Supply Chain

Supply chains are the backbone of global commerce. These intricate, adaptive systems transport products, services, capital, and information across industries and continents. However, today’s supply chains face mounting disruptions from global forces, pressuring companies to fundamentally reevaluate how they source, produce, and distribute goods.

In this context, sustainable supply chains have emerged not just as a competitive advantage but as a business imperative.  

What Is a Sustainable Supply Chain?

A sustainable supply chain actively incorporates environmental, social, and economic considerations into every phase of its operations, from raw material sourcing through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. It aligns performance with stakeholder expectations, regulatory requirements, and long-term business viability.

Why It Matters

  • Regulatory pressure (e.g., EU due diligence laws, Paris Agreement commitments)
  • Operational resilience against supply shocks, climate risks, and social volatility
  • Consumer demand for ethical, low-impact products
  • Strategic differentiation through innovation, risk management, and brand strength
  • Investor expectations for ESG transparency and impact

Core Pillars of a Sustainable Supply Chain

  • Financial Viability
    • Balance efficiency with resilience and long-term value
    • Build adaptive systems to manage climate and supply risks
  • Environmental Responsibility
    • Reduce emissions, waste, water usage, and energy consumption
    • Conduct life cycle assessments (LCA) to minimize environmental harm
  • Social Responsibility
    • Uphold fair labor practices, safe working conditions, and human rights
    • Embrace ethical sourcing and support local communities
  • Transparency and Accountability
    • Track and report environmental and social performance
    • Use blockchain, certifications, audits, and traceability to verify practices

Practicing Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy in the Green Business Lab

In The Green Business Lab, participants step into the role of an Executive Team managing their company’s full supply chain—from raw material extraction to product reuse or disposal.

Participants are challenged to:

  • Design and manufacture with life cycle thinking to reduce pollution and optimize resource use
  • Strengthen supply chain resilience, reducing risk and enhancing worker health and safety
  • Engage stakeholders including suppliers, customers, and investors on shared sustainability priorities

The Takeaway

Through experiential learning in The Green Business Lab, business professionals can build the strategic mindset and operational skills needed to lead supply chains that are both resilient and regenerative.

Participants learn about supply chain decisions.

Working together, participants learn new ideas, practice new skills, and discuss new approaches with their colleagues.

  • Leadership strategy for supply chain, the environment, and the planet.
    Apply concepts such as circular business models, sustainable sourcing, and sustainable packaging to the supply chain.
  • Strategy and supply chain are topics in the simulation game.
    Analyze supply chain activities against financial, environmental, and social metrics to improve decision-making.
  • Leadership strategy and supply chain are important in the simulation game.
    Use reverse logistics, green logistics, and sustainable procurement practices.
  • Tasks for supply chain in the simulation game.
    Summarize supply chain risk and mitigation strategies.
  • Track supply chain strategy in the sustainability simulation game.
    Modify product development to reduce cost and environmental and social impact.
  • Teach supply chain skills with the business simulation game.
    Recognize the importance of working with stakeholders to ensure transparency, buy-in, and improvement.
  • Marketing and supply chain are taught in the sustainability simulation game.
    Identify energy-consuming activities and sources of pollution across the product life cycle.
  • The simulation is a business leadership strategy game.
    Understand strategies for social sustainability in supply chains.
Diagram of the sustainability simulation game work process.
View the "Process" graphic
Description of the sustainability simulation game work flow.
Download the "Process" PDF

The following table describes in detail 3 Lab formats: Half-Day, Multiple-Cycle, and In-Depth.

Labs with longer formats have more options for available features, content, and interactivity.

View this page as a PDF

Team Activity
Formats for Supply Chain
Half-Day Multiple-Cycle In-Depth
Design and manufacture a product and make operational decisions. 1.Select a design and make operational decisions for a product using data about component cost, pollution and energy impact, and customer preferences.

1.Select a design and make operational decisions for a product using data about component cost, pollution and energy impact, and customer preferences.

