Benchmark Study Results Show Retailers Serious About Green Perfomance

April 26, 2010 - PRLog -- PHILADELPHIA – Five Winds International today announced GreenBiz’ publication of its benchmarking study of the sustainability performance of major retailers.  The analysis shows that Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Walmart, Target, and other big retailers are putting policies, management systems, and programs in place to drive higher environmental and social performance in their own organizations and across their supply chains.   The paper - the second in Five Winds’ three-part GreenBiz series about retailers’ rising role in sustainability - graphically ranks retailers’  environmental, social and governance practices and also provides strategic guidance for retailers and consumer goods suppliers.

“The results show that big players in the sector are serious about improving performance,” explains Kevin Brady, Five Winds’ co-founder and Director of strategic sustainability services,  “and the level of activity and investments require to reach the level of performance we are seeing is an indication that sustainability will be a strategy priority within the sector for years to come “.  

Recent news reports have cataloged retailers’ efforts to improve sustainability performance, but it was not clear how far and how deep retailers were embedding environmental, social and governance of sustainability into their management structure and internal business practices.    To shed some light on retailers’ performance, Five Winds’  benchmarked over 400 performance business practices, and the results show that the leading companies are “walking the talk” with comprehensive sustainability initiatives.  Companies like TESCO, Marks & Spencer, and Wal‐Mart are differentiating themselves and setting best practice by branding their sustainability efforts, setting clear priorities, and establishing comprehensive implementation programs.  Other retailers who want to claim leadership in sustainability will need to look holistically at these leaders’ efforts.  

“Retailers can use the study results to inform their strategies and tactics, but the findings also have important implications for consumer goods suppliers who want to better understand their major trade partners’ sustainability efforts and align their product strategies,”  explains Libby Bernick,  who leads Five Winds’ retail sector services.  
 
The white paper, Retail:  A Sustainability Benchmark, is available for download at GreenBiz ( http://www.greenbiz.com )  and is part of Five Winds’ retail initiative developed to support brand managers and sustainability managers at consumer goods manufacturers.  Tools available on Five Winds’ new retail webpage include RetailReadyInsight™, white papers, a free on-line calculator for suppliers who want to tally their score on Walmart’s Supplier Sustainability Assessment questionnaire, and regular blog updates on key issues.     The new webpage and retail tools can be found at  http://www.fivewinds.com/english/retail/retail-stocking-t...

About Five Winds International
Five Winds International, one of North America’s largest and most experienced consulting firms devoted to sustainability management, works with organizations to improve the financial, environmental and social performance—the sustainability—of their organizations, products and services.  Founded in 1998, Five Winds has offices in Europe, Canada and the United States.  For more information regarding Five Winds International, please visit http://www.fivewinds.com

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Five Winds International is a management consulting firm that helps organizations improve the business, environmental and social performance - the sustainability - of their operations, products, and services. Founded in 1998.