Background readings

Consulting firm reports

• McKinsey: Direct Google search for the firm's reports on sustainability and packaging (e.g., Sustainability in packaging: Inside the Minds of US Consumers. October 2020).
• Working with Suppliers for Sustainable Food Supply Chains. Bain, March 2018:  Companies must collaborate across the value chain to improve sustainability.
• Fashion’s new must-have: Sustainable sourcing at scale. McKinsey, October 2019.  Highlights the sustainable sourcing targets retailers are putting in place, and outlines the industry change needed to achieve them.

Articles/Book Chapters

• The History and Progression of Sustainability Programs in the Retail Industry (HarvardKey). Chapter from Channel Strategies and Marketing Mix in a Connected World. Springer Series in Supply Chain Management (2020). Overview of retail’s most common and significant environmental impacts and examines the origin of sustainable planning and operations, the business case for sustainability programs, and the maturation of retail sustainability programs.
• Corporate environmental sustainability in the retail sector: Drivers, strategies and performance measurement (HarvardKey) Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 203, 2018. Literature review examining key drivers for the adoption of CES strategies in the retail sector, as well as the most common strategies, and measures of progress.
• Sustainability certifications to keep top of mind in 2020 (2019): includes helpful compilation of major sustainable product certifications.

Resources

Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
A forum for science of food professionals and technologists to collaborate on advancing the science of food and its applications across the global food system.  Read IFC Sustainability news.

The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) 
This global non-profit organization focuses on transforming consumer goods supply chains to deliver more sustainable consumer products. 

Consumer Brands Association (CBA) - Sustainability
Learn about CBA efforts to drive policy reform and unite stakeholder efforts to reuse material, reduce packaging, and overhaul recycling.

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA): Sustainability & Environment
Sustainability efforts at RILA include addressing the retail industry's environmental compliance obligations and "broader impact areas and efforts to address those social impact areas related to responsible sourcing and supply chains."

The Food Industry Association: Corporate Social Responsiblity
Trade association representing food retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers.  Their CSR section includes topics such as Food Waste, Sustainability, Animal Welfare, and Transparency.

Sustainable Apparel Coalition
Network of apparel, footwear, and textile industry members dedicated to measuring and reducing the environmental impact of the industry.