Sustainability

Government regulators tend to complicate retailers’ lives more often than not, but one federal agency is winning praise from a key trade group for its common sense approach to compliance.

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Notice of Data Availability (NODA) as part of its process to improve existing regulations that have been applied to the handling of unsold or returned consumer products at retail facilities. The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) released the following statement today in response to EPA’s notice.

The Estée Lauder Cos., whose brands include Aveda, Bumble and Bumble, American Beauty, Flirt! and M•A•C Cosmetics, has appointed Guillaume Jesel to the newly created position of SVP/general manager, Global Corporate Innovation.

Jesel will transition from his current role as SVP global and North America marketing for M•A•C Cosmetics to his new position, effective March 31. In his position, Jesel will report to Carl Haney, EVP global research and development, corporate product innovation, package development for Estée Lauder Co.

Belmont, Calif. -- SunEdison, a solar technology manufacturer and provider of solar energy services, announced the completion of a 306 kW DC (direct current) solar system for Whole Foods Market in Brooklyn, N.Y.

SunEdison designed the system using an innovative parking canopy structure that collects rainwater while protecting customers from the elements. The two companies have worked together since 2004 and have jointly deployed 1.5 MW (megawatts) of solar projects.

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Company has entered into a new partnership to develop the vacant land around its Plano, Texas, home office in the Legacy Business Park. The new partnership will be managed by Team Legacy, a venture of the Karahan Companies, Columbus Realty, and KDC.

New York -- Walgreens’ net zero energy store in Evanston, Ill., was selected as Sustainable Store of the Year in Chain Store Age’s 32nd annual Retail Store of the Year design competition. The store, designed and built to produce energy equal to or greater than it consumes, will be highlighted during a special session at Chain Store Age’s 50th annual SPECS conference, March 9 -12, in Grapevine, Texas.

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Boston Barricade Company and Premier Barricades announced the completion of its merger, effective January 1, 2014, resulting in the largest provider of sustainable modular construction barricades in North America.

L’Oréal Canada’s Javier San Juan has been appointed president of Latin America Hispanic Zone and president of L’Oréal Mexico.

Frank Kollmar will succeed San Juan as president of L'Oréal Canada. Kollmar was recently president of the Consumer Products Division in Canada. He began his career with L'Oréal Canada 15 years ago in the active cosmetics division. In 2003, he left to join the German subsidiary of the group, where he led an international career before returning to Canada in 2011.

Anna’s Linens has elevated company president Scott Gladstone to CEO. The home furnishings and home décor retailer was founded by Alan Gladstone, and now has more than 300 stores throughout 19 states.

“Scott has spent the last eight years at Anna’s bringing innovation and business improvements to many different areas of the company. I am proud of what we have done together and have absolute confidence that he is the person who can lead us in writing the next chapter of Anna’s history,” said Alan Gladstone.

The retail and consumer packaged goods industry fared poorly in a recent global ranking of corporate sustainability leaders with the handful of standouts being Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Staples and Campbell Soup Company.

The ranking of 100 companies compiled by Corporate Knights, a media, research and investment advisory company, included only17 U.S. companies and only two retailers. Sweden’s H&M was ranked 64th and Staples was ranked 72nd.

7 Up announced that it is partnering with Project 7 — a company dedicated to making "products for good" — to give consumers the opportunity to give back to people and local communities around the world.