Forum Outcomes focus on adding value to supply chain.
Press Release Summary:
During ASC's Sustainability Forum in July, 81 attendees came together to discuss information and data shared by 19 speakers. Regarding innovation, attendees agreed that ASC should develop educational tools, including short courses and webinars, focused on all aspects of sustainability. Regarding information sharing, attendees agreed that ASC should develop proactive communications tools that illustrate positive role adhesives and sealants have on sustainability.
Original Press Release:
ASC Sustainability Forum Outcomes Focus on Adding Value to Supply Chain
ASC Members and Industry Leaders Guide Next Steps as Industry Responds with a Focus on Innovation and Exposure Tools
Bethesda, MD – The Adhesive and Sealant Council‘s (ASC) Sustainability Forum success included several outcomes that industry leaders would like ASC to develop in the coming months regarding sustainability. During the July 2014 event, 81 attendees came together to discuss information and data shared by 19 speakers. The meeting included a dynamic discussion on what next steps the industry could take to support the supply chain as it relates to sustainability. The outcomes of the Forum portion of the meeting focused on two areas: How can ASC support innovation as it relates to sustainability, and how can ASC support supply chain information sharing as it relates to sustainability?
Regarding innovation, attendees agreed to the following two outcomes:
ASC should develop educational tools, including short courses, webinars and Convention sessions, focused on all aspects of sustainability.
ASC should focus some of its research and programming topics on customer needs and wants – especially as it relates to sustainability.
Regarding information sharing, attendees agreed to the following outcomes:
ASC should develop proactive communications tools that illustrate “trust” and the positive role that adhesives and sealants have on sustainability across all of the industry’s market segments.
ASC should collaborate with associations to discuss developing exposure tools that measure risk.
“The Forum was an outstanding opportunity for the supply chain to discuss all aspects of how sustainability adds value within the adhesives and sealants market, and was our first attempt at responding to the new long range plan strategy of ‘Community Knowledge Integration,’” notes Matthew E. Croson. “The outcomes of this year’s Forum are pragmatic, solid opportunities for the Council to deliver value added services to the industry at large, including raw materials suppliers, formulators and end users.”
Next steps will be for ASC staff and committees to discuss how to incorporate some of these ideas and concepts into programming for 2015 and beyond. In some cases, committees will consider new programming ideas that will be part of the 2015 budget. In other cases, current programming will be modified to add value by incorporating sustainability oriented topics.Â
“Attendees rated the Sustainability Forum incredibly well with 94% of respondents indicating the value of the session was between good to excellent; this is a perfect example of how ASC can bring the industry together to discuss relevant, important trends,” adds Croson. “We invite non-members to join the Council now and help build on the Forum’s success as we look for ways that Community Knowledge Integration can solve some of the industry’s challenges.”
The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) is a North American trade association dedicated to representing the $40 billion global adhesive and sealant industry. The Council is comprised of 131 adhesive and sealant manufacturers, raw material and equipment suppliers, representing 75% of the U.S. industry. “Innovators secure the future with adhesives and sealants” is the vision of ASC, and the Council produces programs that support five strategic objectives covering Career Education, Community Knowledge Integration, Innovation, Unified Industry Voice and Accelerate Growth. Information on ASC can be found at www.ascouncil.org.  Industry solutions and news can be found at www.adhesives.org or www.sealants.org.
