From Plight to Power: Harnessing Product Stewardship Technology for Enhanced ESG and Sustainability

Adapting to Corporate Sustainability Initiatives 

With the rise of corporate sustainability initiatives and reporting obligations, the corporate adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programs, and the proliferation of industry standards, the work of product stewards is also changing, and more visible. The work of the product steward is now front and center to C-Suite, stakeholders, and investors, which increases the pressure to succeed.  

So, what is the up-and-coming generation of product stewards to do in the face of new challenges and role responsibilities? How can existing product stewards adapt effectively to these changes?  How can we normalize the demands of specific job responsibilities such as Safety Data Sheet (SDS) authoring?    

These are all valuable questions, and the reality is that teams need the technology to help them succeed and the training to utilize the chosen technology to the utmost potential.  

The evolution of the product stewardship workforce and role of technology 

Change can be hard. Product stewards who have been working in a particular way for 30+ years may resist a new approach to their role and/or an expanded role. There may be pressure for product stewards who may have introverted, detail-oriented strengths, to present findings to C-suite stakeholders and link their findings and research to overarching corporate goals.  

At the same time, new team members might be ready to take on the challenge of regulatory compliance bolstered with technology (and might be more inclined to lead consequential presentations), but they might be hard to attract to a role that, by nature, is hard to define.  

By having technology in place, training for its use, and a clear understanding of how that technology can support a team's work, new team members can more easily understand what their daily tasks will be.  

Similarly, original and existing team members will be exposed to a new, efficient way of doing their previous jobs.  

Employee training should be clear and can be supported by examples of tasks bolstered by technology. Employees should also be given support when it comes to learning new skills, such as how to link data and compliance insights to corporate sustainability reporting.  

Achieving Supply Chain Visibility through Product Stewardship 

 A software solution can do the following:  

• Transition any piecemeal documentation (e.g. spreadsheets, PowerPoints) into a central system.  

• Transition any training materials for new product stewards into a central system. 

• Prevent silos between teams, particularly the Information Technology teams who are directly administering the technology, and the product stewards who are tracking compliance.  

• Provide visibility into the supply chain as a whole. 

• Keep track of new regulatory requirements.  

• Keep SDS in one system.  

• Provide key insights into how the corporation meets sustainability and ESG targets. 

Turning Challenges into Opportunities for Product Stewards 

Yes, being a product steward and managing a product stewardship team is challenging, particularly as roles are changing and priorities are shifting. However, it is possible to take a positive approach to these changes by being prepared and understanding how to position product stewardship teams for success. By doing so, there will be a strong basis for attracting new talent, retaining existing talent, and reaching both compliance and sustainability goals.   

Learn more about 3E’s product stewardship solutions here.