The OECD defines sustainable manufacturing as “the creation of manufactured products that use processes that minimise negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities, and consumers and are economically sound.” The Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI) is a project which aims to identify and build the capabilities required by suppliers to plan, implement and manage sustainable manufacturing activities and improvements in order to meet the adidas Group’s 2015 Environmental Strategy targets....
The OECD defines sustainable manufacturing as “the creation of manufactured products that use processes that minimise negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities, and consumers and are economically sound.” The Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI) is a project which aims to identify and build the capabilities required by suppliers to plan, implement and manage sustainable manufacturing activities and improvements in order to meet the adidas Group’s 2015 Environmental Strategy targets.
The project, which has been piloted in Indonesia, involves Tier 1 and 2 apparel and footwear suppliers. The project is being carried out in two distinct phases:
Phase 1 (2011) maps management and technical competencies, evaluates suppliers’ capabilities against that framework, and develops a training programme based on the identified capability gaps.
Phase 2 (2012) will deliver a pilot training programme specified in Phase 1.
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Australia was commissioned by the adidas Group to undertake Phase 1 of the SMI Project and to report their findings on an “open source” basis so it can be shared with industry peers and government. The RMIT research findings will be published in early 2012.
The research from this innovative project will also inform and help shape the adidas Group’s strategic training options for suppliers, including the possible creation of a regional training centre for sustainable manufacturing, in partnership with other brands and national and international institutions.