2. Make operational decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

1.Select a design and make operational decisions for a product using data about component cost, pollution and energy impact, and customer preferences.

2. Make operational decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

3. Integrate sustainability into essential supply chain decisions.
Market the product. 1. Create either a storyboard or 30-second video commercial.

1. Create either a storyboard or 30-second video commercial.

2. Implement marketing decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

1. Create either a storyboard or 30-second video commercial.

2. Implement marketing decisions that are aligned with the company strategy.

3. Make sure that supply chain performance aligns with company quality standards to earn labels and certifications.
Promote the company and product through Social Media. Not Available. This is an optional activity described in the In-Depth format. 1. Post comments about the company and product to the Lab’s internal Social Media feed, and comment on the other posts.
Engage with stakeholders designed into the Lab. This is an optional activity described in the Intermediate format. 1. Consider scripted stakeholder perspectives related to company activities.

1. Consider scripted stakeholder perspectives related to company activities.

2. Engage interactively with stakeholders played by the instructor via the Lab’s internal email app (optional).

Make leadership decisions for your company.

(The instructor selects the topics. For the In-Depth format, we can also create custom topics based on instructor input.)

 1. Make decisions for 1 leadership topic.

1. Make decisions for up to 3 leadership topics from the following list:

  • Life Cycle Innovation.
  • Water Stewardship.
  • Supply Chain Disruption and Ecosystem Services.
  • Product Take-back.
  • Remanufacturing and Circularity.
  • Supply Chain Safety.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Product as a Service.

1. Make decisions for up to 8 leadership topics from the following list:

  • Life Cycle Innovation.
  • Water Stewardship.
  • Supply Chain Disruption and Ecosystem Services.
  • Product Take-back.
  • Remanufacturing and Circularity.
  • Supply Chain Safety.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Product as a Service.

2. Make decisions for custom topics (optional).

Propose a solution to a business opportunity related to supply chain sustainability.

 

(The instructor selects the topics. For the In-Depth format, we can also create custom topics based on instructor input.)

 Not Available. This is an optional activity described in the In-Depth format.

1. Propose a solution to a business opportunity that relates to course content. Here are some examples:

  • Implement a supplier Scorecard.
  • Design a vendor management program.
  • Develop a joint project with suppliers to reduce their footprint.
  • Improve equality and social responsibility in your supply chain.
  • Implement a recall process for damaged or tainted products.

2. Propose a solution to custom topics (optional).

 

Complete Debrief Questions & Surveys about company, team, and peer performance.

(For the In-Depth format, we can create custom surveys based on instructor input.)

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Supply Chain Sustainability Debrief Questions.

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Supply Chain Sustainability Debrief Questions.

2. Peer Evaluation Survey.

Answer questions and surveys:

1. Supply Chain Sustainability Debrief Questions.

2. Peer Evaluation Survey.

3. Team Evaluation Survey.

4. Answer custom Debrief Questions or Surveys that we create for the instructor, based on their input (optional).
Make a final presentation to the Board of Directors. Not Available. This is an optional activity described in the In-Depth format. 1. Present company strategy, progress-to-date, and future direction to a volunteer Board of Directors.
Use the simulation to teach business sustainability.
The simulation game teaches business acumen engineering lessons.
Use simulation to teach business strategy.
Use the simulation to teach about leadership.
Use the simulation to teach about marketing.
Use the simulation to teach about sustainable supply chains.

Participants explore topics in greater detail and interactively as time allows.

View this page as a PDF
Data that describes the sustainability simulation game.

Focus Areas

Use the simulation to teach business sustainability.
The simulation game teaches business acumen engineering lessons.
Use simulation to teach business strategy.
Use the simulation to teach about leadership.
Use the simulation to teach about marketing.
Use the simulation to teach about sustainable supply chains.

Use in virtual, in-person, or blended classes.

Use in virtual, in-person, or blended classes.

The Green Business Lab logo for the simulation.

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