You are on page 1of 20

SDGs:

The Sustainable Development Goals are an action agenda to address and overcome the world's

problems. They should not only deal with the environment but also with objectives that include

problems of gender equality, hunger and harmony. The goals were set at New York's 2015

United Nations Sustainable Development Summit. They are a collective endeavor and every

country in the UN has dedicated itself to achieving its objectives by the fixed year–2030. The

High Level Political Conference on Sustainable Growth offers a follow-up periodically. The

SDGs are intended to cover the following subjects that are deemed important to humanity and

the environment: (United Nations. 2020)

 People: Seek to eliminate hunger, poverty, and inequality while maintaining a stable

environment.

 Prosperity: Ensure that we all maintain fulfilled lives and that development is done in a

way that is environmentally friendly.

 Planet: Enhance natural resource management and protect the planet.

 Peace: Societies that are free of violence and terror are known as peaceful societies.

 Partnership: Partnership: Using a multinational partnership to mobilize the resources

needed to meet the targets.

There are 17 SDGs to change the world, they balance the social, environmental and economic

aspects of sustainable growth and for the first time sustainable development and combating

poverty were placed on the very same agenda. (17 sustainable development goals. 2020, January

28).

Out of these 17 SDGs, the description of selected three SDGs is given below:
1
“SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities”

More than half of the world's population lives in cities. Two-thirds of humans, or 6.5 billion

inhabitants, will live in urban areas by 2050. Without a drastic change in the way we design and

maintain our urban spaces, we will not be able to accomplish sustainable growth. Rapid

urbanization, owing to emerging populations and migration, has resulted in a boom in

megacities, particularly in developing countries, and slums are becoming a more prominent

feature of urban life. Creating job and industry opportunities, healthy and affordable homes, and

resilient communities and economies are all way of developing cities sustainable. It includes

investing in public transit, building green public spaces, and enhancing participatory and

equitable urban planning and management. (UNDP. 2021, Goal 11: Sustainable cities and

communities)

“SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure”

Infrastructure investment and innovation are critical factors of economic development and

growth. With over half of the world's population now living in cities, urban transportation and

renewable energies, as well as the rise of emerging businesses and information and

communication technology, are becoming increasingly significant. Technological advancement

is also important for seeking long-term solutions to both economic and environmental problems,

such as creating new employment and increasing energy usage. Sustainable growth will be

promoted by encouraging sustainable manufacturing and engaging in basic research and

innovation. There is currently no internet connection for more than 4 billion people and 90 % are

from developing countries. It is important to overcome this digital gap in order to guarantee fair

access and promote creativity and entrepreneurship. (UNDP. 2021, Goal 9: Industrial innovation

and infrastructure)

2
“SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation”

More than 40% of people are affected by water shortages, a troubling number that is expected to

increase as temperatures rise. While water sanitation has increased since 1990 by 2.1 billion

people, there are declining supplies of drinking water on each continent. So many more countries

are under water stress and these patterns are now escalating with rising drought and

desertification. At least one in four individuals is expected to suffer from recurrent water

deficiencies by 2050. To ensure equitable access to clean and accessible drinking water, more

than 800 million people who lack essential facilities must be reached, and the accessibility and

protection of services for over two billion people must be improved. In 2015, there had been 4.5

billion people lacking safe sanitation services and 2.3 billion lacked even basic sanitation.

(UNDP. 2021, Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation)

Hitachi Company:

According to Hitachi, the SDGs are an essential goal for achieving a sustainable society and

enhancing people's quality of life by addressing global environmental and social issues. Hitachi's

Social Innovation Business, which also serves as a driver of long-term growth for the company,

has made a major contribution to achieving the SDGs. Hitachi would also aim to develop a

social, environmental and economic impact as part of its management plan by offering creative

ideas and goods in its Social Innovation Business. Hitachi will also work on reducing the

negative social and environmental effects of their businesses and a better awareness of the

challenge of industry emerging from social and environmental developments in order to make

them more resilient.

