| Industry has a tremendous impact on the | | | | - savings that can then be passed down to |
| environment, and thus, can have a tremendous | | | | Wal-Mart. Since the competition for shelf space is |
| impact in improving it. As green goes mainstream, | | | | tough, and Wal-Mart favors suppliers that meet |
| companies of all shapes and sizes are looking for | | | | these goals, there is a distinct advantage in |
| ways to incorporate the tenets of sustainability. | | | | compliance. The retailer has also set up systems |
| Be it an office recycling program or a global | | | | to benchmark, measure and share what's being |
| sustainability initiative, every company has to start | | | | learned. As a result, savings from packaging |
| somewhere. Fortunately, a few are getting it | | | | reduction (coupled with Wal-Mart's own |
| right, providing lessons for the rest of us. | | | | improvements in logistics) will save the retailer an |
| Whole Foods Market | | | | hundreds of millions each year. |
| Whole Foods is dedicated to providing quality food | | | | Characteristics of Successful Sustainability |
| in support of an interdependent world. Local | | | | Initiatives |
| producers and suppliers play a key role, providing | | | | Examples such as these illustrate some |
| fresh fruits and vegetables, while furthering the | | | | characteristics shared by successful sustainability |
| sustainable agriculture industry that promotes | | | | programs: |
| ecological health. Through their Local Producer | | | | - Green policies directly support business |
| Loan Program, Whole Foods provides low interest | | | | strategies, and are material to the company's |
| loans to the growers that in turn support the | | | | core business |
| grocer's ability to provide high-quality food in their | | | | - Core values align with those of its customer |
| stores - a strategic investment that benefits | | | | base |
| Whole Foods. The company also empowers | | | | - Holistic view of sustainability, looking across the |
| individual buyers to seek out and purchase from | | | | company's entire operation, both up and down the |
| sustainable suppliers, engaging them directly in | | | | supply chain |
| Whole Foods' pursuit of sustainability. | | | | - Empower and engage employees through |
| Wal-Mart | | | | training, knowledge sharing, and reward |
| Wal-Mart competes based on its ability to supply | | | | competition systems |
| products at a low price - their profit margin is | | | | - Encourage change in supply chain: share goals |
| famously low at around 2%. They achieve this by | | | | and knowledge, help suppliers meet goals and |
| wringing the lowest possible price from suppliers | | | | reward those that do |
| and cutting their own operating costs wherever | | | | - Establish benchmarking and measurement |
| possible. Their huge revenues are driven by | | | | systems |
| volume. After years of bad press related to | | | | - Communicate results - both wins and challenges |
| these tactics, Wal-Mart has begun receiving | | | | - to all stakeholders |
| accolades for its sustainability policies, even though | | | | Whether you're looking to green your office or |
| its competitive strategy has not changed. | | | | take a multinational corporation down the path to |
| How? Wal-Mart has proved the old adage that a | | | | sustainability, know that there's no need to |
| penny saved is a penny earned. By looking up its | | | | reinvent the wheel - learn from those that have |
| supply chain and requesting a reduction in | | | | gone before you. |
| packaging, suppliers save money on raw materials | | | | |