Working toward a more sustainable supply chain

Q&A with Paul McArdle, Global Chief Operating Officer

How do you ensure that you’re buying from suppliers who incorporate principles of sustainability? There’s a lot of talk about supporting climate friendly practices these days. From solar and wind power to hydroponic farming, there are as many approaches as there are companies to implement them. We talked to Paul McArdle to understand how hospitality companies can focus on sustainability in their supply chain.

How has Entegra chosen to address this issue from their perspective as a GPO?

“Entegra recently announced its participation with five global hotel companies, Accor, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Radisson Hotel Group, and another group purchasing organization to launch the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP). Our goal is to accelerate positive impact across the hospitality industry, driven by a commitment to provide greater support to clients on key sustainability goals.”

Why is it important for companies to focus on sustainability in their supply chain?

“Hospitality customers care deeply about this issue,” said McArdle. “They make buying decisions based on their values and don’t want to spend on brands that aren’t aligned with what’s important to them. And it goes beyond environmental goals, but those are part of it. Some pressing issues that the hospitality industry needs to focus on include:

1. Sustainable sourcing. The inclusion of social, ethical and environmental performance indicators into selecting a supplier, with a focus on plant-based foods, sustainable seafood and cage free eggs.
2. Plastics reduction. The choice of compostable, renewable or recyclable materials in your business.
3. Waste management. The reduction of food and material waste.

How do you know if you’re working with a sustainable supplier?

“That has been an overarching problem for businesses. It’s been really difficult to assess a supplier’s claims around their practices. And it’s been unfair for suppliers who have been making progress and investing in their corporate social responsibility programs. Transparency benefits everyone, and we have taken positive steps to assess our supply partners through Ecovadis, a globally recognized assessment platform.”

In what ways does HARP hope to impact the rest of the industry?

“This partnership gives our industry an opportunity to use our voice collectively to prioritize sustainable practices. It’s not an Entegra thing. As an industry, we’ve agreed on a set of objectives and can influence each other’s actions.”

In addition to its worldwide purchasing power, Entegra can help you set and meet corporate social responsibility and sustainability goals. Find out more about Entegra’s solutions in the sustainability report.

Call us at 833-977-1765 or contact us to get more information about putting Entegra’s purchasing power and business performance improvement solutions to work for you.