3
Hitachi via its Social Innovation Business and its responsible corporate behavior contributes to

the achievement of all SDGs by proactively contributing to social issues. The 17 SDGs, as well

as the benefits and risks they pose, were discussed at Executive Sustainability Committee

sessions. Following that, they established 5 Goals on which their core companies will have an

especially important impact, as well as 6 Goals to which they can contribute across their entire

corporate activities. The last six goals, according to Hitachi, are essential to their entire market

and management strategy, and have an effect on corporate sustainability. Since they operate in a

number of sectors, they feel they will make a substantial contribution to the accomplishment of

the SDGs beyond the 11 defined targets. (Contribution to SDGs: Sustainability: Hitachi. 2020).

Developing a sustainable society, as described by the SDGs, would also contribute to Hitachi's

long-term prosperity. They feel they are bringing value to society as a whole, not just to the

businesses and clients that are their immediate buyers. This is what their Social Engineering

Business is all about. They have goods and services that are all tied to social sustainability.

Through their work to help accomplish the SDGs, they hope to become a world pioneer in

sustainability. (Contribution to SDGs: Sustainability: Hitachi. 2020).

Hitachi identified social impacts in relation to goals to which business activities can contribute.

Hitachi encouraged business units and Group businesses to encourage the visualization of social

and environmental impacts in fiscal 2019 in order to achieve the social, environmental, and

economic benefit envisioned in the 2021 Mid-Term Management Plan. Following the selection

of their main companies, each corporate unit and Group organization grouped the products on

the "List of Social and Environmental Impacts" into positive and negative categories. The

stakeholders involved in each effect were then described and summarized in a reasoning model.

This allowed Hitachi and its consumers to imagine the effect they have on society, allowing them

4
to optimize positive impacts while eliminating negative ones. They are encouraging attempts to

build social and environmental benefit in fiscal 2020 by extending the use of qualitative and

quantitative impact assessments visualized using these reasoning models. (Toshiaki Higashihara.

2019, May 10)

Sustainable supply chain and Hitachi’s Activities:

Sustainability is the way of the future, and establishing a sustainability policy in the company's

supply chain is more critical than ever. This framework will assist companies in assessing their

suppliers' and consumers' societal, environmental, and economic effect and feasibility. State

pressure to promote recycling does not exist, but business pressure on manufacturers and vendors

does. Going green and being environmentally conscious aren't the only aspects of sustainability.

It also has an effect on the overall production chain, from obtaining raw materials to plant

operations to product or service usage and future recyclability. (Tom K. 2019, June 14)

Sustainable Supply chain is important because of the following reasons:

 Innovation: The supply chain is the first element of inventory manufacturing that can

contribute to a more profitable future for the business. Manufacturers must devise new

methods for managing and tracking their supply chain, production operation, and sales

and marketing activities. Customers are now getting more vocal about their enthusiasm

for these policies. (Tom K. 2019, June 14)

 Enhancement of the brand: Other than simply enhancing product efficiency,

sustainability will also enhance consumer ties. When it comes to manufacturing material,

focusing only on expense would not suffice. Customers feel faithful to companies that

share their ideals, which is why businesses should engage in environmentally friendly

5
activities that avoid waste and use products that are ethically sourced. Consumers are

more conscious of the products they purchase, and many want to support companies that

strive to protect the world. (Tom K. 2019, June 14)

 Controlling costs: It can be costly at first to switch to a sustainable supply chain model,

but it has proved to be more efficient in the long run. Over time, companies enjoy a

substantial reduction in costs, which is appealing to both suppliers and consumers. When

they turn to a sustainable business model, all profits. (Tom K. 2019, June 14)

The majority of a company's environmental and social effects are distributed out through its

supply chain, rather than occurring within its own activities. This is especially important in the

IT (Information technology) industry, where businesses have limited direct workforces and

environmental footprints but have a much larger effect over the long supply chain used to

manufacture IT services. Understanding and successfully controlling supply chain sustainability

is a crucial concern in an environment of increased regulation of supply chains and increased

interest in triple bottom line management (people, planet, profit). The supply chain for

technology is long and complicated. From the mines that manufacture important minerals, such

as wolframite and cassiterite, to the delivery of smart phones and servers, goods move through

several hands. In this industry, a company's vendors will also be its clients and rivals. There are

specific characteristics of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in the information

technology industries that need special consideration. (Thöni, A., & Tjoa, A. M. 2015)

In its 2021 Mid-term Management Plan which ends in fiscal year 2021 Hitachi practices

sustainable management, places sustainable development at the core of its strategy for industry,

and is committed to helping achieve a sustainable world as a global leader of social development.

