SupplyShift: Lenovo and PMI Commit to Product Transparency, Release Sustainability Scores and Rankings Publicly

(Contributed)

November 5, 2020 — Santa Cruz, CA and Phoenix, AZ

The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and SupplyShift announce that Lenovo and PMI Worldwide are recommitting to their corporate sustainability goals by publicly releasing their THESIS scores and rankings for the first time.

THESIS, powered by SupplyShift, is a science-based performance management system that helps retailers and their suppliers understand, report, and solve the most important sustainability issues in their supply chains.

In the past, product sustainability information has been kept confidential between retailers and their suppliers, but as more companies adopt transparency practices, that is beginning to change. These companies are the first THESIS users to make their scores available to the public.

Over 1500 brands have reported into THESIS in 2019, representing nearly $1 trillion in annual retail sales. Twice that amount are expected to participate with THESIS 2020 assessments. Suppliers using THESIS to communicate with their customer’s complete science-based performance assessments that correspond to the products they sell. Results are sent to retailers and shared back with suppliers to help improve communication and performance between suppliers and their customers.

“Walmart and TSC continue to work together to integrate THESIS into everyday decision-making and give suppliers better insight into their supply chains and ways to communicate sustainability progress to us and ultimately their customers,” said Jane Ewing, Senior Vice President, Sustainability at Walmart. “TSC and SupplyShift’s partnership on THESIS forms an important step in advancing Walmart’s sustainability goals.”

Lenovo and PMI Worldwide participated in the THESIS Index in 2019 and are actively using THESIS data to inform progress on their own goals.

Lenovo’s use of THESIS helps drive their goals of energy efficiency, sustainable packaging, and ethically and environmentally preferred material sourcing. In 2019, Lenovo demonstrated above-average sustainability rankings in the technology sector, ranking 6/31 with a score of 66% in Other Electronics, 5/10 with a score of 67% in Computers, and 3/11 with a score of 66% in Computer and Gaming Peripherals and Accessories.

“The THESIS Index is an excellent opportunity for Lenovo to measure our progress against our retailer customer expectations and it helps inform our strategy as a valuable source of stakeholder input,” says – Mary Jacques, SESM & Director Global Environmental Affairs & Sustainability at Lenovo. “THESIS provides a very clear way for us to measure and report back internally as to what our retailer partners find important and where we are doing well or can do better.

PMI Worldwide uses THESIS to track progress on their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the sustainability of their packaging, and reduce waste. PMI emerged as a leader in multiple outdoor categories, ranking 2/13 with a score of 71% in Camping Accessories, 1/7 with a score of 72% in Coolers, 1/5 with a score of 72% in Other Camping Equipment, and 1/25 with a score of 72% in Other Sports, Outdoor Fitness.

“The THESIS Index provides a comprehensive tool for PMI to assess our on-going sustainability performance and align our strategy with the interests of key stakeholders and retailers,” says Emily Cichy, Corporate Responsibility Director at PMI Worldwide. “We look to the THESIS assessment for important input which allows PMI to identify opportunities for improvement and to celebrate our successes.”

These suppliers provide a glimpse into the broader progress catalyzed by SupplyShift and TSC’s partnership around THESIS. In TSC’s 2020 Impact Report, they highlight that THESIS scores have improved 23% from their 2016 baseline.

Euan Murray, TSC Chief Executive, states, “We are thrilled to have PMI and Lenovo make a commitment to sustainability through the release of their THESIS scores. These companies are emerging as leaders by adding THESIS scores to their public sustainability commitments and are taking one giant step towards true transparency.”

“SupplyShift’s mission has always been to employ data and collaboration to facilitate change,” says Alex Gershenson, CEO of SupplyShift. “Our work with TSC on THESIS has vastly increased the scope of that goal, and we’re thrilled to see such measurable progress happening as a result of this partnership.”

In 2019, THESIS on SupplyShift saw its initial rollout with Walmart and Sam’s Club. Eight additional retailers are joining THESIS this year.

To learn more, visit THESIS resources on TSC and SupplyShift websites.

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