Pan-Pacific Conference XXXIV. Designing New Business Models in Developing Economies

Investing in new technologies
Some respondents associated their role towards
contributing to sustainability as supplying the mines
with the kind of the technology that future generation
will utilise in place of those resources. The
respondents further advised that sustainability of the
South African industry is very important and
obviously the technology being developed will assist
the sustaining the industry worldwide. From the
suppliers’ perspective sustainability is about finding a
balance between what you can achieve between a
reasonable times and what can you foresee because
you have to exploit the opportunity.Suppliers seem to
be mainly focused on the new technology that will
enable the companies to competitive and sustainable
for future generation. The respondents have advised
that the industry have reached a global situation
where the market is very depressed which impacts the
company in a negative manner. Therefore the
companies needs to develop technology which will
enable the company to be sustainable to provide the
clients with something different in order to be
competitive and for the company to grow.
Strengthening collaboration with mines
The respondents observed within the industry that is
in distress the notion of sustainability will only
favour big companies that have the capital compete
on a global scale. Some respondents noted that
building strong relationship with clients by ensuring
that suppliers cater for their business requirements
and needs and also follow the specification as
required is vital. Yet many of them acknowledged
that they don’t quite involve clients (mining
companies) in sustainability practices but they
provide the clients with quality service and products
that can lower the cost of operations.
A search for alternative sources of energy
The respondents articulated that as the consequence
of the current situation of electricity supply they felt
the need to save the energy and to search for
alternative sources of energy and/or power. The
respondents understand that since the biggest
producer of minerals around the world it is very
crucial to sustain the South African mining industry.
The respondents admitted that the issue of the
uncertainty of electricity supply and labour unrest
remain some of their major concerns and threats to
the sustainability of the industry. Some respondents
indicated that they are in the process of developing
the technology that will reduce the cost of power
during the operation and mineral processing. The
respondents furthermore articulated the fact that they
work with many companies from local districts in an
attempt to reduce the cost of power. Respondents
expressed their commitment towards developing
technology that is environmental friendly and energy
saving.
Pressure to assist the mines to comply with
environmental regulations
The respondents acknowledged that the clients
(mines) are in most cases the main drivers of
environmental sustainability because of the
regulations that comes with the licenses to mine. The
suppliers offer the clients with solutions which can
benefit the clients within the context of a specific
regulation so that the respondents (suppliers) can
assist the clients to comply with environmental
regulations. Respondents acknowledged that failure
for them (as suppliers) to comply may easily result in
the client to switch to a more compliant supplier.
However, respondents also noted that the key
responsibility for compliance lies with the client,
otherwise as suppliers they will not be in a position to
force clients to follow the regulations. Respondents
acknowledged that that the best they can do is to
develop and supply the technology that will help
mines minimise waste, produce quality products,
deliver quality services and reduce energy
consumption. Respondents have also admitted that in
some cases they have taken it upon themselves to
educate clients about the need to become sustainable
since failure by the client to comply might well put
suppliers out of the market.
The respondents also stated that the pressure that they
receive from their clients is pushed up to their
suppliers to ensure compliance across the board. Thus
how they ensure that is through ensuring that the
company practices or follow specific rules meaning
that they follow the countries rules and regulation.
The supplier are pressured to offer high quality
products and services. The respondents also do deep
research on the supplier to see if it’s a supplier worth
working with. Furthermore the contract stipulates all
the necessary requirements of projects together with
the regulation to make for easy control. The
respondents also believes in addressing issues if the
company is not happy with the supplier in offering
them products that are not up to standard.
Institutionalising the culture of sustainability
Some respondents indicated that they want to make
the matter of sustainability part of their culture and
have begun educating/training/guiding/ their
employees about the value of sustainability. They
show employees how sustainability is embedded in
all the phases of the company production from the
design to the fabrication to the quality inspection if
something is not up the standard they do not send it to
site. One respondent indicated that they go to the
extent of showing the employees how the company is
winning clients, choose projects and also
communicate the changes in the market. Generally, in
terms of technology, the respondents articulated the
need to emphasize the important things to employees.
Respondents further stress to employees that if new
technology is not developed or sold frequently the
industry will be obsolete and so will the company.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The aim of the study was to explore the role that
suppliers play in promoting sustainability in supply
chains. The paper has shown how, as an integral part
of supply chains, suppliers can contribute towards
sustainable supply chains. Based on the research
findings and the literature that was reviewed the
following conclusion are drawn. First, the supplier
plays an active role in promoting sustainability within
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