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WSP helps Biflex set standards in Wal-Mart's Supplier Sustainability Assessment

Biflex, a leading private label manufacturer of intimate apparel, has achieved an 'above target' rating for sustainability in Wal-Mart's supplier assessment report, notably in the categories of Energy & Climate, Natural Resources, and People & Community. The US based company is crediting the work of WSP Environment & Energy (WSP) for helping them shape a rigorous approach to their strategy ahead of Biflex turning attention to the UK retail market.

Wal-Mart's sustainability initiative, launched in Beijing in 2008, sets industry leading benchmarks for suppliers such as Biflex to meet on issues around environmental management, energy reduction and sustainable production. Comprehensive reporting and continuous improvement are required for Biflex to remain a customer of Wal-Mart, and the organization takes management of it's own supply chain in Asia very seriously.

"Meeting and surpassing customer expectations in all categories, from great design to on time execution is a Biflex hallmark. An environmentally responsible supply chain is a critical component to produce and deliver great products to today's retail community" says Rick Dlinn Vice President, Sourcing with Biflex.

Rick credits WSP with helping articulate their approach and establishing the appropriate metrics and measurement: "WSP brought a discipline to the way we communicated with our suppliers, established our goals, reported, measured and set about making improvements."

"They have helped us to understand the knock-on beneficial impacts, for example from reducing packaging, which means we can ship more, and therefore reduce the number of journeys, which in turn is saving energy."

Some of Biflex's sustainability initiatives have included:

• Incorporating a 'next generation' fabric of recycled nylon into their specialist apparel products, resulting in a 50% reduction in the use of virgin nylon materials.
• Their dyeing and finishing facility spent $50m in recycling and treating sewage, reusing waste water and sludge, and capturing heat and steam, resulting in reducing water usage by 4m tons per year and reducing waste water by 7.2m tons per year.
• Committing to visit and evaluate every facility the company uses in Asia, meeting the senior management and receiving prior certifications and a current certification, before engaging with them.

Chris Hazen, Director for WSP in Asia, has been working closely with Biflex and confirms that the organization's customers like Wal-Mart, JC Penney and Sears take responsible reporting very seriously: "Our role is to work directly with Biflex's supply chain and help train and educate them on the appropriate standards to ensure that regular visits and requests for information from these leading retailers are dealt with professionally and accurately."

"The standards required are all about continuous reporting and consistent improvement. More than one stumble to an 'orange' rating, and it can place a serious limiter on your future business with these major retailers" says Chris.

WSP has just helped Biflex make their first ever report to the Carbon Disclosure Project and Biflex report that their factories are on target for energy and GHG reductions of at least 2% per unit of product, per year, for the next three years.

"We take this reporting very seriously. Improving society in the communities we operate in and source from, and making pragmatic investments in our processes that benefit the bottom line in terms of savings in energy, waste, materials etc. makes business sense and is ethically and environmentally the right thing to do" says Rick Dlinn.

For further information please contact Chris Hazen.