As the world's largest retailer, Walmart has its work cut out when it comes to untangling its global supply chain. But its very vastness means its initiatives have the potential to set de facto industry standards and drive sweeping change.
So it's no wonder that its Sustainability Index, which aims to evaluate all of Walmart's suppliers in key sustainability measurements, has garnered plenty of attention since it launched in 2009.
As part of the index, Walmart has created sustainability scorecards to help its buyers evaluate suppliers in different categories and to measure suppliers' progress. The company last month said it had rolled out scorecards for 200 product categories pertaining to more than 1,000 suppliers, and expects to expand the index to more than 200 product categories – and up to 5,000 suppliers – by the end of the year.
It also plans to expand the index to global markets, starting with Chile and Mexico in 2014. "We've reached an acceleration point where we are moving from measurement to results," Walmart CEO Mike Duke said in a press release.
The company is working to increase the use of recycled materials, boost energy efficiency and decrease the use of fertilizers in its supply chain. Last month, it also announced a new chemicals policy aiming to reduce or eliminate 10 "chemicals of concern".
In this live chat, we discussed Walmart's new initiatives, its progress on the index and its impact on suppliers around the world. Read the transcript below.
Panelists
Jeff Rice, director of sustainability at Walmart
Elizabeth Sturcken, managing director of the Environmental Defense Fund
Marc Gunther, editor-at-large for Guardian Sustainable Business
