Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

This write up aims to analyze, compare and contrast on selected 4 write ups in terms of different approaches on eco sustainability. This very earth has provided us natural capitalism with ease and of free of cost; enterprising spirit of business has unbounded the beauty of growth and development for ages. Not just a profit making motive, can we approach towards a Green wave and thus can we change the BAU to a more eco friendly one. Eco advantage can be the game changer for this orthodox economy. Later on this write up, we have tried to draw an assessment on both Coles and Walmart, and looked for traces of any positive ecological footprints for future as a derivative of all effects - in the eyes of scar less and negative impact free biosphere.

Submitted by: Md Nazmus Shakib Student ID: 601122

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

Approximately 4.5 billion years ago, a place with enormous beauties & endless opportunities formed, we call it Erath. And around 200 thousand years ago human species started their footprints in this very Earths soil. From then, nearly everything has had changed till date both in the human numbers (currently 7 bln.) and in the mother earths eco surface. Had we been given a time machine, we would have seen the magnanimous journey of human kind racing against all the unprecedented odds; unfortunately not all of them are promising, some are quite heart breaking and counterproductive, too. This writing is an effort to look at the 4 different write ups circling on the sustainability and its impact on this earth: and the distinctive patterns in sustainability issues mentioned in the writings by different accomplished personalities.

It offers an alternative approach to traditional eco efficiency in the world of sustainability. It offers wider perspectives of waste as food and considers things proactively towards forming an eco solution. Clinically looking at the aspect of writing, we might see 5 steps1 strategy to form this. So this write up rather touches not just the issues but give a comprehensive view to solve problems lies in our process driven management. It touches upon the design of materials to form into two different nutrients both of Biological and Technical. Not only this, it says on triple line synergies2 where economic factors couples with formation of social ability to transform supportive and sustainable environment for business as a process. Stressing upon the 4 phases3 of intelligent material pooling it draws a line in the heart of our BAU process, asking for a structure equally important to pool for material reserve in the C2C concept.

It offers a different approach and interpretations to age old orthodox Capitalism and coins the concept of a different yet attractive approach to hold capitalism as the engine for sustainable growth of this earth; writer terms it as Natural Capitalism. It stresses the concept of earth as a sink and going a bit forward writer touches the current model of Take- make-waste as an absolute disadvantage of this human kind. So revolution is just waiting through meeting the core fundamentals of Natural Capitalism. Basing on the responsible stewardship, writer approaches on 4 revolutionary matches for Capitalism; starting with radical resource productivity, clarifying and addressing for Bio mimicry, asking for fundamental change\shift in service and flow economy while ends up with Investing in Natural Capitalism more. The whole process of this flow seems to be quite logical addressing the human issues and at the same time emphasis has been given to form a Coalition with Nature for better growth which would sustain in the long run.

1 2

M Braungart et al, Journal of Cleaner production 15( 2007) p1343 M Braungart et al, Journal of Cleaner production 15( 2007) p1343 3 M Braungart et al, Journal of Cleaner production 15( 2007) p1347

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

This report is a wakeup call for all concerned business entities and Nay Sayers, who somehow felt sustainability issues, are rather a grey zone; conforming on all issues like reducing CO2 impact and alongside it focusing on efficiency in supply chains-WBCSD has covered every single issues a bit detailed and stems on propelling advocacies on Green ways of reaching efficiency. The report talks about both on Factor 4 and Factor 104; generically quite different to each other both in concept and in implementation. While Factor 4 emphasizes on doubling the income through using optimal resources pool followed by efficiency in the channels whereas Factor 10 repositioning the efficiency in the developed world mitigating the waste and innovating the process which can deliver both sustainability and less impact to the eco sphere. Again this report has mentioned of 7 steps5 for companies who are not yet efficient in resource use; can be by adopting those. Talking about the issues and complexities, this report admits that complacencies lie somewhat in every layers of the world from companies to stakeholder to even policy makers. To form cohesion, it prescribes a 12 action points6 touching every portions of society.

This write up is all about the finest examples and exercise of transformation & adoption of sustainable acts as the way of doing things in companies. Writer spoke here on the companies and their preferences of late, has been on the ground of green lights on Green processes. He terms it as Eco advantage here. He keeps on telling on different big boys like GE, Walmart and even some big financial kids-who are not just accepting the facts of ecological footprints through business and process but asserting the fact that it is the upcoming driving force for cashing up growth and a stand outs in the market. Through this write up we have got to know why companies are feeling somewhat pressured to adopt changes to pro sustainable projects; 3 definite reasons7 he found here. There is upside benefits, downside risks for doing it but when companies bind it together with the right thing as a pack-company reap out huge growth while just not putting pressures on ecological & eco footprint balance.

