May 28, 2008 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1],Overview

The Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard is but one of many metrics/scorecards/calculators used in regard to sustainable practices. The findings of this workshop were that there were conflicting interests at play that make the use of the scorecard challenging. Additionally, there was a consensus view that the scorecard could effect the supply chain in both directions (“up and down the supply chain”), however, the scorecard has a scope that is somewhat limited in that it currently only applies to North America. Some issues that were also discussed was that there must be dedicated resources in order to use the scorecard, it is challenging to develop common terminology when using the scorecard, and unfortunately the number of scorecard uploads has not met expectations since the inception of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard.

You can view the symposium powerpoint HERE.

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May 1, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

Birkin, F., Cashman, A., Koh, S. C., Koh, L. and Liu, Z. (2009). New sustainable business models in China. Business Strategy and the Environment. Retrieved from www.interscience.wiley.com on Monday, April 13, 2009.

In the article New Sustainable Business Models in China, the concept of sustainability is discussed with regard to China. The article focuses on why sustainability is not achievable; due to a lack of skills, poor finance and absence of knowledge the country has come to grinding halt with regard to the embedment of sustainability. Furthermore the article outlines the sever environmental issues China is facing, these issues range from server soil erosion, to 1 in 4 people dying from respiratory diseases. The big issue is that China is one of the largest contributors to climate change. The article goes on to discuss the survey conducted in China with a number of companies; the results are difficult to swallow, as every company had an idea of environmental awareness, but only one company has made it part of their efforts to utilize environmentally friendly materials.

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May 1, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

Karatzoglou, B., & Spinlanis, L. (2008). Sustainable tourism in Greek Islands: The integration of activity based environmental management with a destination environmental scorecard based on the adaptive resource management paradigm. Business Strategy and the Environment. Retrieved from www.interscience.wiley.com on Monday, April 13, 2009.

This article focuses on sustainability in the tourism field, one might be quick to over look this article, but the article goes on to describe the impact tourism can have on sustainability with regard to the environment. The article states that “small size, lack of relevant legal framework, poor monitoring, and insufficient infrastructures provide partial explanations of the unsatisfactory environmental performance.” The article goes on to discuss the use of an environmental scorecard that could be utilized in an effort to increase sustainability, and put more people on the same playing field. The scorecard focuses on areas such as: discharge of chlorinated pool water, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption from cooling operations. The article touches on areas that might normal be an oversight to someone with little knowledge of sustainability.

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May 1, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

Loorbach, D., Van Bakel, V. C., Whiteman, G., & Rotmans, J. (2009). Business strategies for transitions toward sustainable systems. Business Strategy and the Environment, retrieved from www.intersciencewiley.com, Monday, April 13, 2009.

The authors evaluate the various challenges that arise across three distinct sustainability systems; business, government and civil society. While research recognizes the unique contributions made over the years, authors suggest that more assertive research is needed in quality standards and the ever-changing societal systems that create new heights for sustainability. Therefore, the authors explored 2 cases utilizing the transition management framework. This framework that has three levels, strategic, tactical, and operational. Both companies are located in the Netherlands, and the general approach is for the societal context to be re-developed.

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April 2, 2009 by Brian Butler | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

This workshop will focus on discussing the following questions:

• What does the environmental manager need to know about the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard in order to gain leverage to move his or her company toward sustainability?
• What are ways in which the environmental manager can work within the supply chain to contribute to the successful resolution to packaging reduction initiatives?

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May 4, 2008 by NEIL MILLER | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

This is a case study I found that describes the environmental impact of a new wal-mart “super center” proposed for Potsdam, New York.  I thought this was a very through look at every aspect of how the building of a store along affects a community, without taking into account the products they sell and how those are produced.

http://web.stlawu.edu/library/potsdam_walmart.pdf

Courtemanch, Aly and Bensheimer, Lani.  “Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Potsdam”. Conservation Biology. April 29, 2005.  May 1st, 2008.

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April 27, 2008 by LAUREN KERWAWYCZ and NEIL MILLER | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

Packaging Pro’s Rate Wal-Mart’s Scorecard

Wal-Mart is big, very big.  There is no denying it and many are aware that the retail giant is going to be making waves in industry.   Wal-Mart may be taking on these sustainability initiatives to improve their image.  Wal-Mart could also be genuinely committed to protecting the global environment.  Many are taking stabs at the scorecard stating that there are many inconsistencies.

• Differing greenhouse gas measurements for North American and European suppliers.
• Combinations of different U.S. government data into the material types category.
• Requested data on transportation distances that offers no credit for making packaging at the point it is filled.
• Product-to-packaging ratios that discourage production of smaller portions and disregard market trends to reduce portion sizes.
• The way Wal-Mart analyzes recycled content in packaging, especially as it relates to current industry best practices with respect to food-safety issues.
• Recovery values that focus only on packaging that remains in Wal-Mart’s possession and differing standards for giving credit to North American and European suppliers.
• No credit to suppliers based on the amount of renewable energy (wind, water) used to produce packaging.

The scorecard is only one of 13 tools available to evaluate supplier performance.  It has been viewed as a business management tool and will allow suppliers to proactively innovate and make products that are eco-friendly and cost-effective.  The long terms benefits are obvious to many, and so are the short term disadvantages.  The short term disadvantages include increased energy and raw materials costs for packagers.

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April 27, 2008 by LAUREN KERWAWYCZ | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

 Wal-Mart Sustainability Campaign Makes Bad Business SenseWal-Mart Sustainability Campaign Makes Bad Business Sense  

This article builds on Emily’s previous post regarding how Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiatives have received negative feedback along with the positive.  A survey taken by American’s Research Group found that only only one third of consumers care about environmentally friendly products and that onyl 16% are willing to pay more for them.   Walmart’s reputation was built on the fact that they could get quality products to customers at a low cost point. Many feel Wal-Mart is divering from their core focus by implementing the supplier scorecard initiatives.  It is argued that Wal-Mart is presenting products that bring along serious economic setbacks to consumers in an effort to be ‘green.’

What this article tells howthe general public may not be impressed with the sustainability initiatives taken by Wal-Mart, but if we left decisions in the hands of uneducated consumers, change might not be possible.  Throughout history, not many have the power and industry leadership to take on such initiatives like Wal-Mart.

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April 24, 2008 by Brian Butler , John Morelli , LAUREN KERWAWYCZ , and NEIL MILLER | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

Anju, John, and I were reviewing the discussion thus far regarding the impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard and we are suggesting that possible topics for the symposium workshop could be:

• What does the environmental manager need to know about the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard in order to gain leverage to move his or her company toward sustainability?
• What are ways in which the environmental manager can work within the supply chain to contribute to the successful resolution to packaging reduction initiatives?

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April 20, 2008 by Emily Ryan , , admin and John Morelli | Filed under: Impact of the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard [1]

From my area of interest regarding the Wal-Mart scorecard, I would like to see the following topics discussed in our collaboratory. This would supplement the topics presented by the moderator: focus on how an EM works within the supply chain to contribute to the successful resolution to reduction initiatives.

 - How Wal-Mart can take advantage of information systems to measure their progress, and help their suppliers measure progress as well.

 - How Wal-Mart manages all of the knowledge gathered in their many product sections to assist with customer reduction initiatives.

 - If Wal-Mart’s suppliers are also passing their knowledge and sustainable requirements down their own supply chains.

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