6
To this end, the Hitachi’s Mid-Term Management Plan of 2021 defines five areas in which they

will concurrently enhance social, environmental, economic and corporate value as well as

improve the quality of life of their customers: Information technology, energy , smart life,

industry and mobility. Additionally, they will extend their Social Innovation Business by joint

development with their collaborators around the world by delivering Lumada, a solution that

accelerates digital innovation, as a cyber-physical structure that allows the cyber and physical

spaces to connect, in order to maximize the three types of value at the same time. Three types of

values are Social values, Environmental values and economical values. Via programs such as

Society 5.0 and the Sustainable Development Goals, they will strive to follow the 2021 Mid-

Term Management Plan, further integrating sustainability and industry to lead to the settlement

of social problems. (Sustainability management: Sustainability: Hitachi. 2020).

Hitachi sustainable activity includes its value chain. When the world of industry gets more

globalized, there is a greater chance of sourcing risks in the supply chain causing management

issues. Hitachi aims to recognize and manage these risks as early as possible as a company that

does business in several different regions around the world. In compliance with the Hitachi

Group's Global procurement code, Hitachi focuses sustainable development of the value chain,

and suppliers are strictly chosen. In addition, they distributing the CSR Guidance to some 30,000

suppliers worldwide not only to their CSR procurement policy, but also to perform CSR (Self-

checking) and CSR inspections to help reduce the risk of procurement. To ensure understanding

of the CSR policies. Hitachi has developed a policy to encourage responsible procurement in

accordance with international guidelines to resolve the dispute mineral problem. Moreover,

Hitachi stick to basics and principles, putting right and wrong before benefit and losses, with all

workers sharing their strategy of keeping consistency and efficiency their highest priority, thus

7
enhancing their quality improvement efforts, and they embrace the Hitachi Founding Spirit of

"Harmony, Sincerity, and Pioneering Spirit". (Value chain management: Sustainability: Hitachi.

2020).

Hitachi is doing following activities in its value chain for sustainable supply chain:

 Responsible procurement: Hitachi's main initiatives are to enhance value chain

competitiveness through supplier relationships, Suppliers should be aware of the sourcing

practices, CSR acquisition should be implemented, Keep CSR procurement seminars and

discuss the problem of conflict minerals. Hitachi's goals and key performance indicators

(KPIs) include conducting supplier audits with the assistance of third-party auditing

firms. In the fiscal year 2019, the following milestones were made: Created the Hitachi

Group Global Procurement Code, conducted CSR audits at 19 vendors, and hosted their

first CSR seminar in Southeast Asia in Thailand. (Value chain management:

Sustainability: Hitachi. 2020).

 Product Safety and Quality Management: Among the most important initiatives are:

Practice their approach of prioritizing consistency and dependability, adhering to

common principles of ethics, and prioritizing right and wrong over benefit and loss.

Improving quality efficiency and customer loyalty are goals and KPIs. Accomplishments

in FY 2019 are Enhanced quality assurance operational framework, Internationally

Promoted quality assurance practices, Incident management activities, Product protection

activities promoted, Compliant with the technical legislation and Quality and Reliability

education conducted. (Value chain management: Sustainability: Hitachi. 2020).

 CS-Customer Satisfaction: Key efforts by Hitachi include CS improvement by

consumer voices in their business, robust online service, CS improvement in home

8
appliances, and promotional activities. Objectives and KPIs consist of CS enhancement

and proper product and service disclosure material. Continuously incorporated CS and

promotional activities were among the accomplishments in FY 2019. (Value chain

management: Sustainability: Hitachi. 2020).

