Today, General Motors announced a new pledge that asks global suppliers to commit to carbon neutrality, the development of social responsibility programs, and the implementation of sustainable procurement practices in their supply chain operations.
The Environmental, Social and Governance Partnership Pledge calls for social and governance commitments, such as human rights protections and fair operating practices. By signing the pledge suppliers commit to:
EcoVadis is a third-party assessor that evaluates how well a company integrates the principles of sustainability and corporate social responsibility into their business and management system.
The supplier pledge expands on GM's goal to establish a collaborative supply chain that endeavors to minimize environmental impact and enhance long-term sustainability. The company says that GM will continue to provide support as it identifies opportunities for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, provide educational webinars and resources, and develop tools to help remove barriers in the transition to renewable energy.
According to Marketwatch, “GM said of its about $76 billion direct material annual purchase value in 2021, suppliers representing over 53% of that value have signed the pledge.”
General Motors was one of the 93 US manufacturing plants that earned Energy Star certification from the EPA in 2022. Energy Star certified plants are verified to be among the most energy-efficient plants within their industries. The company also recently announced a new pledge to power Michigan automotive plants in Flint, Burton, and Wyoming with clean energy.