Wal-Mart has taken the unusual step of inviting another company to give sustainability presentations at its annual supplier conference.
The world’s largest retailer recruited the Danish biotechnology company Novozymes to provide advice at the event in the US last month, which was attended by Wal-Mart’s 100 biggest suppliers.
The retailer, which has made a high-profile commitment to becoming a corporate responsibility leader during the next few years, said it was particularly interested in how enzymes developed by Novozymes can reduce the environmental and social impacts of products its sells.
Claus Stig Pedersen, head of sustainability development at Novozymes, said he was happy to help Wal-Mart as the retailer could have a powerful impact. ‘Wal-Mart is probably the strongest driver of sustainable solutions in the global business community today,’ he said.
Novozymes has been ranked number one on the Dow Jones Index of Sustainable Technology for seven consecutive years.