Green supply chain: always tangible benefits!
The green supply chain is now part of the everyday vocabulary of committed companies. But is it just a trend dictated by greenwashing, or a real strategic lever in the face of climate transition and carbon taxation? Between demanding regulations, carbon taxes (ETS1, ETS2, MACF), customer expectations, and logistical upheavals, responsible supply chain management requires new reflexes, while integrating cost optimization and the preservation of ecological resources.
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Behind the buzzword: what does "green supply chain" really mean?
Simple and accessible definition of the green supply chain
The green supply chain, or responsible and environmentally friendly supply chain, involves integrating resource conservation and committed management into every stage of supply chain management: procurement, production, storage, transport, waste management, etc.
The objective is clear: to limit pressure on the environment while improving economic efficiency and cost control for each product.
Origins of the concept: from greenwashing to climate emergency
Although the term has sometimes been overused, the rise in regulatory requirements (CSRD, ISO 14064, BEGES), tax and consumer pressure, and the climate emergency have brought the issue back to the forefront of strategic priorities. It is no longer just a question of reducing energy consumption or opting for environmentally friendly logistics: it is about taking action throughout the entire product life cycle, by adapting purchasing and warehouse policies.
Concrete levers for a responsible supply chain
Three areas currently structure a responsible supply chain approach:
- Responsible purchasing and selection of raw materials with a low ecological footprint;
- Continuous improvement of logistics: pooling of flows, modal shift, carbon-free energy, reduction in distances traveled, deployment of WMS/TMS, sustainable packaging practices, and recycling.
- Control of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through the electrification of fleets and optimized transport management.
The role of GCI and the ISO approach (14064, 14067) for businesses
Given the complexity of the challenges involved, GCI supports companies in mapping, measuring, and managing their progress across the entire value chain, using recognized standards (ISO 14064, ISO 14083, GHG Protocol) and tools such as Decarbo’Solution®.
How to sustain and strengthen your business through a successful low-carbon trajectory.
The real difference: when the green supply chain becomes a climate strategy
From reporting to management: moving beyond superficial communication
Moving from words to action means going beyond simple reporting. What distinguishes a true climate strategy is:
- The implementation of efficiency indicators (environmental assessment, energy consumption, ecological impact) for each segment of the supply chain;
- Dynamic management based on detailed BEGES and real-time monitoring.
Indicators, BEGES, and traceability
The integration of audited KPIs and the use of robust databases (PCF, FEMPP®, etc.) provide a clear overview, avoiding the pitfalls of greenwashing and facilitating decision-making at every level (purchasing, production, transport, storage).
Link to regulatory obligations (CSRD, BEGES, SBTi)
The implementation of a responsible supply chain now meets essential requirements: the CSRD imposes non-financial reporting, the BEGES requires rigorous emissions calculations, and SBTi encourages the setting of science-based reduction targets, including for scope 3.
There is no longer a critical size for deciding on a supply chain committed to sustainable development: major contractors now include environmental quality and emissions control in their purchasing criteria, pushing the entire value chain to adapt—including SMEs.
Where to start? GCI's Decarbo'Solution® triptych
To successfully transform your supply chain, it is essential to articulate:
- Accurate mapping of the environmental footprint (scope 1, 2, and especially 3),
- The active involvement of suppliers,
- The integration of emissions-related criteria into procurement.
GCI offers a unique approach with Decarbo’Solution®, based on three complementary modules:
Decarbo'Target®
Allows you to visualize and control the transition trajectory, simulate different emission reduction scenarios, and prioritize actions according to their impact on the overall BEGES.
Decarbo'Supply®
Facilitates supplier engagement, automated collection of accurate data (PCF, FEMPP®), centralization of returns, reduction of uncertainties, and tracking of costs associated with supply chain management.
Decarbo'Tender®
Integrates environmental considerations directly into purchasing and tendering processes, rewards the most committed suppliers, structures positive carbon discrimination, and incorporates issues related to the development of green practices.
This three-part solution makes setting up a green supply chain structured, collaborative, and tailored to the reality of each company (SMEs, mid-sized companies, large groups).
