New Website Helps Brand Managers Tackle Retail Sustainability Requirements

March 8, 2010 - PRLog -- PHILADELPHIA – Five Winds International today announced the launch of a new website for consumer goods companies to help them respond to retailers’ sustainability requirements.   Top retailers like Tesco, Walmart, Carrefour, and Marks & Spencer are asking their suppliers to report on sustainability programs and provide consumer products that are “greener” and more sustainably sourced.  Five Winds’ research shows this is part of a growing global retail trend, and the result is a rapidly evolving set of product requirements and supply chain standards for consumer goods manufacturers and suppliers.  A three-part white paper series, to be released on the webpage over the next two months, summarizes the research and provides strategic guidance and tactical steps for consumer goods suppliers.

“Ten years ago, we were working mostly with top consumer brands and niche “green” companies to  understand sustainability issues, improve product performance, and help them grow their business and succeed in the marketplace,” says Five Winds’ Managing Director Dr. James Fava.  “Now retailers are asking everyone to measure up to a much higher standard, and many companies are finding they need to catch up.”

To respond to this growing demand for more sustainably sourced consumer goods, Five Winds researched retailers’ programs and developed specific tools to help suppliers understand how to get ahead of retailers’ requirements.   Designed for brand managers and sustainability managers at consumer goods manufacturers, the new website includes a free on-line calculator for suppliers who want to tally their score on Walmart’s Supplier Sustainability Assessment questionnaire, and regular blog updates on key issues.   Retail Ready Insight™, a new tool for  brand managers trying to understand how to get started with a sustainability program, provides a fast gap assessment and recommended action steps.    

“Suppliers’ executive teams are coming to us asking for advice on how to develop business strategies to address sustainability.  Retailer’s sustainability requirements for supply chain transparency, product life cycle assessment, and greenhouse gas emissions are just a few of the critical issues that brand managers need to consider, ” explains Kevin Brady, Five Winds director, co-founder, and lead author of the white paper explaining retailers’ pivotal role in sustainability management.

The new webpage and first white paper article can be found at  http://www.fivewinds.com/english/retail/retail-stocking-t...

About Five Winds International
Five Winds International, one of North America’s largest and most experienced consulting firms devoted to sustainability management, works with organizations to improve the financial, environmental and social performance—the sustainability—of their organizations, products and services.  Founded in 1998, Five Winds has offices in Europe, Canada and the United States.  For more information regarding Five Winds International, please visit http://www.fivewinds.com

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About Five Winds: Five Winds International is a management consulting firm that helps organizations improve the business, environmental and social performance - the sustainability - of their operations, products, and services. Founded in 1998. For more information or to schedule an interview, media are invited to contact:
Libby Bernick
+1.610.640.2302
l.bernick@fivewinds.com