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try, and especially from a retailer’s standpoint, helping people get there; being a conduit to sharing of information that can help everyone learn from these pieces,” says White.
With so many standards floating around, and multiple audits, suppliers feel squeezed. “It’s the age-old problem...the retailer wants to have its own standards,” White sympa- thizes. “I know that there’s a push right now
for harmonization between all the different audits that are going on in the industry...We all have our different expectations. Also, each company wants to protect itself and to make sure to have all its “Ts” crossed and “Is” dot- ted, and it’s difficult to set standards that fit every company. I think it has to be an industry solution and not just a retailer taking the hard line. I think there’s a balance there for sure.”
Packaging Alternatives
Certain sustainability practices go right to the bottom line, and just make excellent busi- ness sense. From a packaging perspective, it’s definitely an opportunity for everybody, whether you’re a retailer or supplier, accord- ing to Burnham. “I think everyone needs to ask, what reductions and efficiencies can we make? It’s not an official goal, but internally, we’re trying to reduce packaging by about 20 percent right now. Our responsibility, for Geoff and me, is both in regards to the marketing and the procurement, as well as facilitating the retail execution,” he says.
“We work with [other retail groups within Safeway] to solicit ideas and feedback, which we, in turn, communicate back down to our procurement group, which works with our suppliers. Maybe it’s an issue with over-pack- aging or it’s not friendly to labor or con- ducive to merchandising, but if we reduce this and come up with alternatives, we can fix the problem.”
In addition, the procurement team is work- ing with shippers on the use of non-wax boxes, increasing carton usage for recyclabil- ity, materials for the stores as well as the ware- houses. And then they’re looking at cartons made with the non-bleach cardboard as well.
Reader Service # 14
26 PRODUCE BUSINESS • MAY 2010


































































































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