Sustainability Isn’t a Cost Burden—it’s a Profit Driver
- Tracy Mathena
- Sep 8
- 1 min read
I’ll admit, early in my career I used to cringe when I heard “sustainability” and “ESG” in supply chain conversations. It sounded like extra cost and compliance checklists, not something that could move the needle in manufacturing and construction.
Then came the turning point: we redesigned how we handled excess materials on a major project. Instead of paying to haul waste to a landfill, we partnered with a recycler and resold certain materials back into the market. The surprising outcome? We saved disposal costs and generated a new revenue stream.
Three insights stuck with me:
Waste is just mispriced value – What looks like scrap often holds economic potential if you design the right outlet.
ESG creates resilience – Sustainable practices reduce dependency, lower volatility, and often stabilize supplier relationships.
Customers notice – The projects we won later weren’t just about price—they were about demonstrating responsible practices that aligned with our clients’ values.
The counterintuitive truth? ESG isn’t a feel-good side project—it’s a competitive strategy.
👉 Here’s my question: Is your supply chain treating sustainability as compliance, or as a lever for innovation and growth?
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