Companies become more and more aware of how their supply chain management (SCM) activities affect the environment, how sustainable their activities are and how emerging SCM technology can create sustainable and profitable supply chain practices.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) software consists of multiple distinctive classes of technology. Supply Chain Planning (SCP) systems enable businesses to improve the planning processes, whereas Supply Chain Execution (SCE) systems monitor resources and optimize execution processes. SCP is a software application that includes supply chain collaboration, supply chain network design, capacity and material planning, demand planning, manufacturing planning and scheduling, distribution and deployment planning and transportation planning. Currently, there is only a limited number of software vendors that take an integrated approach to the calculation of CO₂ emissions. However, effective use of ERP, SCM, APS or route and vehicle planning software can already lead to a reduction of carbon emissions within the supply chain.

Supply Chain Management systems