I grew up a few miles from the original toll house where the recipe for Toll House cookies was invented. My grandmother made the best toll house cookies I ever had. When I married my wife, I never suspected that she would go to work for Nestle Foods or make what has today become my favorite toll house cookie. Sorry Grandma!

I have to admit that I have not eaten anywhere near the amount of peanut butter as I normally do since the food recall of last year. I know that?s a little silly, but it is how consumers feel and why when there is a recall that the impact on sales results of the specific product in question as well as affiliated products suffer for lengthy periods of time after the illnesses have disappeared. As such, not just cookie dough will suffer from this most recent outbreak.

We use Nestle products all of the time. One of the best inventions ever made was Toll House cookie dough that allows you to make just a couple of cookies in the evening when you have a sweet tooth. If you are like me, it is not easy to stop yourself from eating eight or ten cookies when they are home made. With the refrigerated dough, seventeen minutes later you have two cookies and a satisfied sweet tooth.

The curious thing about this outbreak is that it is an E. coli 0157 outbreak which is a bacterium that lives in cow?s intestines. So, how in the world did it get into cookie dough? The outbreak has affected a reasonably small number of people (65) in twenty nine states. Unfortunately, like peanut butter, cookie dough is a favorite food of children. As we all know, the young and the elderly are more likely to suffer from the effects of the bacterium.

On Friday, Nestle recalled 300,000 cases of the cookie dough after being notified by the FDA. Because of the curiosity of this case, this is a perfect example of the need for a traceable supply chain to more than one forward one back reporting. Ask you solutions provider how they would be able to produce this type of reporting.

As always, we look forward to and appreciate your comments.

As you follow the words of a popular verse of this song, think about how difficult it is to be a truly green company. Think about what it takes to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Please read or sing on at your pleasure.

It’s not easy bein’ green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water- or stars in the sky.

I was traveling the other day and speaking to a company representative from Humana. We discussed prescription drug purchasing and their mail order program. We then got around to what we each of us did. I explained reasoning behind the naming of our company. To this, and I was not surprised when he said. ?Oh so you?re doing the green thing.? And there in lies the problem if you are truly dedicated to what you do. The problem is proof and believability.

Greenwashing is a term that describes the practice of companies who intentionally use spin control to market their products and policies as environmentally friendly or attempt to show that they are adopting practices beneficial to the environment. There may be a similar term for companies that focus on safety, but I have yet to find it yet.

For this author being and as Kermit so aptly put, green is not easy because it means that your company has to act in a certain way that is measureable. This means that you actually provide value in supporting the environment, providing for safe products and are able to provide a traceable history that companies can use to support their CSR initiatives. This also means that a company must promote that same view to all of their internal and external stakeholders in the hope of guiding them to behave in the same way.

In very simple terms, how one conducts themselves personally has a lot to do with the believability of how they might conduct themselves corporately.

A few simple steps that one can focus on in the home may also transfer easily to business practices. There are certainly many more, but a good walk begins with baby steps.

1. Use CFL?s in the home
2. Recycle all home products
3. Use products made from recycled material
4. If possible, Car Pool
5. Shut of lights when you leave the room
6. Purchase and use a reusable water bottle
7. Filter your own water
8. Turn off your computer when not in use.

Ask your solution provider to demonstrate how they can support your green initiatives. According to Cervantes Don Quixote “The proof of the pudding is the eating.”

We look forward to an appreciate your comments.

As you follow the words of a popular verse of this song, think about how difficult it is to be a truly green company. Think about what it takes to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Please read or sing on at your pleasure.

It’s not easy bein’ green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water- or stars in the sky.

I was traveling the other day and speaking to a company representative from Humana. We discussed prescription drug purchasing and their mail order program. We then got around to what we each of us did. I explained reasoning behind the naming of our company. To this, and I was not surprised when he said. “Oh so you’re doing the green thing.” And there in lies the problem if you are truly dedicated to what you do. The problem is proof and believability.

Greenwashing is a term that describes the practice of companies who intentionally use spin control to market their products and policies as environmentally friendly or attempt to show that they are adopting practices beneficial to the environment. There may be a similar term for companies that focus on safety, but I have yet to find it yet.

For this author being and as Kermit so aptly put, green is not easy because it means that your company has to act in a certain way that is measureable. This means that you actually provide value in supporting the environment, providing for safe products and are able to provide a traceable history that companies can use to support their CSR initiatives. This also means that a company must promote that same view to all of their internal and external stakeholders in the hope of guiding them to behave in the same way.

In very simple terms, how one conducts themselves personally has a lot to do with the believability of how they might conduct themselves corporately.

A few simple steps that one can focus on in the home may also transfer easily to business practices. There are certainly many more, but a good walk begins with baby steps.

1. Use CFL’s in the home
2. Recycle all home products
3. Use products made from recycled material
4. If possible, Car Pool
5. Shut of lights when you leave the room
6. Purchase and use a reusable water bottle
7. Filter your own water
8. Turn off your computer when not in use.