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WBCSD Eco efficiency report,; Creating more with less impact, page 15 WBCSD Eco efficiency report,; Creating more with less impact, page 17 6 WBCSD Eco efficiency report,; Creating more with less impact, page 31 7 Green to Gold, Chapter 1:Eco advantage, Esty & Winston, page 11,12,13,14

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

Compare and Contrast

Company Analysis

Lets take a look and address the issues of their eco effectiveness, if the selected companies follow any. Its been a belief that brands are built in retails. So in todays scenario retails works as the sourcing matrix for different and diverse producers, retails have been the place which needs to be examined thoroughly in the form of ecological footprints. For this write up, we have chosen Wal Mart from the international arena and Coles from the local market. Wal Mart and its journey to the new road! With a motto of helping people save money, Wal mart tried to inflict sustainability in its core business agenda underlining 3 core areas for sustainability. Looking at the following parameter we can see a significant shift from sourcing to building socially responsive retail chain network: A. Environmental foot print: based on the goals set by Wal mart we would like to assess their ecological footprints in the way they do business. Necessarily first comes the usage of energy and its impact on the earth.

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

Energy usage: Wal mart claims that they are always favorable for renewable energy sources and usage policy. They expect to invest heavily on energy reduction policy namely CO2 reduction through usage and sourcing products which has less emission of CO2 . And in terms of GHG, they claim to reduce 12.74% absolute reduction in GHG.( base year 2005).

Waste management: Wal mart still strives on the renewable parts more rather than achieving a sustained approach of cradle-to-cradle force. More renewable has been actually put them in a place of more down cycling and thus produce more waste. Though they claim that they are efficient in using their large scale to reduce waste and thus have few negative impacts to the world. They have taken steps in 2011 for waste management under their sustainability 3600 project. Now more emphasis has been given zero landfill options which somehow work as a complementary force for cradle to cradle management. Again not just keeping eye on waste, the raw material of waste has been taken care of for the first time in 2011. In this fiscal term, Wal mart declares cut on plastic bags sourcing and promotes for eco packaging process. Effective supply chain and compliance in product management: Since Wal mart is the respondents of all big shot of producers, there may have obvious pressure from different parts of producers community. Not to degrade the eco footprint due to stake holders pressure, Wal mart opts for upside down process, an easy way to connect direct farm owners and thus it believes it can limit the ecological imbalance at source. For example they claim that as of Jan. 31, 2012, 76 percent of our fresh, frozen, farmed and wild seafood suppliers were third-party certified. One significant highlight over the past year has been the BAP certification of our Atlantic-farmed salmon and tilapia. They are also collaborating with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) to identify high-risk fisheries and initiate Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs).8

Wal Mart Sustainability Report 2012

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

B. Overall index: Now if we collate all the matters that concern Wal Mart and based on ecological signature that it has made during the last 5-7 years, we can draw a conclusion for Wal Mart. Business growth by 12% p.a , revenue health is getting stronger in fact reveals that paradigm shift can bring out more profit but this time leaving less scars on earths surface. And big retails like Wal Mart actually can twist the ground here drawing balance of creating a bridge between eco effective production, supply channels, eco reservation of resources and creating socially responsive consumers class for future.

How Coles is doing: Coles, Australias leading retail businesses, with brands including Coles and Bi-Lo supermarkets, owned by the largest public listed company in Australia, Wesfarmers. Huge scale and diversification in the business has earned a great repute for Wesfarmers. Coles, the largest retail chain in Australia serving the people with trust and convenience as proclaimed in their corporate objectives. When we talk about sustainability we see Coles are still challenging itself to be more eco friendly in terms of sourcing, waste and energy usage. Coles has come up with Australia first project aligning its sustainability principles to produce and help farmers mitigating negative impacts on earths surface. Recent report from Coles has been extraordinary; it claims to reduce 5% CO2 emissions than the last year. And regarding the ill compared to last year. On the contrary, water usage in Coles has significantly increased to a level of 7% compared to last year.

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

Mini comparison between Wal Mart and Coles Since we are now quite aware of both companies and their sustainability socks in their business footwear, we can now compare both and see how Retails as industry has to do with eco effectiveness measures. (Baseline is 4 different articles)9

Appendix A

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

Conclusion In fact, Retail works as a double edge sword. Since the evolution of consumerism, every single party is concerned on profit making, be it even degrading the environmental recipe. And more often consumers demand products with less cost and apparently from the producers side it has been duly supplied creating negative footprints on earth. From this writing we have actually pointed out that both growth and sustainability can walk side by side. We just need to redesign the production process, aligned with rebuilding the greener (up cycling) process for this biosphere. Since the world has been asking a path breaking momentum, game changer is a must; in modern times by virtue of its own, Retail has to be it, if not the first. It will have to Change the Business Game.

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

References:

WalMart Sustainability Report 2010, 2011, 2012. Wesfarmers Sustainability Report 2012.

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Md Nazmus Shakib (Term 3, Exchange MBA)

Student ID : 601122

Appendix A

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