspect of our operations, from product development to supply chain management, requiring robust due diligence processes.”
FAQs: Supply Chain Management
Sustainable supply chain management reduces operational risks, increases efficiency, and strengthens brand trust. Ethical sourcing and transparency are increasingly important to consumers and stakeholders, and companies that proactively manage supply chain risks are better equipped to avoid reputational and legal issues. A strong, values-driven supply chain can also attract investors and partners who prioritize ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria.
Companies implement a range of strategies to promote responsibility and sustainability across their supply chains. These include supplier diversity initiatives, ethical sourcing standards, human rights and labor policy evaluations, localized workforce development programs, and vendor audits. Some companies also engage directly with suppliers to provide training and resources that improve ESG compliance.
Supplier diversity programs foster economic opportunity by promoting partnerships with minority- and women-owned businesses. These programs not only contribute to social equity but also promote innovation, agility, and resilience within the supply chain. Supporting a broad network of suppliers can also help companies access new markets and strengthen community ties.
Companies typically start by developing a robust supplier code of conduct that outlines labor, human rights, and environmental expectations. They may also conduct regular audits, partner with third-party monitoring agencies, and provide capacity-building programs to help suppliers meet performance benchmarks. Transparency, traceability, and ongoing dialogue are key to building sustainable supplier relationships.
What are some common challenges companies face when implementing sustainable supply chain practices?
Some of the biggest challenges include lack of visibility across global supply chains, inconsistent regulation enforcement across countries, cost concerns, and resistance to change among long-standing vendors. Companies can address these by investing in technology, setting incremental goals, and building supplier engagement programs grounded in shared values and collaboration.
Even with limited resources, smaller companies can start by auditing their current suppliers, prioritizing high-impact areas (e.g., labor practices, emissions, sourcing), and integrating sustainability into their procurement criteria. They can also collaborate with industry groups, participate in shared certification programs, and build long-term partnerships with vendors who share their values.
Patagonia has long championed fair labor and environmental standards in its sourcing practices, and has created supplier partnerships to reduce water use and emissions. Unilever has developed a Sustainable Living Plan that includes supplier engagement across sectors. Meanwhile, companies like Apple and HP have invested in supplier responsibility programs focused on labor rights, clean energy, and supplier training initiatives.