Assent, a premier provider of supply chain sustainability management solutions, has unveiled the inaugural winners of the Assent Achieve Awards at its annual global conference, Evolve, held on October 9-10 in Nashville, Tennessee. This new customer awards program acknowledges manufacturing companies and individuals excelling in product compliance, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, and supply chain sustainability management.
Winners were selected from over 800 Assent customers across three categories: Product Compliance Program of the Year, ESG Program of the Year, and Sustainability Champion of the Year.
Product Compliance Program of the Year
Two companies were recognized for their exemplary supply chain engagement and product compliance initiatives over the past 18 months:
- Doosan Bobcat enhanced its compliance program to proactively address PFAS reporting requirements from the EPA and state authorities. The company has maintained a best-in-class SCIP submission program while launching innovative products in key markets. Collaborating with Assent, Doosan Bobcat’s team has focused on educating suppliers and providing research and development feedback to enhance Assent’s services.
- Watts centralized its compliance program across North America and Europe, improving transparency by initiating life cycle assessments (LCAs) for all products manufactured at its largest facility. By partnering with its top 100 suppliers, Watts began measuring carbon emissions throughout its value chain and invested in its Smart & Connected strategy, delivering innovative solutions to enhance water safety, energy efficiency, and conservation.
ESG Program of the Year
This year’s standout ESG program demonstrated significant value and ROI over the last 18 months:
- Essex Furukawa achieved a remarkable 70% reduction in scope 3 emissions compared to its 2021 baseline. The company proactively identified ESG risks related to human rights, labor rights, and climate impact through improved data and monitoring across 90% of its supply chain spend. Essex Furukawa’s Vision 2030 holistic sustainability program engaged leadership, while its new strategic sourcing policy and supplier code of conduct led to the prestigious Copper Mark certification at three North American facilities.
Sustainability Champion of the Year
This award celebrates an individual whose advocacy and leadership have significantly advanced their company’s supply chain sustainability over the past 18 months:
- Krisztina Strath, with over 35 years at IMI, a global engineering specialist, has been a strong advocate for supply chain sustainability. She has successfully connected team members with data from 3,500 suppliers across 31 IMI sites to minimize harmful substances in products and reduce lead content. Additionally, she has educated suppliers on compliance regulations, bolstering the resilience of IMI’s supply chains.
“We need to create a world where sustainability is integral to manufacturing, and I am proud to honor our customers who are true pioneers in this field,” said Andrew Waitman, CEO of Assent. “Congratulations to the Assent Achieve winners for championing proactive sustainability programs and driving this crucial mission. Together, we are establishing new industry standards and proving that companies can thrive while being a force for good.”
Evolve 2024 Conference Highlights
The Evolve 2024 conference brought together over 500 participants, both virtually and in person, under the theme “Fresh Perspectives to Spark Supply Chain Sustainability.” New York Times bestselling author Josh Linkner served as the keynote speaker, discussing how leaders can integrate innovation into everyday business operations for future growth.
Assent’s Vice President of Regulatory & Sustainability, Cally Edgren, shared crucial updates affecting global manufacturers, including new reporting requirements for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the U.S. and expanded supply chain sustainability disclosures, including carbon emissions, in the EU. Chief Product Officer Catherine Cormier highlighted Assent’s vision for the future of product sustainability, the manufacturing genome, and provided an early access preview of the Assent Sustainability Platform for suppliers.
At Evolve 2024, Assent also donated $20,000 to One Tree Planted, a nonprofit dedicated to global reforestation, along with $1,000 to a nonprofit of each Assent Achieve Award winner’s choice.
