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The commercial opportunities that can arise from sustainable
supply chain strategies were highlighted recently with the
launch of a new service from retail giant Wal-Mart allowing
customers to track where jewellery they have bought has been
sourced from.
The company said that customers buying its new Love, Earth
jewellery range are able to trace the products journey from
mine to store online
and gain information on suppliers' environmental and social
initiatives.
Pam Mortensen, vice president and divisional merchandise
manager for Wal-Mart, said that the company expected the new
service to appeal to customers who increasingly care about
jewellery's "potential impact on the world."
The company said that the new service was the first step
in a major initiative being undertaken with the charity Conservation
International to ultimately ensure that all the gold,
silver and diamonds used in the jewellery sold in its stores,
come from mines and manufacturers that adhere to its sustainability
standards on environmental, human rights and community issues.
Under the next phase of the programme, the company said it
was aiming to have at least 10 per cent of its jewellery meet
the standards by 2010 and also expand the number of approved
suppliers contributing to the Love, Earth range.
The announcement comes just a day after the retailer announced
it was teaming with the WWF to phaset-out the use of illegal
timber in its products.
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