Williams-Sonoma Ramps Collaboration with Sustainable Supply Chain Organizations Fair Trade USA and Nest
Home retailer Williams-Sonoma announced new sustainable supply chain initiatives, including growing its investment in Fair Trade USA, and increasing its investments in purchases of Nest Ethical Handcraft product. Williams Sonoma Inc.’s brands include Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham.
According to the company, the announcement will help facilitate Williams-Sonoma’s commitment to have 75% of all products meet one or more of the company’s social and environmental initiatives by 2030, representing $1 billion of purchases annually.
Fair Trade is the leading certifier of Fair Trade products in North America, indicating that products were created following standards that promote sustainable livelihoods, safe working conditions, environmental protection and transparent supply chains. Through its partnership with Fair Trade, which began in 2014, Williams Sonoma pays a ‘Fair Trade Premium’ for every certified product sold, which goes directly back to workers. Williams-Sonoma will double its investments in Fair Trade by 2025, bringing its total premiums paid to nearly $20 million.
Nest promotes “radical transparency and opportunity to the informal handworker economy,” providing metrics for determining accountability and transparency in informal supply chains. The company’s Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft can e found on over 400 products sold by Williams-Sonoma brands.
Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., said:
“We invest in programs that positively impact the people that make our products and the communities where we source our products from. Our work with partners like Nest and Fair Trade help support a resilient, sustainable supply chain that delivers concrete business value.”