Hitachi’s Contribution to SDGs through sustainable supply chain:

This section focuses on the three SDGs that are selected in this first part and Hitachi has defined

as the most closely associated with its corporate strategy. These SDGs provide Hitachi with both

substantial commercial opportunities and the ability to contribute to society through business

activities. Hitachi outlined the global sustainability challenges for each SDG, as well as the role

social innovation can play in achieving that aim and how their goods and services can help.

Hitachi & SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities:

Building communities: Hitachi is driven by a passion to make communities more hospitable and

to have the best possible living and working conditions for residents. Smart city policies will

help alleviate the effects of rapid urbanization by lowering prices and easing resource demand.

They have not only economic and environmental benefits, but also social ones, such as major

enhancements in safety, convenience, and leisure time and stress levels. As a core component in

every city's growth, Hitachi believes that transportation plays an important role in this scheme.

People will now take advantage of more resources and advantages due to changes in

transportation and networking. This opportunity will be realized by joint production with

customers and stakeholders.

Hitachi, as a complete railway system provider, employs cutting-edge information and operating

technology to provide stable, reliable, and creative railway solutions that enable individuals,

9
communities, and cities prosper through better connectivity. High-speed and driverless systems,

automated maintenance, and innovative headway are some of the options available. They are

also developing electric car technology that can boost passenger convenience, make roads safer

and less congested, and reduce environmental effects in order to achieve genuinely inclusive

integrated mobility. (Hitachi SDGs Report. 2020)

Hitachi’s business in practice: In the United Kingdom, improving railway transportation is a

Hitachi’s concern. Hitachi is supplying 866 new vehicles to the UK's IEP (Intercity Express

Programme), which will represent a step shift in capability, reliability, maintainability, and

environmental friendliness on any journey. Travel times will be shortened, enhancing city

accessibility throughout the United Kingdom. The impacts of Hitachi project connect towns and

villages to achieve greater economic advantages, deliver environmentally sustainable

transportation and maintainability. Through Hitachi’s sustainable supply chain, they are able to

provide high-quality, long-term expertise and jobs to people all over the UK. (Hitachi SDGs

Report. 2020)

Hitachi & SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

In SDG 9, Hitachi is contributing with two major activities:

1. Patterning with innovation: Hitachi believes that progress is being made in many sectors

on this issue, and that its future beneficial effect on the environment is growing at a rising

rate. Industries are evolving into more productive and competitive ways by using the IOT

(Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Big Data. Hitachi believes that technical

advancements can help bind and empower OT and IT processes, resulting in increased

productivity and cost savings. This type of innovation has the potential to improve global

10
quality of life by reforming and scaling any possible operation. Any system could be

improved from design and development to production and logistics.

Hitachi is one of the few multinational businesses with both OT and IT expertise. They will

provide grounded, interconnected solutions to any possible problem by integrating their

cross-industry knowledge and guiding technology innovations that foster market growth.

They collaborate with their colleagues to make smart action on big data. Their IoT platform

Lumada delivers today the most sophisticated functionality. (Hitachi SDGs Report. 2020)

Hitachi’s business in practice: Smart IoT manufacturing, Daikin is a world's leading air

conditioning manufacturer with key barriers to skills transfer and continuous improvement in

efficiency and quality through various countries and regions. It is concerned, because of the

many facets of bracing that cannot be properly clarified in writing or in experience alone, that

brazing abilities have not been effectively passed. In response, Hitachi created the

"Individual, machinery and material" development factors Brazing Skills Training Support

System, with a quantitative evaluation. The impacts of Hitachi's project succeeded in

capturing and recognizing places where trainees can develop knowledge on the expert

abilities. Require easy and successful training even in historically problematic areas. (Hitachi

SDGs Report. 2020)

2. Transforming Financial Services: People and businesses must have access to financial

markets that are fit for the purpose and tailored to their climate in order to ensure long-term

and inclusive economic development. Many people in developing countries do not have

access to traditional banking. Growing networking and mobile telecommunications, on the

other hand, have the ability to provide more people access to financial services than ever

before. This new model requires innovative systems that combine universal usability with the

11
versatility to adapt to new problems and technical advances. Hitachi believes that rapid

developments continue to generate new financial prospects throughout the world economy.

