Last modified: 2013-06-27
Abstract
Retailers, as “gatekeepers” between production and consumption, can influence their supply chains to improve their environmental and social performance in key areas (hotspots).
Walmart has been a leader in the sustainability agenda for retailers through the creation of a product Sustainability Index, based on the Sustainability Consortium’s Sustainability Measurement and Reporting System (SMRS®).
This paper presents a pilot Supplier Development Program co-financed by the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) and Walmart Chile.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based diagnostic approach, aligned with the SMRS®, was implemented with 12 medium and small suppliers for 9 different product categories. The program conveyed an initial qualitative approach and established 2.5 year action plans, which include implementation of management practices using quantitative indicators for the identified environmental and social hotspots.
Keywords
References
Bengtsson, J., Emhart, C., Florenzano, A., Guccione, L., & Jaramillo, C., (2012). LCA-based hotspot analysis of food products to inform a major Chilean retailer’s sustainability strategy. 8th International Conference on LCA in the Agri-Food Sector, St Malo, France, 1-4 October 2012.
Dooley, K., Carlson, J., Schöner, G., Subramanian, V., & Childs, C. (2011). The Sustainability Consortium: A Stakeholder Approach to Improve Consumer Product Sustainability. In Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Management (pp. 43-52). Springer Netherlands.
The Sustainability Consortium, (2012). Sustainability Measurement & Reporting System (SMRS). Retrieved May 20, 2013, from http://www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/smrs
Walmart, (2009). Sustainability Index. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from http://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility/environment-sustainability/sustainability-index