Sustainability Measurements

We agree with the author of this article that sustainability is a concept that can become ubiquitous and irrelevant unless there are defined parameters for identifying what quantifies and qualifies a product or a company to use that term. In the case of Wal-Mart, the article discusses an effort by the company  to develop a metrics to measure sustainability of packaging, production practices of their suppliers and other environmental impacts. Since Wal-Mart has a huge impact on a wide swath of our consumer and supplier population, this should come as a welcome effort. This will obviously be good for them as well. Who will watch over their claims however? Can consumers access reliable information as to the validity of Wal-Mart's (or anybody's) claims of increased adherence and commitment to real sustainable business?

These types of sustainability scorecards are going to become more common and necessary as conscious consumers battle greenwashing. In the instance of Wal-Mart, it is very doubtful that a truly conscious consumer even shops there (at least not as a regular customer). There will also be more efforts on the part of companies to provide this information to their customers and many will also want to ensure they are buying from companies that are also aligned with those sustainability values. When this becomes more common, we will all benefit. The one major caveat is who or what will oversee these claims?

Visionary Values believes that comprehensive sustainability metrics that cover the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit is the wave of the future. After all, if you could go to one source for baseline data as well as in-depth information on all measurements of sustainability for the companies whose products populate the shelves of your local coop or Whole Foods Market, then you would have the power to determine which companies to support with your paycheck!

Let us know what issues you are concerned about and what you believe can be done to encourage other consumers and companies to make the honest commitment to sustainable business practices.