FinTech is moving digital banks and financial services into an adaptive, flexible and

genuinely scalable future. Companies must significantly improve technology transformation

and use available information in order to take smarter decisions and enhance their consumer

experiences. The integration of IoT, machine learning and AI enables predictive insights to

provide customized resources, improve decision-making, and minimize risks.

Hitachi is a reliable partner to replace traditional networks, streamline processes and improve

efficiency. Via their IoT platform, Lumada, they will encourage unlimited creativity for

saving time, energy and money. Hitachi was actively responsible for leading the FinTech

movement and continued to pioneer new technology from large data and AI to encryption

and block chain. With Lumada, the financial services sector is progressively becoming more

sustainable in Hitachi. They create more effective, convenient, and stable financial networks

by partnering with customers, which benefits both those customers and their clients.

Simultaneously, they continue to use FinTech to develop creative financial services that

improve the comfort of global financial institution customers. (Hitachi SDGs Report. 2020)

Hitachi’s business in practice: In collaboration with financial institutions, Hitachi is

developing new services: In Banking, Hitachi is experimenting with emerging technology

such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to provide innovative lending services to

corporate clients, improve loan examination services, and conduct proof-of-concept research

for automated market matching services. Hitachi provides cloud resources throughout the

blockchain sector, including a blockchain technology ecosystem and joint proof-of-concept

research for blockchain technology in supply chain management. Health big data analysis is

12
supposed to broaden the field of insurance underwriting possibilities. Artificial intelligence is

supposed to increase the performance of securities activities like market monitoring and

stock lending. (Hitachi SDGs Report. 2020)

Hitachi & SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

Water tension has now become one of the top five global social threats. One in nine citizens may

not have access to clean, regulated water, and continual urbanization and industrialization

reinforces this shortage. Successful water conservation and sanitation is clearly accomplished

only by the concerted effort of all stakeholders. Hitachi believes water is an essential component

of business activities. Plays an important part in transportation, washing, cooling, and other

procedures. Hitachi will increase operating quality, mitigate resource competition, and provide

water protection to everyone by building sustainable water systems in cooperation with their

consumers and the communities they serve.

Hitachi is the leading global water infrastructure for the next decade. In combination with OT

(device control and data monitoring) and IT systems (analytics, IoT), Hitachi will deploy

comprehensive expertise and access to sophisticated technology to build an overall water

management system solution. Essential water, wastewater treatment and recycling facilities can

involve that. Every area has specific problems with water, and Hitachi is able to plan, execute

and track the necessary solutions. Their advanced applications can use real-time data to track and

adapt water checks and treatment to meet any problem effectively. (Hitachi SDGs Report. 2020)

Hitachi’s business in practice: Development of the global water footprint with "RemixWater”.

RemixWater has been created by Hitachi to conserve electricity and reduce environmental

impacts by a new integrated desalination and water reusability system. It is ideal for industrial or

13
domestic use, capable of drinking water-quality production. In 2016 RemixWater started

construction as a four-year pilot scheme for eThekwini, the third largest municipality in South

Africa. Project impacts of Hitachi are energy conservation from more effective pumping,

reduced impacts on the environment due to decreased in concentration of brine salt and water

scarcity in the city are planned to be resolved and relocated to other water stressed areas.

(Hitachi SDGs Report. 2020)

Challenges to sustainability and SSC of IT industry practices:

Various challenges restrict sustainable integration in the supply chain of businesses. In

integrating SSCM activities in their companies, organizations confront a number of challenges

that were also described in this paper through IT industry research report and literature review.

These challenges include, the absence of top management dedication, alignment of short-term

and long-term plans is difficult, changing business procedures and strategies is difficult, the high

expenditure demand and the unavailability of rules and legislation concerning the environment.