Ask your solution provider to demonstrate how they can support your green initiatives. According to Cervantes Don Quixote “The proof of the pudding is the eating.”

We look forward to an appreciate your comments.

A commonly sourced product using e-negotiation tools in the office supplies space is that of toner cartridges for laser printers. The majority of toner sold is made from petroleum based products. Another common practice when sourcing toner is to source recycled toner cartridges. We are all aware that recycling is a good thing.

There is a less expensive and greener alternative today that not many companies are considering yet. That is the use of toner derived from soybean oil. In fact, soy based toner can be as much as 20% less expensive than traditional toner that is based on petroleum products. Recycled petroleum based toners are still less expensive than new soy cartridges. Another benefit to soy based toner is that paper printed with soy based toner is also easier and less costly to recycle.

A very simple four step process for adding soy based toner to your next e-negotiation is as follows.

1. Add a question to your RFI as to whether or not your prospective or incumbent suppliers carry soy based toner products.
2. Include a line item in game planner for an identical specification of soy based toner for each petroleum based line item.
3. Ask for pre game samples of soy based toner.
4. Test the toner sample for volume and print quality.

The above process may also allow you to evaluate companies you wish to do business with in the future that are more flexible and support your environmental social responsibility initiatives by offering these types of green alternatives.

This simple process supports the reduction of petroleum based products, supports the environment and may in fact save you some money. Best of luck.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

A commonly sourced product using e-negotiation tools in the office supplies space is that of toner cartridges for laser printers. The majority of toner sold is made from petroleum based products. Another common practice when sourcing toner is to source recycled toner cartridges. We are all aware that recycling is a good thing.

There is a less expensive and greener alternative today that not many companies are considering yet. That is the use of toner derived from soybean oil. In fact, soy based toner can be as much as 20% less expensive than traditional toner that is based on petroleum products. Recycled petroleum based toners are still less expensive than new soy cartridges. Another benefit to soy based toner is that paper printed with soy based toner is also easier and less costly to recycle.

A very simple four step process for adding soy based toner to your next e-negotiation is as follows.

1. Add a question to your RFI as to whether or not your prospective or incumbent suppliers carry soy based toner products.
2. Include a line item in game planner for an identical specification of soy based toner for each petroleum based line item.
3. Ask for pre game samples of soy based toner.
4. Test the toner sample for volume and print quality.

The above process may also allow you to evaluate companies you wish to do business with in the future that are more flexible and support your environmental social responsibility initiatives by offering these types of green alternatives.

This simple process supports the reduction of petroleum based products, supports the environment and may in fact save you some money. Best of luck.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Last year Canada declared this product toxic. It is time we do the same in the United Sates.

Last week during their meetings in Washington DC, the Endocrine Society indicated that there is strong evidence that chemicals that interfere with the hormone system can cause serious health issues.

Bisphenol A or BPA is a hormone disrupting chemical. On May 16th this author posted again on this subject because it concerns me greatly. The post is titled ?Do retail industry procurement professionals really know which products they buy contain BPA?

According to Robert Carey, President t of the Endocrine Society they decided to release their statement because these chemicals affect everyone. The report also indicated that 93% of Americans tested have been exposed to BPA.

This author continues to recommend that when buying any of the products listed above that procurement professionals ask their suppliers the specific question; do these products or the containers for these products contain BPA? If so, do you have the same product for the same price in containers that do not contain BPA?

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Friday’s post shared a SafeSourcing employees novel idea on how to increase a retailers category sales, promote energy efficiency and increase reverse auction revenue for SafeSourcing all at the same time. I like these kinds of ideas. I think they’re called win-win-win. Please read on to view a great extension to this idea.

Friday’s category focus was on light bulbs. The specific product we discussed was compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL’s. Today’s extension to that product is motion sensors.

As discussed during Fridays post, compact fluorescent light bulbs or (CFL’s) will save about $30 over its lifetime according to energy star and will pay for it in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Today’s product motion sensors can also be provided to a retailers employee in the same way that CFL’s were, as part of a program focused on energy consumption reduction. As an extension to the CFL program, energy sensors can be placed in an associates low traffic areas of their home such as spare rooms, basements and garages. When someone enters that area, the motion detector will turn on the lights which are already CFL’s, thus adding to the savings opportunity. When leaving the area, the light will also turn off after a certain period of time. Motion sensors could also be used outside of the home in security areas to eliminate having to remember to turn them on and off each day increasing safety in the home

The same program used to promote associates use of CFL’s can be used for motion sensors.

1. Retailer promotes a program that offers all associates an opportunity to buy motion sensors for their home. The employee can also receive their employee discount.
2. The motion sensors have to be purchased at the retailers store within a specified period.
3. The retailer offers to reimburse associates for the entire purchase.
4. The retailer holds a reverse auction for the sensors in order to reduce costs and make up for margin loss.
5. The sensors and the CFL’s can be sourced during the same reverse auction.

