Manufacturing Consultants Welcome Wal-Mart Sustainability Plans

Friday, Jul 24, 2009

By Arkansas Business Staff
7/17/2009 10:50:00 AM

Wal-Mart's Thursday announcement that it will lead the creation of a "global sustainability index" that would pressure vendors to become more green was received as good news by one organization that represents Arkansas businesses.

"We applaud Wal-Mart for initializing this program that encourages manufacturers to be conscious of their impact on the environment and to produce highly sustainable, cost efficient products," Dan Curtis, director of Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, said in a statement released Friday. "This program will impact supplier's bottom line as customers will now have an additional way to make an informed decision about the products they purchase."

Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions works with manufacturers throughout the state to assess and promote sustainability. AMS communications manager Greg Henderson said such green thinking was inevitable.

"I think businesses will find that this will help them in the long run," he said. "You see some legislative efforts being made now that are basically forcing businesses to look at this. It will be a good thing for businesses in the long run. This will be good for overall industry."

The process of creating the index will entail Wal-Mart asking questions of its top vendors related to energy and climate, natural resources, materials efficiency, and people and community.

Henderson said Wal-Mart's initiative will give consumers more options, because vendors ultimately will be required to post information concerning their sustainability on their products.

"If two products are equal in price, consumers will have the option of choosing the one that is more environmentally friendly," he said.
Wal-Mart is initiating the process but inviting other companies to participate. In addition to surveying vendors, Wal-Mart will help create a consortium of universities that will collaborate with suppliers, retailers and government entities to develop a global database of information on product lifespans.

The final step of the process will be making product sustainability information available to customers. The company expects full implementation to take five years.

Link to the Article In Arkansas Business