Customer awareness of scarcity and issues with the development of such awareness are lacking

for suppliers under different categories such as internal and external, social, technology, finance,

government, economic, management, etc. The underlying pressures, especially from

government, NGOs and stakeholders, have led companies to undertake initiatives associated with

the SSCM. Weak regulatory checks and balances are a major impediment to sustainability

efforts. Following consumers and legislatures, stakeholders are the most prominent sustainability

community. Stakeholders in developing countries, especially supply chain partners, are unaware

of sustainability and their role in achieving it. They lead to a lack of desire to pay and a lack of

appetite for environmentally friendly goods. Internal barriers have a detrimental effect on the

introduction of environmentally sustainable operating activities, according to the impact of

14
barriers on climate proactive green operating practices and firm results. (Baig, S. A., Abrar, M.,

Batool, A., Hashim, M., & Shabbir, R. 2020)

Challenges to supply chain sustainability:

While the IT industry's supply chain sustainability challenges are similar to those of other

sectors, there are certain concerns that are specific to the industry. Such problems can be

prioritized differently at various points in the value chain. The challenges that a survey by (MSP

2013) found are given below:

 The main source of concern for sustainability is social problems, supplemented by

management and the environment. External challenges such as labor issues and human

trafficking were cited by 42% of our participants as their key sustainability concern.

Management and governance challenges, such as accountability and risk management,

were listed by 37% of respondents, and environmental management was mentioned by

21%. (MSP 2013)

 Conflict minerals and labor hours are two of the most popular socioeconomic challenges.

Many participants are concerned about conflict minerals and the relevant legislation

demanding disclosure. Nearly 20% of respondents mentioned the contentious problem of

working hours and the difficulties in seeking a middle ground between equal hours and

the need for overtime by workers. Child labor, which is a problem in other sectors, was

not stated to be a major issue in the IT industry's supply chain. (MSP 2013)

 Regulation of e-waste and technology recovery are common concern for the environment.

 There is growing interest in the management of water and greenhouse gas in OEMs and

other suppliers. NGOs including the Institute of Public Environmental Affairs (IPE) in

15
China have called attention to the use of heavy metals in the production of devices and

the related water contamination, even though legislation has been largely inoperative so

far to fix this issue. Another area of the concern for greenhouse gas management across

the supply chain is that many big clients, such as Dell and Intel, require major suppliers

to set goals for reducing greenhouse gas footprints. (MSP 2013)

 Sustainable supply chain management is complicated because of the dynamic and

interrelated character of the supply chain. For many companies, several large OEMs

manufactured are sometimes greater than their consumers. At the same time, in various

areas of their business, it is not unprecedented for businesses to compete with their

customers. These challenges have fostered an atmosphere in which attempts to increase

transparency and sustainability have been frustrated. This challenge is being solved by

cross-industry collaboration. (MSP 2013)

Personal Assessment:

IT industry & companies can easily contribute the following SDGs:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

It is important worldwide because the pillar of a sustainable and stable company is a healthy

community. There have been substantial gains in the worldwide rise in life expectancy, but more

focus is needed on the eradication of diseases and current and evolving problems in health. In

order to reach universal health coverage, a firm effort is required to guarantee that everyone can

access the best level of healthcare.

The objective of IT companies should be to increase the quality of life by solving and

recognizing the problems of daily society and the center of a strong society infrastructure is

16
healthcare. They must agree that a change in medical care worldwide is necessary in order to

build a next-generation framework that offers clever universal care for all. Such social progress

and digital healthcare transition are crucial. Medical advancement would deliver a new wave of

economically efficient and value-based patient care by combining emerging technology with IoT

and advanced analytics.

What can IT-companies do? Their products must include medical instruments such as diagnostic

and particulate radiotherapy devices and IT and AI technology, such as operating systems and

electronic medical records in a medical hospital, to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and care.

IT companies may do their best to enhance health care by advancing initiatives in these fields.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The biggest problem of sustainability in all economies remains climate change. It now affects

every continent, undermining domestic markets and transforming lives. If the climate change is

uncontrolled, much advance to date could be undo and future developments prevented. Other

risks such as food and water shortages can also be exacerbated. IT companies must be

committed to help solve global environmental problems by combining superior items with OT

and IT digitization expertise.

