The Climate Group in partnership with the CDP, has published a new guide to integrating renewable electricity into the supply chain.

Going Beyond: A guide to integrating renewable electricity into your supply chain has been published under the global collaborative initiative RE100 which brings together 113 influential and multinational businesses that are committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity.

RE100 members are now starting to look beyond their own operations to also encourage the uptake of renewable electricity within their supply chains.

The new report gathers the experiences and guidance of three RE100 members – Apple, BT Group and IKEA Group – to demonstrate what companies can do to overcome challenges and engage their suppliers in the transition to 100% renewable power.

To date, companies have mostly focused on addressing the direct impact of their own operations. However, RE100 members are now starting to look beyond this, to encourage the uptake of renewable electricity within Tier 1 of their supply chains.

The report says that while the opportunity is huge, this is a new discipline and the ‘rulebook’ is yet to be written. Supply chains are often complex and difficult to navigate – and the bigger the company, the more this tends to be the case

It also flags up the need to be at the leading edge of corporate responsibility to enhance brand reputation with customers, partners and employees.

Collectively, the RE100 companies represent demand for over 150 (TWh) of renewable electricity annually – more than enough to power Poland.

.The report says that treating electricity as a strategic asset – and helping suppliers to do the same – can provide security against cost fluctuations and greater control over energy supply, while enabling the firms to stay one step ahead of regulatory changes and compliance requirements in the geographies they and their suppliers operate in.

Click here to download the report