1. How does your department spread awareness of environmental sustainability issues within your company and to your customers?
The Home Depot operates about 2,000 locations and employs about 340,000 associates. With such a large number of associates across a large geographical area, providing accurate and consistent communication is pertinent to operating the business. We use several different methods of communication to reach internal and external audiences. Internally we use a combination of communication tools such as weekly business review broadcasts to all stores, monthly safety awareness broadcasts, store gatekeeper memos, and project management tracking notifications to store managers. We’ve found that our safety awareness team “tool belt” page seems to generate the most hits as the stores receive recognition for visiting and completing a monthly awareness quiz. Due to the large number of users, this tool is leveraged for environmental awareness as well. Externally, the internet site and message boards are frequently updated to keep customers abreast of our “eco options” products as well as other environmental initiatives.
2. What do you think is the biggest opportunity today for retailers who want to become better stewards of the environment?
I think environmental sustainability is still in process of being defined. There is a great opportunity for retailers to define what retail environmental sustainability means and how it’s successfully measured. Is it the level to which we efficiently build and operate our supply chain and retail locations or only the type of merchandise we offer for sale? I think it’s a combination of all those things. We need strong advocates within our respective companies to build the business case for sustainability within all core functions. The great thing about working for a retailer with a large footprint is we have a great opportunity to make small changes that lead to significant improvements for our customers, associates and the environment.
3. How do you think corporate attitudes and action towards environmental sustainability will change in the next five years? The next 10 years?
Over the next 5 years I feel that companies will be more willing to share ideas and actively research how environmental sustainability can add value to their companies. Also, I think consumers will become more passionate about living a sustainable lifestyle and this will translate into their spending. Longer term, I think sustainability will become better defined and more consistently measured. Over time sustainability will likely be built into key core functions as most initiatives can result in operating a cost efficient business.
4. What is the biggest challenge your department faces right now?
I think there is common theme not only in retail but in all industries of doing more with less or with no additional resources (corporate or field staff). This will become more challenging for compliance groups as regulatory inspections and enforcement seem to be an increasing trend. It’s key for compliance groups to leverage internal technology to standardize or automate as many routine compliance processes as possible. As compliance processes become more efficient, execution increases and compliance issues decrease. Store associates should be focused on serving the customer; therefore, additional tasks (compliance or otherwise) must be warranted and value added to the company.
5. If your department's budget for next year was doubled, how would you spend it?
An increase in budget would allow our team to improve current systems and resources utilized to manage environmental & regulatory compliance. Enhancing systems used to manage product data and regulatory matters would enable our team to perform more efficiently.
6. What led you to pursue a career in retail environmental sustainability?
Taking a walk down memory lane, I grew up in a farming family and developed a love for the outdoors and understanding of how valuable natural resources are to sustaining life. My experiences in rural Georgia led me to a degree in environmental health sciences and I began my career mostly focused on the technical aspects of employee safety and environmental compliance. I quickly realized through lessons learned on the job that EHS professionals have a duty to look beyond their technical training and build relationships within their respective work groups to ensure their employees and company are effectively represented. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, sustainability is taking a more prominent role in traditional retail environmental health & safety departments.
7. What is your favorite non-work pastime?
I’m a passionate outdoorsman. I enjoy fly fishing, hunting and camping.
8. What book are you reading now?
I recently completed The River of Doubt by Candice Millard. It’s a book about the leadership, adventures, and conservation efforts of Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. He was a remarkable trailblazer for conservation and established the national parks and wildlife management systems in place today.
9. What is one thing your co-workers don't know about you?
I have an identical twin brother who is also an environmental health and safety professional. It’s great to have a resource that you trust and respect readily available to discuss emerging trends, technical issues and leadership strategies. We continually challenge each other to grow within both our personal and professional lives.