More and more retailers are issuing sustainability reports, selling organic or fair trade products, and launching some type of sustainability initiative: “Making our business more sustainable is one of our top priorities” has become a standard element of just about every CEO interview or letter to shareholders.
However, while sustainability now routinely figures in evaluating investment decisions and corporate projects, it has had little effect on the day-to-day commercial activities of the business, such as buying, store operations, and supply chain decisions. The Point of View “Sustainability – Beyond Good Intentions” explores some of the problems retailers face and how sustainability can be become a reality – even in everyday activities.
The article closes with an interview with Jürg Peritz, former Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, Chief Marketing and Chief Purchasing Officer at Coop Switzerland, a retailer widely recognized as a global sustainability leader.
