Walmart has launched its Sustainability Leaders shop, an online portal for customers wishing to buy products from suppliers that are leaders in sustainability. The shop is the first customer-facing version of the retailer’s Sustainability Index, launched in 2009 in collaboration with The Sustainability Consortium (TSC).
“The Sustainability Leaders shop is the first step in helping our customers identify which brands and suppliers are leading the way in sustainability,” said Neil Ashe, president and CEO of Walmart Global eCommerce. “Our customers can trust us to work with suppliers who have an ongoing commitment to both sustainability and affordability.”
Until now, the Sustainability Index, which gathers and analyses information about a supplier’s approach to managing its social and environmental impact on the full lifecycle of its products, had only been a tool for Walmart and its suppliers.
The Sustainability Leaders shop takes information from the Index and translates it into an easy-to-understand format for Walmart customers. Products displayed with a badge indicate that their manufacturer ranks as best in class among other suppliers in that product category, based on their responses to detailed category surveys developed by TSC.
The badge symbolises that the manufacturer of that product is ranked highest among its peers within its category; or in categories where there are many leading manufacturers, products made by any manufacturer that scores over 80 per cent, will also qualify for a badge. Although the badge isn’t specific to the individual product’s environmental or social impact, the manufacturer and category level approach is intended to help customers identify companies leading in sustainability.
“We’ve done the heavy lifting to empower our customers to put their money where their heart is,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, senior vice president of sustainability for Walmart. “The Sustainability Leaders shop gives customers the tools to make more informed choices, and it’s a great way for us to do good business.”
