RILA Releases Sustainability Report

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association here has released its first report on sustainability practices among some of its retail members. The 2012 Retail Sustainability Report drew from 30 corporate sustainability reports and interviews with representatives for 20 firms including grocers such as Safeway and Whole Foods.

The report found that leading retailers are:

• Working with stakeholders across sectors to achieve sustainability goals.
• Turning from sustainability as a cost and risk reduction measure to an opportunity for business growth.
• Developing systems for continuous improvement by pulling together controls, measurement and management tools and IT systems.
•  Fostering transparency in operations and in the supply chain.

"This [report] puts the first stake in the ground for us on sustainability," said Adam Siegel, RILA's vice president for sustainability and retail operations, in a statement. "It's a start. This is meant to open a dialogue and highlight good work in the industry. We also want to be frank about the challenges."