Well, at a high level, it means buying things in ways that minimise the impacts on the environment. But I would go further and throw in minimising, or eliminating, impacts on communities and individuals too, negative ones anyway.

Essentially, sourcing products which are both ‘ethical’ and ‘sustainable’.

By advocating for the profitability of your distributors, you not only foster a healthier business environment, but also create a supply chain which is more reliable, efficient, and responsive to market needs.

It ensures both suppliers and customers enjoy better service, stronger partnerships, and greater overall success.

Do you ever feel powerless when it comes to managing your products and suppliers? That the sheer volume to work through is simply overwhelming?

Well, hopefully I can offer you some help with that.

One of the big obstacles in creating really reliable, ethical, and sustainable chemical supply chains is the overwhelming complexity.

If we get a good grip on the intricacies of global supply chains, we can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve our reliability.

Many businesses don’t actively manage their supply chain risks.

Instead of planning ahead, they react to problems as they occur. Which leads to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities, potentially resulting in a supply chain which is slow and inconsistent. And a lot of firefighting…

This is why I call it “Reliability Roulette”.

As a buyer, knowing the journey of our raw materials from production to delivery should be an absolute minimum. This ensures quality, reduces risk, and promotes ethical practices at the very least.

Transparency builds trust, and ensures we are part of a supply chain that values honesty and openness above all.

It’s crucial to get it right as we need reliable supply chains, competitive pricing, and access to the latest innovations & real-time market intelligence.

I call this the NURTURE step of the CLEAN framework, the final step. I like to break it down as follows:

1. Communication

2. Understanding

3. Long-term commitments

4. Win-win mindset

Understanding how to manage inventory properly, is crucial. To put it really simply, it helps you avoid unnecessary costs, improves cash flow, and ensures you have the right products available, when you need them.

At a high level, a good supplier ensures we get what we need, when we need it, for a fair price.