University of Arkansas and Environmental Defense Fund to Sponsor Workshop for Retail Suppliers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Retail suppliers and environmental sustainability experts will convene at the University of Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 5, to brainstorm solutions to shared challenges and explore new opportunities to generate revenue from sustainability.

The interactive “Solutions Lab” is co-organized by Environmental Defense Fund and the Applied Sustainability Center, housed in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, in collaboration with the Sustainability Consortium, Doing Business in Bentonville and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

This event is part of the “Green Innovation in Business Solutions Lab” series, running nationwide this year. The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Willard J. Walker Hall. The attendee fee is $75, which includes a breakfast, lunch and post-conference reception. Interested attendees can register and view the online agenda.

“As Walmart and other retailers strengthen their call for sustainable products, many companies are wondering, ‘Are we doing the right things? Are we doing enough? And can we leverage sustainability to grow revenue?’” said Michelle Harvey, a project manager in the Environmental Defense Fund’s Bentonville office. “This workshop is designed to help answer those questions.”

Discussion topics will include making the business case for and prioritizing sustainability, assessing progress, financing sustainability and employee and leadership engagement.

Workshop speakers include:

• Fred Bedore – senior director, business strategy and sustainability, Walmart.

• Greg van Buskirk – research fellow, manager, product development, Clorox.

• Zach Freeze – senior strategy manager, environmental, safety and health compliance, Walmart.

• Catherine Greener – co-founder, Cleargreen Advisors.

• Michelle Harvey – project manager, Environmental Defense Fund, Bentonville office.

• Lea Jepson – director, sustainability, global sourcing, Walmart.

• Jon Johnson – co-director, Sustainability Consortium, University of Arkansas.

• Chip Jones – senior vice president, corporate responsibility and sustainability, Dean Foods.

• Vonda Lockwood – director, store innovations and sustainability, Walmart.

• Matt Kistler – senior vice president, marketing, Walmart.

• Kyle Tanger – founder, ClearCarbon.