Assent Achieve Award Winners Recognized for Supply Chain Sustainability Programs

Manufacturers in Product Compliance, ESG, and Sustainability Sectors Honored at Evolve 2024 for Improving Transparency and Impact in Their Supply Chains

OTTAWA, Ontario-Assent Inc. (Assent), a leading provider of sustainable supply chain management solutions, announced the inaugural Assent Achieve recipients at its annual global conference, Evolve, held October 9-10 in Nashville, Tennessee. The new customer awards program recognizes manufacturing companies and individuals who demonstrate excellence in product compliance, ESG, and sustainable supply chain management.

Assent Achieve winners were selected in three categories from more than 800 Assent clients: Product Compliance Program of the Year, ESG Program of the Year and Sustainability Advocate of the Year.

Product Compliance Program of the Year

Two award recipients were recognized for their exceptional work over the past 18 months in their supply chain engagement and product compliance programs:

Doosan Bobcat has enhanced its compliance program to proactively prepare for PFAS reporting requirements, such as those issued by the EPA at the state level. The company is diligent in maintaining a leading SCIP submission program, even as it launches innovative new products in key markets. The Doosan Bobcat team has taken an engaged and proactive approach, in partnership with Assent, to educate suppliers while providing feedback on research and development to improve Assent’s services.
Watts centralized its compliance program across its North American and European operations and improved the transparency of its product compliance program by launching Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for all products manufactured at its largest site. This was done as part of a partnership with their top 100 suppliers to begin measuring carbon emissions across their value chain and increase investment in their Smart & Connected strategy to deliver greater value to their customers through innovative solutions to promote water security, energy efficiency, and water conservation.

ESG Program of the Year

One company stood out this year for the value and return on investment of its ESG program, clearly demonstrated over the past 18 months:

Essex Furukawa has reduced its Scope 3 emissions by 70% compared to its 2021 baseline while proactively identifying potential ESG risks related to human and labor rights, as well as climate impact, through improved data and tracking of 90% of its largest supply chain spend. The company has engaged its leadership in the holistic sustainability program, Vision 2030, while implementing a strategic sourcing policy and a new supplier code of conduct this year. As a result of its efforts, it recently achieved the prestigious Copper Mark certification at three of its North American operations.

Sustainable Development Advocate of the Year

This award recognizes an individual who, over the past 18 months, has improved their company’s supply chain by advocating for the public and taking new initiatives.

Krisztina Strath, who has spent over 35 years at IMI, a global engineering firm, will provide support and leadership on supply chain sustainability. She has worked to strategically connect team members with data collected from 3,500 suppliers across 31 IMI sites to reduce substances of concern in their products and redesign products to reduce lead. She has also led supplier training on compliance rules to strengthen the resilience of IMI’s supply chains.

“ We need to create a world where sustainability is at the heart of manufacturing, and I’m honored to recognize our customers who are true industry pioneers and embracing this new reality,” said Andrew Waitman, CEO of Assent. “ Congratulations to the Assent Achieve honorees who are championing proactive sustainability programs to achieve this important mission. Together, we are setting new industry standards and demonstrating that businesses can thrive while being a force for good.”

Evolve 2024

The conference brought together over 500 people – both virtually and in person – around the theme of “ Fresh Perspectives to Spark Supply Chain Sustainability,” with New York Times bestselling author Josh Linkner as the keynote speaker. Linkner explained to attendees how successful leaders can embed innovation into the day-to-day operations of the business, and also predict the future of growth.

Cally Edgren, Assent’s Vice President of Regulatory and Sustainability, shared the latest updates impacting global manufacturers, including new reporting requirements for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals,” in the United States and additional information on supply chain sustainability, including carbon emissions, in the European Union. Catherine Cormier, Chief Product Officer, took the stage to share Assent’s vision, including the future of product sustainability, the Manufacturing Genome, and early access to Assent’s Sustainability Platform for suppliers.

At the Evolve 24 conference, Assent donated $20,000 to One Tree Planted , a nonprofit focused on global reforestation, in addition to $1,000 donated to a nonprofit of his choice for each Achieve Award recipient.

About Assent Inc.

Assent provides the leading sustainable supply chain management solution that enables manufacturers worldwide to meet their product compliance and ESG needs. Founded in 2010, the company helps manufacturers collect and manage the supply chain data needed to meet environmentally and socially responsible product standards. With advanced technology and deep regulatory expertise, Assent enables companies to collect data that complies with regulations and industry standards to manage risk, accelerate time to market, and drive sustainable practices.

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