Concrete benefits of a responsible green supply chain
To successfully transform your supply chain, it is essential to articulate:
- Accurate mapping of the environmental footprint (scope 1, 2, and especially 3),
- The active involvement of suppliers,
- The integration of emissions-related criteria into procurement.
GCI offers a unique approach with Decarbo’Solution®, based on three complementary modules:
Decarbo'Target®
Allows you to visualize and control the transition trajectory, simulate different emission reduction scenarios, and prioritize actions according to their impact on the overall BEGES.
Decarbo'Supply®
Facilitates supplier engagement, automated collection of accurate data (PCF, FEMPP®), centralization of returns, reduction of uncertainties, and tracking of costs associated with supply chain management.
Decarbo'Tender®
Integrates environmental considerations directly into purchasing and tendering processes, rewards the most committed suppliers, structures positive carbon discrimination, and incorporates issues related to the development of green practices.
This three-part solution makes setting up a green supply chain structured, collaborative, and tailored to the reality of each company (SMEs, mid-sized companies, large groups).
Cas d’usage : Schmidt Groupe, pionnier d’une stratégie climat avec GCI
Schmidt Groupe, leader français et européen de la cuisine, a choisi GCI pour structurer et piloter sa stratégie climat, bien au-delà d’une simple déclaration d’intention.
Le groupe avait déjà une intuition forte : l’exemplarité écologique allait devenir un critère incontournable pour la compétitivité. Pourtant, la complexité du scope 3 et l’hétérogénéité des fournisseurs rendaient l’approche difficile à industrialiser.
Firstly, the use of GCI has enabled a significant reduction in the uncertainty of the GHG Balance, particularly for scope 3, from 50% to 5%. The Group now has 95% accurate data.
Thanks to supplier data collected and interpreted by the GCI tool, in-depth in-house analyses have been carried out on the impact of 35,000 products, grouping suppliers into 170 families. This represents +80% of purchases in mass and in euros.
Mise en œuvre d’une stratégie climat ambitieuse
Accompagné par GCI, Schmidt Groupe a mis en place une démarche structurée sur plusieurs axes :
- Cartographie précise du scope 3 : identification des fournisseurs et des flux à fort impact, collecte de données fiables grâce à Supplier’Connect® et My-PCF® ;
- Déploiement de Decarbo’Solution® pour centraliser le pilotage, automatiser la collecte et analyser en continu les résultats ;
- Animation et montée en compétence de l’écosystème fournisseurs : formation, webinaires, accompagnement sur l’outil, et relances automatisées via la plateforme GCI ;
- Reporting conforme aux meilleures pratiques internationales (ISO, SBTi, CSRD) pour garantir la fiabilité et la transparence des données collectées.
Résultats mesurables et enseignements pour le secteur :
- Une baisse de l’incertitude sur le scope 3 de 50% à 5% – passant d’un niveau d’estimation à une donnée précise, auditable et consolidée ;
- 242 tonnes de CO₂ évitées par an dès la première année sur une gamme de produits, grâce à l’ajustement des choix fournisseurs ;
- Création d’un véritable outil d’aide à la décision pour les acheteurs, intégrant la dimension écologique dans tous les appels d’offres ;
- Valorisation de l’engagement du groupe dans l’ensemble de ses réponses commerciales et de sa communication RSE.
L’exemple Schmidt Groupe démontre qu’une green supply chain pilotée, auditable, et collaborative n’est ni hors de portée ni réservée aux multinationales. Il s’agit bien d’un levier stratégique, directement connecté à la croissance responsable de l’entreprise.
La green supply chain n’est plus un “nice to have”, ni un simple effet de mode. C’est une mutation profonde du management des entreprises, portée par la réglementation, la pression fiscale et des marchés et la nécessité d’assurer une gestion responsable sur le long terme. Avec des outils adaptés comme Decarbo’Solution® de GCI, et une démarche structurée, chaque entreprise peut transformer sa chaîne logistique en véritable levier de compétitivité, d’innovation et de transition écologique.