IBM's Research and IBM Global Business Services have recently created the Carbon Tradeoff Modeler, a tool that recommends best practices to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by analyzing packaging options, alternative operational processes, alternative transportation modes and energy sources, inventory policies, and sourcing policies. The tool can also quantify the tradeoffs between CO2 emissions reductions and other supply chain metrics including inventory levels and on-time delivery.

Channel Web reported that the product was borne out of results from IBM's 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility study and separate IBM research that showed that corporate social responsibility topped the list of concerns for chief executives. According to IBM, social responsibility is quickly becoming a revenue growth platform for businesses, as clients have been increasingly vocal about transparency and accountability issues from organizations they do business with.