2Sustain

Back in July, one insider described Walmart’s Sustainable Product Index as “audacious beyond words.”

But these days, suppliers are substituting other adjectives.

Many think this new Walmart initiative is “confusing beyond words” or “intimidating beyond words” or … well, you get the idea.

If you’re a supplier looking for a little help with understanding Wal-Mart’s new expectations, be sure to read “Survival Tips for Walmart Suppliers: Beware the Top 10 Sustainability Myths,” by Catherine Greene and Marc Major, an article published last Friday at GreenBiz.com.

Greene and Major, founders of Cleargreen Advisors, worked “elbow-to-elbow” with Walmart for several years, helping create the company’s sustainability strategy. Now, they’re using that firsthand knowledge to help suppliers build strong, strategic –and sustainable –relationships with Walmart.

According to Greene and Major, one of the first steps in this process is to debunk the myths surrounding sustainability in the supplier community. In the article, they list their “Top 10 Myths,” including

• The green consumer doesn’t exist.
• It’s too complex.
• And, one of my personal “favorite” myths about the green supply chain: This, too, shall pass.

Over the next few weeks, Greene and Major plan to explore each myth in detail and demonstrate how guidelines like the Walmart Supplier Sustainability Assessment can help cut costs, reduce risks, improve operational efficiency, spur innovation, increase productivity, and enhance brand loyalty and community relations.

This sounds like it is going to be an informative and engaging series. I’ll stay tuned in, and I recommend that you do the same.