IT companies might minimize CO2 emissions and paper use by way of the EHRs (electronic

health records) and telemedicine. Patients may use EHRs to not only hold digital copies of their

medical records, but also order and share them with their doctors. As a result, digital backups of

patients' health records can be used instead of paper, rendering paper-based health records

redundant. Telemedicine solutions and symptom control systems will decrease the requirement

for outpatient appointments, and a patient with a full electronic medical report would be likely to

17
get more results if trips are less and no needless duplication. Telemedicine will reduce

greenhouse emissions by 40-70 percent as it replaces physical visits. The use of emerging

technology, on the other hand, is not free. Unlike paper, which has a relatively constant carbon

footprint, digital products necessitate equipment and facilities (Data centers) that absorb

electricity and generate electronic waste. As a result, this negative effect must be considered.

When the positive benefits of Telemedicine and EHR solutions are offset by the negative effects

of needed energy consumption and caused electronic waste, the total potential benefit of

Telemedicine and EHR based solutions in the United States is estimated to be around 1.7 million

metric tons of CO2 pollution eliminated. Including the fact that this is just a tiny portion of the

health-care sector's overall greenhouse gas emissions (435 million tonnes each year) (Gerlach,

R. 2020, February 14)

References:

 17 sustainable development goals. (2020, January 28).

https://www.eda.admin.ch/agenda2030/en/home/agenda-2030/die-17-ziele-fuer-eine-

nachhaltige-entwicklung.html

 Baig, S. A., Abrar, M., Batool, A., Hashim, M., & Shabbir, R. (2020). Barriers to the

adoption of sustainable supply chain management practices: Moderating role of firm size.

Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), 1841525.

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1841525

 Contribution to SDGs: Sustainability: Hitachi. (2020). Hitachi Global.

https://www.hitachi.com/sustainability/sdgs/index.html

18
 Gerlach, R. (2020, February 14). 4 ways digital health companies can help achieve the

sustainable development goals. Threebility. https://www.threebility.com/post/4-ways-

digital-health-companies-can-can-help-achieve-the-sustainable-development-goals

 Hitachi SDGs Report. (2020). Onward to 2030:Hitachi’s Road to Sustainability. Hitachi

Global.

https://www.hitachi.com/sustainability/sdgs_report/pdf/HitachiSDGsReport_OnwardTo2

030.pdf

 MSP. (2013). Sustainable Supply Chain Management in Information Technology. ESG

Investing & Management | Malk Partners. https://malk.com/wp-

content/uploads/2015/05/MSP-Study-Sustainable-Supply-Chain-Management-in-IT.pdf

 Sustainability management : Sustainability : Hitachi. (2020). Hitachi Global.

https://www.hitachi.com/sustainability/management/index.html

 Thöni, A., & Tjoa, A. M. (2015). Information technology for sustainable supply chain

management: A literature survey. Enterprise Information Systems, 11(6), 828-858.

https://doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2015.1091950

 Tom K. (2019, June 14). What is supply chain sustainability and why is it important for

your business? Lean Supply Solutions - Innovative Supply Chain Solutions.

https://www.leansupplysolutions.com/blog/supply-chain-sustainability-important-

business/

 Toshiaki Higashihara. (2019, May 10). Mid-term management plan : Investor relations :

Hitachi global. Hitachi Global. https://www.hitachi.com/IR-

e/library/presentation/webcast/190510.html

19
 UNDP. (2021). Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities.

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-11-

sustainable-cities-and-communities.html

 UNDP. (2021). Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation.

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-6-

clean-water-and-sanitation.html

 UNDP. (2021). Goal 9: Industrial innovation and infrastructure.

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-9-

industry-innovation-and-infrastructure.html

 United Nations. (2020). #Envision2030: 17 goals to transform the world for persons with

disabilities | United Nations enable. Welcome to the United Nations.

https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html

 Value chain management: Sustainability: Hitachi. (2020). Hitachi Global.

https://www.hitachi.com/sustainability/social/valuechain/index.html

20

You might also like