Protecting the environment has moved beyond simply complying with government regulations to minimizing the effect all positions of a supply chain have on the environment and the people in it. Businesses are now involved in areas that were once only overseen by special interest groups, such as saving endangered species, the scarcity of raw materials, the greenhouse effect, disappearing rainforests, air and water pollution, the effects of global warming, child labor, and worker safety.
Environmental sustainability issues impacted by the supply chain and procurement activities include the following:

