Minority-owned suppliers are important in the economic recover in the US and this belief is also shared by a number of large companies. Chrysler has announced that they are focused on encouraging dealer purchasing from minority vendors. In Southern California, Chrysler are match-making 40 Chrysler dealers with 67 minority-owned suppliers from across the state. The minority-owned vendors can supply dealers with a whole range of products from office equipment to information technology, construction, and training services.

Last month Sam's Club hosted a supplier fair for minority-owned vendors. The event was an opportunity to engage potential suppliers, strengthen relationships with diverse suppliers and identify product offerings relevant to club members. AT&T launched their Operation Hand Salute (OHS) program designed to mentor and develop Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprises (SDVOBE). AT&T spent $12 billion with certified diverse businesses which is 23 percent of the company's total spend. In the coming year AT&T has a goal to spend 1.5 percent of its total spend with SDVOBE's,

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Many companies are being pushed, or pulled, by their customers to improve the environmental impact of their supply chain. Large global retailers are under pressure from consumers and in turn they are demanding their suppliers abide by more stringent green requirements. The environmental news website mnn.com gives business owners some ideas how make their supply chains greener.

• Reduce Energy Usage - How many businesses leave lights on unnecessarily, or have ill fitting warehouse doors? By switching off items not being used, even small items, the energy savings can be significant in a large facility.
• Alternative Fuels - Businesses can reduce their carbon footprint by using hybrid or alternative fuels as well as save money. Warehouse forklifts and short haul delivery vehicles can be compressed natural gas (CNG) or electric to reduce greenhouse gases.
• Environmentally Sustainable Purchasing - A business can quickly become "greener" by ensuring that their own supply chain has vendors who have a good environmentally record.

Read more about the green supply chain here.

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Rollover crashes in trucks and buses cause the greatest number of fatalities and injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed that all new trucks and buses should be fitted with an electronic stability control system (ECS) that will sense when a driver loses control and automatically applies the brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. This type of system is required in passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and light trucks, as of the 2012 model year, but has been available in SUV's and many other cars for years.

The stability control system would help commercial drivers avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road. In addition the individual-wheel braking system counters over-steering and under-steering in trucks. Research into electronic stability control systems by the government concludes that up to 56 percent of rollover crashes each year could be prevented, which equates to 2,329 crashes, reducing up to 858 injuries, and preventing between 49 and 60 fatalities a year.

Read about commercial vehicles here.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are weighing in on the issue of companies that want to use nanoparticles in their packaging of food stuffs. A nanoparticle is generally considered to be less than 100 nanometers in diameter, 1000 thinner than a sheet of paper. Some nanoparticles are being found in FDA regulated products such as sunscreen and skin lotions. The FDA have now issued guidelines to food manufacturers indicating that they will need to provide additional data establishing the safety of any packaging that would contain nanoparticles.

Some companies are currently studying whether nanotechnology can be used in packaging to identify when food has spoilt or to even stop food from spoiling. The most popular area of nanotechnology for packaging involves polymer-clay nanocomposites, which embed nanoparticles of volcanic ash into plastics. These materials provide a barrier that can be used to keep carbon dioxide and nitrogen in a package, while keeping oxygen out, thus prevent oxidation and extends the shelf life of food. Other nanoparticles can remove oxygen from inside food packaging, and silver-based nanoparticles have also been proven to kill microorganisms, including some pathogens.

Read about Nanoparticle safety here.

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