Unadulterated

Companies following product sustainability best practices are gaining benefits that include reduced costs, improved employee engagement and productivity, and increased consumer trust and brand enhancement.

Walmart is a leading motivator for investment in product sustainability with nearly 80 percent of respondents that identified a retail-driver citing the company in an open-ended question. This was followed by Target at about 50 percent, Costco at 18 percent, and Nordstrom at 12 percent. Walmart and Target clearly stand out from crowd. These retailers’ priorities are trickling through the supply chain and influencing supplier product sustainability programs.

Chemicals and materials in products, processes, and packaging are facing greater scrutiny and growing demands from retailers, regulators, competitors, and consumers - new rules of the game are rapidly emerging.

Two positive trends in product sustainability and a recent report highlighting species loss prompt us to look at how companies consider the impacts of their own activities on biodiversity.