Safeway joins group to push green supply chains (San Francisco)

Safeway is joining other retailers to work with suppliers to reduce their environmental impact along the supply chain.

Part of that process means measuring each product’s environmental footprint from conception through disposal.

Safeway, based in Pleasanton, is the first major grocer to join the Sustainability Consortium, co-administered by Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas, which is examining carbon emissions over the lifecycle of certain consumer product categories.

Safeway plans to use the information to develop a purchasing policy that will “encourage sustainable purchasing and manufacturing practices throughout the organization’s direct and indirect buying.” Safeway won’t say if it plans to go as far as Wal-Mart, a consortium member that has said it will allocate shelf space based on how sustainable a supplier is.

Read the full story in the San Francisco Business Times.