The biggest challenges were budget, time, and getting all the information we needed from our suppliers. First, the financial aspect. We needed to conduct extensive assessments, including our GHG footprint for Scope 1, 2 and 3, water assessment, waste management, and develop our environmental policy, to name a few. These assessments were critical and non-negotiable, but we didn’t have the expertise in-house to carry them out. As a result, we partnered with specialized firms to handle these tasks, which naturally incurred substantial costs. Fortunately, we received funding from Fonds Écoleaders, which helped offset some of these expenses.
Time management was another major challenge. While we outsourced certain assessments, we handled everything else internally, including project management, data gathering, and implementing new practices. Each department had key leaders who were instrumental in supporting this transition. However, balancing this large-scale project with our ongoing priorities was difficult.
As a retailer, we often don’t have direct control over all the necessary information, especially when it comes to data from our suppliers. We sent out surveys to gather the required data from suppliers, but this process wasn’t without its challenges. Some were unsure who, within their organization, should respond to the survey, while others faced delays because it was their first time handling such requests. This lack of familiarity and internal coordination made it difficult and time-consuming to obtain the information we needed. Overall, we were able to navigate these roadblocks through strategic partnerships and strong internal collaboration.