After Paris: How Manufacturers Can Reduce Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Paris Climate Agreement resulted in a commitment by 195 countries to enact strict policies to address global climate change. Now manufacturers will have to fall into line. Whether they're prepared to do so is another question entirely. A recent study by West Monroe Partners found that 49 percent of North American supply-chain executives don't view sustainability as a strategic priority. And 64 percent have no plans to adopt sustainability initiatives in the coming years. Like it or not, though, they're going to have to take steps to slash their emissions, and fall into line with the goals of the COP21 meeting in Paris. But what exactly will that take? On this episode, we get some guidance from David South, senior principal with West Monroe Partners. He discusses the results of the firm's study, and lays out the challenges facing small and medium-sized manufacturers in their efforts to go green. Is sustainability a financial burden? Or can it bolster the bottom line?