BSR Insight

A Weekly Newsletter for BSR Members | July 28, 2009

   
 

In This Issue

Editor's Note

Avoiding Greenwash, Increasing Impact

Earlier this month, Wal-Mart launched its much-anticipated Sustainability Index. By asking suppliers to report on their sustainability impacts, Wal-Mart's index fits into a broader movement toward boosting sustainability through transparency.

Our feature article this week examines transparency from a related angle—efforts that target consumers, and the conundrum of greenwash. Building on our recent report, this article provides a primer on how to increase the impact of your sustainability initiatives without sending your messages into the greenwash spin cycle.

We want to hear from you on this subject: How does your company address transparency? Share your thoughts today, and stay tuned to hear what your peers are saying in an upcoming issue of the Insight.

Rising Above the Noise of Greenwash Department Icon

In Depth

Rising Above the Noise of Greenwash

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Today's savvy consumers are not just spending their dollars more wisely to save money—they’re also spending with companies they truly believe are saving the planet. Our guide will help your company curtail greenwash and build the trust of consumers.

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Spotlight

BSR and Wal-Mart Build Energy Efficiency in China

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For the past six months, BSR has been working with Wal-Mart to improve the energy efficiency in 200 of the company's Chinese factories by 20 percent by 2012. As a panelist at Wal-Mart's recent Sustainability Milestone Meeting, I shared the following lessons from this work:

  1. Empower people to find their own inspiration. Suppliers voluntarily participated in the energy-efficiency program with BSR and Wal-Mart providing the right tools, guidance, and resources for suppliers to improve their performance.
  2. Operate within the local context and create the right incentives. Because China has nascent, market-based incentives to encourage energy-efficiency investments, Wal-Mart created the right incentives, such as moving participating suppliers into their strategic supplier category.
  3. Ensure internal alignment. Consistent messaging from Wal-Mart's sourcing and ethical standards team to suppliers on the energy-efficiency program helped create the right buy-in and uptake from suppliers.