It is good to be green

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss how the influence of consumer and investor opinions for green corporate accountability and the creation of new government regulations in favor of protecting the environment have pushed green issues onto the boardroom agenda and onto outsourcing vendors' growing plate of priorities.Design/methodology/approachThe data presented and the opinions discussed in this paper are based on the on‐going research behind The Black Book of Outsourcing, by Douglas Brown and Scott Wilson.FindingsThe paper presents a wealth of data that clearly highlight how environmental issues and the ability to display an environmental‐friendly culture are becoming vital to all outsourcing stakeholders. Also, using the data analysis, it delivers a 13 steps process to develop a green outsourcing initiative.Originality/valueThis paper discusses one of the latest trends in outsourcing, and it does so by providing numerous relevant data. As such, it contributes to setting a relevant research agenda. At the same time, it provides an in‐depth analysis of various industry first‐movers, and based on that it delivers a process that can be used by practitioners to develop green outsourcing offerings.