2014),"Measuring and managing sustainability performance of supply chains: Review and sustainability supply chain management framework", SupplyIf you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how Woolworths, a South African retail chain, evaluates and controls its sustainable business practices using economic, environmental and social indicators. Design/methodology/approach -A content analysis of Woolworths' comprehensive 2008-2011 sustainability and annual reports examined how this retail chain evaluates and implements its sustainable business practices. Findings -The results indicate that such indicators play a significant role in evaluating and implementing various Woolworths' business practices aimed at sustainability. In addition, Woolworths' comprehensive governance system ensures that its sustainable business practices are implemented and targets achieved.Research limitations/implications -The case study demonstrates that businesses can remain profitable, while at the same time protecting the natural environment and striving for sustainable business practices. Practical implications -This example demonstrates how government influence, institutional mechanisms and senior management commitment to a project ultimately has gone some way to minimise barriers to the adoption of sustainable practices. Originality/value -The example provides not only a seed of knowledge for others in retailing, but also guidance to both practice in general and theory in the field of sustainable business practices. It demonstrates how an organization has taken strategic action, extended this beyond the firm's boundaries and into the supply chain. The case study illustrates how one organization can act as the change agent in the network.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the sustainable business practices of Woolworths, a major South African retail chain.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a “fivefold bottom line” approach in implementing and reporting corporate efforts of sustainable business practices. Design/methodology/approach – This viewpoint from industry is based on the content analysis of the South African retail chain Woolworths. The data are gathered and derived from the company's comprehensive annual and sustainability reports from 2008 to 2011 and the company's press releases for this period focusing on their efforts of implementing and reporting sustainable business practices. Findings – A lesson learned from the presented “fivefold bottom line” approach to implement and report their corporate efforts of sustainable business practices is that it is adapted to fit and make sense in a specific market and society. The triple bottom line approach is usually derived from, or commonly based upon, a western perspective on the market and society in literature. Research limitations/implications – The authors argues that insights from industry of implementing and reporting sustainable business practices based upon different corporate “bottom line” approaches are required in literature. Practical implications – The authors propose that the “triple bottom line” approach may need to be commonly adapted to the country and cultural context in focus, which is not normally done, but templates are used. Originality/value – Triple bottom line reporting tends to follow common approaches how it is done. There is rarely seen adapted or modified “bottom line” approaches to specific market and societal characteristics in literature.

Purpose – This study aims to illustrate what and how a South African retail chain implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices using economic, ecological and social areas of indices. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on the content analysis of public documents, such as sustainability and annual reports, of a retail chain. An assessment of sustainability and annual reports for 2008-2011 has been considered to examine how and what this retail chain implements, monitors and evaluates in its sustainable business practices. Findings – Woolworths has a sustainability programme in place that assures that the efforts of sustainable business practices are implemented, monitored and evaluated properly and that their targets for each area of indices are accomplished. Research limitations/implications – The content analysis shows that the areas of indices are important in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Woolworths’ spectrum of efforts in sustainability business practices. Practical implications – The study demonstrates practically how Woolworths South Africa implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices using various areas of indices which fall under the three pillars of sustainability, namely, economic, environmental and social. Originality/value – This research provides insight on what and how a retail chain in South Africa implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices over time. It also offers an insight into the strategic approach beyond the company’s judicial frontiers and into the supply chain. Furthermore, it shows how a company’s business network can be committed to change towards sustainable business practices.

Consumers' aggregate contribution to global warming is significant when their demand for goods and services and their own personal consumption behaviours are taken into account. The purpose of this study was to determine consumers' knowledge of global warming issues. Primary data was collected using a specially designed questionnaire that incorporated statements relating to the knowledge stage of Rogers' innovation decision process. The results revealed that consumers were aware that human activities contributed to this phenomenon and gaps existed in their knowledge about its causes and consequences. Demographic comparisons based on gender, age, population group and education revealed that different global warming knowledge needs of consumers could probably be distinguished by population group although further research in this area is needed. If the emission of greenhouse gases is to be reduced, consumers need to be knowledgeable about global warming causes and consequences in order to adopt the innovation and participate in mitigation measures. Relevant gaps in consumers' global warming knowledge needs to be addressed by relevant stakeholders in their communications to the relevant target market.