2Sustain

Top retailers like Walmart, Tesco and Marks & Spencer are asking their suppliers to report on sustainability programs and provide customers with “greener” products, and now consumer goods companies are scrambling for ways to respond to these rapidly evolving lists of requirements.

Yesterday, Five Winds International, one of North America’s largest and most experienced consulting firms devoted to sustainability management, launched a website to help. The company researched retailers’ programs and developed specific tools to help suppliers understand how to get ahead of retailers’ requirements.
Designed specifically for brand managers and sustainability managers at consumer goods manufacturers, the new website includes: (more…)

Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, is continuing to set aggressive environmental targets, despite the lack of clear government guidance, Chief Executive Terry Leahy told Reuters earlier this week.

In fact, the company plans to spend more than 100 million pounds ($159 million) with British green technology companies over the coming year as it moves forward with its drive to cut carbon emissions in half by 2020.

In the Reuters article, Leahy admits that it would be better to have “clear binding targets” (set by governments).  But, since we’re currently operating in a “political vacuum,” businesses will have to take the lead and set their own, he says. (more…)