MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association, recently instigated the Center for Sustainability, a new initiative to support its members as they navigate the increasingly complex processes and requirements of a successful sustainability program.
“The Center for Sustainability is a crucial component of MEMA’s recent future-looking realignment and a direct result of the success of MERA, The Association for Sustainable Manufacturing, a former MEMA division,” said Bill Long, MEMA president and CEO. “The Center will serve as a valuable resource for all MEMA members.”
The mission of the new Sustainability Center is to serve MEMA members wherever they are in their sustainability journey. The Center’s collaborative community will help members comply and build advantages as they assess and respond to the needs of their customers and other stakeholders. The Center will work closely with MEMA DC to cover a range of commercial and policy-related issues and topics that affect all members. It will be a platform to share best practices and provide members with subject matter experts, research, data, and more.
“There is a great need for dialogue and resources to support sustainability education and the sustainability and ESG requirements facing MEMA members,” said John Chalifoux, MEMA chief sustainability officer and COO of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. The former president and COO of MERA, Chalifoux added, “MERA focused on members in the remanufacturing industry, a vital component of a strong circular economy. The Center for Sustainability allows us to broaden our view of sustainability and ESG for all MEMA members, supporting OE and aftermarket parts manufacturers, remanufacturers, technology suppliers, and others in the vehicle supplier community.”
MEMA is already partnering with member companies in the sustainability space to deliver needed content and dialogue for the overall membership. In the months prior to the announcement, sustainability education and discussion sessions for members were held with BlueInc Strategies, Boston Consulting Group, Foresight Management, and RSM US. Future sessions are planned and will be announced soon.
These partners and others will help guide companies from corporate strategy to reporting requirements to stakeholder communications through virtual education and discussion sessions, in-person conferences, and consultations.
“Our members understand the importance of a viable and strategic sustainability program to achieve long-term success, but many do not have the internal resources to do it alone,” says Chalifoux. “For members, our value proposition is ‘the go-to place to accelerate your sustainability journey.’”
