Partnering to create sustainable change

TSC is a global organization of diverse stakeholders working together to transform the consumer goods industry with an aspiration of making all consumer goods sustainable. TSC is working to enable a world where people can lead fulfilled lives in a way that does not impact people and the planet. Their work focuses on the largest sustainability issues that occur in consumer goods supply chains by working with industry and our partners in academia and civil society in balance to make bold changes that are good for business and good for people and the planet.

When I became involved with TSC, it became even more clear to me how important sustainability was, and its significant impact on our retailers and consumers. I remember back to when TSC held its first set of meetings in 2008 with about 25 companies and organizations that would eventually become members, and I realized we had a powerhouse team that would help drive change in the industry.

It was clear early on that cooperation from suppliers would be critical to TSC’s mission to help companies make everyday products more sustainable. Over the years, TSC has developed an independent, science-based, holistic sustainability performance solution to put sustainability at the heart of supply chain transparency conversations.

One of those tools, which Henkel was instrumental in helping TSC develop and create, is a sustainability insight system that rates products on a variety of sustainability social and environmental “hotspots”, such as packaging, animal welfare, deforestation and water use. This index — known today as The Sustainability Insight System (THESIS) — tracks the sustainability performance of products covering the full breadth of food and consumer goods. By helping suppliers understand and then tell the story of their products, the index makes it easy for buyers to make informed decisions to support their corporate sustainability goals. Today, THESIS is used by over 1,500 manufacturers representing almost $1 trillion worth of consumer product annual sales.

After all, today’s consumers are increasingly making buying decisions based on more factors than they have in the past. Beyond price and quality of the product itself, they want to know products are safe and healthy for their families — and the planet. They want to buy from companies whose values align with their own.

Today, TSC has a global impact and more than 100 members and partners representing manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, service providers, nonprofits, civil society organizations, governmental agencies and academics. At Henkel, we are grateful to have a seat at the TSC table, where we can support sustainability improvement through our own experience and knowledge.

Together with partners like TSC, we’re advancing sustainability along the entire value chain. Along with my own evolution, it’s been a highlight of my career to see how the TSC has evolved — and Henkel’s role in that. It’s been a fantastic journey that gives me hope for the future.