A creative retailer might also figure out a way to package these products for a marketing campaign to consumers that supports their CSR initiatives and would provide for great PR.

Please see Fridays post for additional benefits.

We look forward to and appreciate you comments.

Friday?s post shared a SafeSourcing employees novel idea on how to increase a retailers category sales, promote energy efficiency and increase reverse auction revenue for SafeSourcing all at the same time. I like these kinds of ideas. I think they?re called win-win-win. Please read on to view a great extension to this idea.

Friday?s category focus was on light bulbs. The specific product we discussed was compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL?s. Today?s extension to that product is motion sensors.

As discussed during Fridays post, compact fluorescent light bulbs or (CFL?s) will save about $30 over its lifetime according to energy star and will pay for it in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Today?s product motion sensors can also be provided to a retailers employee in the same way that CFL?s were, as part of a program focused on energy consumption reduction. As an extension to the CFL program, energy sensors can be placed in an associates low traffic areas of their home such as spare rooms, basements and garages. When someone enters that area, the motion detector will turn on the lights which are already CFL?s, thus adding to the savings opportunity. When leaving the area, the light will also turn off after a certain period of time. Motion sensors could also be used outside of the home in security areas to eliminate having to remember to turn them on and off each day increasing safety in the home

The same program used to promote associates use of CFL?s can be used for motion sensors.

1. Retailer promotes a program that offers all associates an opportunity to buy motion sensors for their home. The employee can also receive their employee discount.
2. The motion sensors have to be purchased at the retailers store within a specified period.
3. The retailer offers to reimburse associates for the entire purchase.
4. The retailer holds a reverse auction for the sensors in order to reduce costs and make up for margin loss.
5. The sensors and the CFL?s can be sourced during the same reverse auction.

A creative retailer might also figure out a way to package these products for a marketing campaign to consumers that supports their CSR initiatives and would provide for great PR.

Please see Fridays post for additional benefits.

We look forward to and appreciate you comments.

During a company white board session last week, one of our associates came up with a novel idea how to increase a retailers category sales, promote energy efficiency and increase reverse auction revenue for us at the same time. I like these kinds of ideas. I think they’re called win-win-win.

The category in question is light bulbs. The specific product is compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL’s.

A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime according to Energy Star and will pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 800,000 cars.

Like any other product containing potentially hazardous materials that you use in your home, CFLs come with some special instructions for handling, disposal and recycling.

Without going into all of the detail or long term savings calculations of our white board or idea sharing session, here are the specifics of the recommendation…

1. Retailer promotes a program that offers all associates an opportunity to buy CFL’s for their home if they are willing to replace all light bulbs in their home. The employee can receive their employee discount.
2. The CFL’s have to be purchased at the retailers store within a specified period.
3. The retailer offers to reimburse associates for the entire purchase.
4. The retailer holds a reverse auction for the CFL’s in order to reduce costs and make up for margin loss.

The Benefits:

1. The retailer promotes a program that is good for and has a direct measurable impact on the environment.
2. The retailer’s category sales go through the roof.
3. Associates household expenses are reduced with no out of pocket expense.
4. Retailer experiences a rise in associate satisfaction
5. Minimal margin impact is experienced on the category based on reverse auction savings.
6. This is a perfect example of supporting TBL or triple bottom line

In this environment, the retailer wins, the associate wins, and the reverse auction solutions provider wins.

Just imagine the impact if some of the largest retailers with thousands of employee’s were to adopt this program.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

During a company white board session last week, one of our associates came up with a novel idea how to increase a retailers category sales, promote energy efficiency and increase reverse auction revenue for us at the same time. I like these kinds of ideas. I think they?re called win-win-win.

The category in question is light bulbs. The specific product is compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL?s.

A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime according to Energy Star and will pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 800,000 cars.

Like any other product containing potentially hazardous materials that you use in your home, CFLs come with some special instructions for handling, disposal and recycling.

Without going into all of the detail or long term savings calculations of our white board or idea sharing session, here are the specifics of the recommendation…

1. Retailer promotes a program that offers all associates an opportunity to buy CFL?s for their home if they are willing to replace all light bulbs in their home. The employee can receive their employee discount.
2. The CFL?s have to be purchased at the retailers store within a specified period.
3. The retailer offers to reimburse associates for the entire purchase.
4. The retailer holds a reverse auction for the CFL?s in order to reduce costs and make up for margin loss.

The Benefits:

1. The retailer promotes a program that is good for and has a direct measurable impact on the environment.
2. The retailer?s category sales go through the roof.
3. Associates household expenses are reduced with no out of pocket expense.
4. Retailer experiences a rise in associate satisfaction
5. Minimal margin impact is experienced on the category based on reverse auction savings.
6. This is a perfect example of supporting TBL or triple bottom line

In this environment, the retailer wins, the associate wins, and the reverse auction solutions provider wins.

Just imagine the impact if some of the largest retailers with thousands of employee?s were to adopt this program.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.