for electronic brands and retailers around the world, there should be few issues more important than e-waste and supply chain management in a CSR report, and the recent Best Buy CSR report is no exception.

In the forward to the report itself, they begin by laying out their three aspirations:
1. A global champion for human ingenuity and opportunity — our employees providing leadership for our industry, our customers, and our communities worldwide
2. A global advocate for consumers in the world of technology — delivering consumer
electronics products and services to more people than any other company in the world
3. Environmentally and socially accountable for our brands and business operations
worldwide

according to the author:

This report is one of our first steps on the journey toward our aspirations.

Through this 30 page report, the main issues for me were related to eWaste, packaging, and product life cycles, and they have clearly addressed those issues. however, I think there is still a long way to go before I would feel comfortable saying Best Buy is truly dedicated to sustainability.

Some areas that I am encouraged by:
1) all of their 196 offshore “exclusive brand” suppliers have been audited! Few companies could say they same.

2) they are providing training to staff on energy star, and how to sell it. there is of course a benefit to this financially, but none the less it is a basic first step that has been covered and will create more awareness among its employees who are looking to upsell the more environmentally friendly products.

3) their 150,000 have logged 151,000 hours of volunteer service in the community. While only 1 hour per year on average is low, this number is 250% higher than last year, and that itself is commendable

providing a bit of constructive criticism, here are a few areas/ issues that I feel they should have addressed more fully, and/or should look to in the future as they take their next steps.
1) their recylcing events are limited to about 10% of their overall stores, and this should be expanded significantly in the future

2) The report does not mention transportation at all, and as a firm with 1000 stroes, stcked with goods that come in containers, on pallets, in master crates, and wrapped in bubble wrap, I would hope that they focus on increasing efficiency in this area - and tell us about ti

3) they are working with paper mills to identify more environmentally friendly weekly inserts, but getting 100% recycled paper and using soy based inks for a firm like this could be easily accomplished.

4) I would suggest more coordination on specific issues - i.e. create an environmentally friendly paper coalition between themselves and Dell - i.e. work with Music houses on media packaging design, materials, and logistics

going forward, Best Buy is going to need to really work on their supply chain issues, and I am happy to see that they understand that and seem to be prepared to invest in it.

In an ideal world, they would be part of cradle to cradle discussions with designers, consumers, OEMs, and transportation firm to really ramp up their platform in terms of sustainability, however in the real world this report is a good first step - an encouraging sign that another large retail firm has taken on a higher level of responsibility- and I am looking forward to reading their next report in the summer of 2009.