How Alphabroder Achieved Accurate Emission Offsets Across 111 Products by Partnering with Green Story

Introduction

Alphabroder, a leading supplier of imprintable apparel and accessories in America, embarked on a journey to enhance its sustainability practices by partnering with Green Story. With a focus on establishing accurate baselines, enriching product data, and achieving emission offsets, Alphabroder aims to make a significant impact on its environmental footprint.

Challenges

Before partnering with Green Story, Alphabroder encountered several challenges that hindered its ability to effectively manage its environmental impact and pursue sustainability goals:

Complex Product Line

Alphabroder's extensive portfolio consists of 111 distinct products and SKUs, each with unique attributes and supply chain requirements. Managing such a diverse range of offerings posed significant challenges in terms of standardizing sustainability practices and maintaining consistency across the board. The company required a streamlined approach to effectively assess the environmental impact of each product, ensuring that sustainability initiatives could be uniformly applied and accurately measured across all SKUs.

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Supply Chain Complexity

Alphabroder's supply chain spans 11 countries, encompassing 66 mapped facilities. This geographical spread added layers of complexity to managing and monitoring the environmental footprint of its operations. Navigating this intricate network required identifying key areas for improvement, such as reducing emissions, optimizing logistics, and enhancing supplier collaboration. The challenge lay in implementing a coherent sustainability strategy that accounted for the diverse regulations, practices, and environmental standards across different regions.

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Data Limitations

A critical challenge faced by Alphabroder was the lack of comprehensive and documented supplier data, particularly concerning sustainability metrics and green energy sources. Without detailed information on the sustainability attributes of its suppliers, Alphabroder found it difficult to assess and optimize its environmental impact accurately. The absence of green energy sources further emphasized the need for a robust data enrichment strategy to enable more informed decision-making. This limitation highlighted the necessity of developing a comprehensive database to track and evaluate the sustainability performance of each supplier and product.

Solutions

Alphabroder partnered with Green Story to implement a comprehensive sustainability program aimed at addressing its key challenges through baseline establishment, data enrichment, and supply chain optimization.

Baseline Establishment

Alphabroder worked with Green Story to establish accurate baselines for its 111 products and SKUs. This involved mapping out the supply chain for each product and conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) using the Green Story platform. This foundational step provided a clear understanding of the environmental impact associated with each product, setting the stage for targeted improvements.

Data Enrichment

To fill data gaps, Alphabroder collaborated closely with Green Story’s LCA team. They enriched product data by analyzing 40 primary data points and 25 process technologies, focusing on sustainability attributes and natural fiber usage. This effort involved gathering missing information about processes, technologies, and facility details. With enriched data, Alphabroder conducted precise LCAs, accurately assessing the environmental footprint for each SKU.

Supply Chain Optimization

Mapping 61 component-level suppliers and six raw material suppliers allowed Alphabroder to streamline its supply chain for greater traceability and sustainability. This optimization involved evaluating supplier performance and fostering collaboration across its network, enhancing Alphabroder's ability to implement responsible sourcing practices.

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Outcomes

The partnership with Green Story brought several positive results for Alphabroder, improving its sustainability efforts and operations:

Accurate Emission Offsets

Alphabroder now has a clear understanding of its emissions, allowing it to offset them accurately. This precision helps Alphabroder stay true to its goal of becoming carbon neutral. By using detailed data from Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Alphabroder can target specific areas for emission reduction, making its offset strategies more effective and reliable.

Scalability

The accurate baselines and enriched data allow Alphabroder to grow its sustainability programs. This means Alphabroder can keep improving and adapt to future challenges. With strong data and efficient processes in place, Alphabroder can expand its sustainability efforts to cover more products and supply chains, supporting long-term growth and innovation.

Enhanced Product Insights

With detailed information about product materials, supply chains, and sustainability features, Alphabroder can make better decisions to reduce its environmental impact. These insights help the company choose more sustainable materials and improve supply chain practices. By understanding the full lifecycle of its products, Alphabroder can find ways to improve sustainability from start to finish, showing its commitment to responsible business practices.

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Conclusion

Alphabroder's collaboration with Green Story has greatly improved its approach to sustainability. By setting clear baselines and enriching product data, Alphabroder can better manage its environmental impact and accurately offset emissions. These efforts show the company's strong commitment to carbon neutrality and its leadership in the apparel industry. The focus on data-driven insights and supply chain improvements has boosted efficiency and reinforced Alphabroder's dedication to responsible business practices.

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