Business Operations | Purchasing | GreenBiz.com

What Green IT Can Learn from Walmart

Preston Gralla — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:30:00 -0700

Walmart's move to include "green" labels on all of its products that detail such things as the amount of energy used to make them is an excellent model for what should be done for Green IT. To date, although there are several green standards for computers and IT, none really hit the mark.

Walmart Unveils Phase One of Sustainability Index

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:05:00 -0700

The first phase of a three-phase project to establish a green rating system for all of the products on its shelves, Walmart executives today released its 15 question survey that will be mailed to all of the company's 100,000-plus suppliers.

Walmart's Sustainability Index, Version 1.0

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:51:00 -0700

The first phase of the mega-retailer's Sustainable Product Index, this tool offers an overview of the project's goals, the 15-question survey the company is sending to all its suppliers, and an FAQ for suppliers.

Walmart's Sustainability Index: The Hype and the Reality

Joel Makower — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:08:00 -0700

Now that Walmart has finally unveiled its audacious Sustainability Index, it's time to take a more sober assessment of what's really going on here. In short, there is both more and less going on here than meets the eye.

Carting Away the Oceans: June 2009

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:22:00 -0700

This report from Greenpeace ranks and rates 20 supermarket chains, including 17 national chains, on their sustainability practices for purchasing seafood and communicating about sustainable seafood to shoppers.

More Greenpeace Rankings: Who's the Greenest Seafood Retailer?

Matthew Wheeland — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:15:00 -0700

The third update of Greenpeace's Sustainable Seafood scorecard finds Wegman's Ahold USA and Whole Foods leading the pack for supporting sustainable seafood; Trader Joe's remains the lowest-ranked national retailer on the list.

Retailers' Ties with Illegal Deforesters Highlight Supply Chain Concerns

James Murray — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:01:00 -0700

Several U.K. supermarkets are facing fresh calls to sever ties with meat suppliers in Brazil facing prosecution for their alleged involvement in illegal deforestation.

Safeway Expands Its Local Food Focus

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:30:00 -0700

The grocery retailer is highlighting locally grown fruits and vegetables in its supermarkets, saying that almost a third of its produce sections come from nearby farms.

Loans from Whole Foods Help Small Producers Grow Business

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:26:00 -0700

Offering a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy economy, Whole Foods Markets have been loaning small, local producers of natural foods up to $100,000 to maintain, improve or expand their businesses.

Seeking Safer Packaging from Food Companies

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:39:00 -0700

This report from Green Century Capital Management and As You Sow looks at the ways that major packaged-foods companies are working to remove BPA from products, and grades them on their performance.

Federal Government Boosts Its EPEAT Purchases

GreenerComputing Staff — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:00:00 -0700

Over half of all government agencies have purchased 95 percent or more EPEAT-certified electronics, in accordance with a new federal guideline.

Wal-Mart, Nike, H&M Among Biggest Purchasers in Booming Organic Cotton Market

Matthew Wheeland — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:30:00 -0700

The global market for organic cotton hit $3.2 billion in 2008, according to a new report from Organic Exchange, but the rapid growth of supply could lead to problems.

Understanding the Energy Within Bottled Water

Jonathan Bardelline — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:26:00 -0700

Tap water requires a whole lot less energy than bottled water. No big surprise there. But within the world of bottled water, modes of transportation and distance can cause one bottle's energy footprint to be much bigger than another's.

Wal-Mart, Kmart Stock Up on Organic Jeans

GreenerDesign Staff — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0800

The two major retailers are adding organic jeans to their private label clothing brands after testing sales of the jeans last year.

Buying Environmentally Preferable Office Equipment

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:00:00 -0800

This fact sheet is intended to help institutions easily adopt a purchasing program for printers, copiers and fax machines that accounts for social and environmental concerns.