Which of the following is included in environmental criteria for assessing suppliers?

The inclusion of the impacts of products throughout their life-cycle as a criterion for assessing suppliers is pivotal in environmental assessments. This approach looks at the entire journey of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing, distribution, use, and ultimately disposal or recycling. Understanding these impacts helps organizations identify areas where they can minimize environmental harm, such as reducing carbon footprints, waste generation, and resource consumption. By prioritizing life-cycle impacts, companies can make more informed decisions that align with sustainability goals, ensuring that they select suppliers who adhere to responsible environmental practices across all stages of a product's life.

The other options, while relevant in other contexts, do not specifically address environmental criteria. For instance, a supplier's history of product development relates more to innovation and quality rather than environmental impact. Labor costs associated with production focus on economic factors, and a supplier's proximity to your location primarily concerns logistical and supply chain efficiency rather than environmental considerations. Therefore, focusing on life-cycle impacts directly aligns with the principles of environmental responsibility in sourcing.