Carefully organizing ‘green’ efforts is key to reaping rewards

Sustainability at retail 07-16-07: Retailing Today

Goal setting is another important element in launching a sustainability strategy, said Eric Landis, director of environmental initiatives for Cadence Network, a utility, telecommunications and lease management consultancy, but that must take into account how environmental issues are evolving.

“Every retailer should be grappling with the fact that they should at least know where they are right now in terms of goal setting and time tables. Step one is where they are right now. When things inevitably roll downhill, they’ll be prepared and know where to go. I think the majority of retailers don’t know where they are in terns of carbon footprinting, for example.”

While the United States may be years away from carbon trading, some companies already have seen advantages in exploring energy related tradeoffs. In May, PepsiCo and Sterling Planet announced an agreement on renewable energy certificates that will allow the soft drink supplier to offset the electricity used by all of PepsiCo U.S. facilities. Energy savings and sustainability issues are more closely linked today, which makes Cadence’s job more complex. Landis said goal setting is something “we put a lot of emphasis on. It’s the first conversation we want to have with a company.”

Sustainability discussions now involve more than facilities management, he said , they require brining “ a swirl of departments” together to work in new ways.

“We try to provide a solution to say, ‘Let’s create a road map to where you need to be.’ It’s important to know where you are, where you want to be and to set a time line.”

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