Walmart to expand use of sustainability index to 100 more product categories

Speaking at an event in Beijing this morning, Walmart executives said that more than 500 suppliers have now participated in the sustainability index, which was designed by The Sustainability Consortium (TSC).

Walmart uses TSC’s metrics to create category scorecards, which allow its buyers to evaluate supplier performance against the biggest challenges across the life cycle of their products. It then gives suppliers actionable recommendations for how they could improve, said the firm.

“Merchandise buyers from Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, Walmart.com and Walmart Canada are now using the sustainability index in regular buying decisions.​

“Beginning in 2013, Walmart will also use the Sustainability Index to influence the design of its U.S. private brand products."​

Walmart will use the index to influence the design of its U.S. private label products from 2013​

And by the end of 2017, Walmart will buy 70% of the goods it sells in U.S. stores and in U.S. Sam’s Clubs from “suppliers who use the index to evaluate and share the sustainability of their products”, ​it added.

“In April, we announced that key buyers in Walmart U.S, and Sam’s Clubs will have specific sustainability objectives added to their annual evaluations. Now, key global sourcing merchants will have similar objectives.” ​

The Sustainability Consortium is an independent global organization that creates sustainability standards for consumer products.

TSC now has more than 90 members including JM Smucker, Danone, Cargill, General Mills and Kellogg.

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