THE SUSTAINABILITY INSIGHT SYSTEM

THESIS

THESIS, created and developed by TSC, is a performance assessment system that guides retailers and suppliers to benchmark, quantify, and take action on critical sustainability issues within their consumer product supply chains. 

Science-Based
Insights

Multi-Retailer
Support

Common
Analytics

Data-Backed
Decision Making

THESIS For Retailers and Suppliers 

For Retailers:

Aligns with widely-used certifications, standards and tools 

Supports existing reporting efforts while offering deeper insight 

Covers 612 assessment product categories  

Identifies social and environmental hotspots for people and the planet  

Captures global data   

Influence business decisions at the retailer level   

Benchmarks suppliers and scores them across Key Performance Indicators   

Addresses supplier survey fatigue by sharing one assessment with many retailers

 Current retailers: Ahold Delhaize USA, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Staples, Tractor Supply Company, Walgreens, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), Walmart, Woolworths, Large Global Retailer (20,000+ suppliers) 

 “The system is established, tried and tested and improved. Now, we are focused on the program – what suppliers need and creating a pathway to full disclosure over Years 1, 2 and 3 that helps our suppliers do this over time.”Woolworths 

For Suppliers:

Supports existing reporting efforts while offering deeper insight 

Allows submission to multiple retailers   

Supports improvement over time of supply chains  

Influence business decisions at the retailer level 

Identify risks and take action to improve   

Reduces survey fatigue

Gain insight to identify sustainability hotspots   

Allows suppliers to share the sustainability performance of their products with their customers 

In 2023, TSC will introduce a common reporting period for all suppliers on THESIS to current retail customers. This common reporting period is designed to support supplier engagement with THESIS and minimize survey fatigue 

 “THESIS is instrumental in helping Georgia-Pacific communicate with our retail customers. Answering several different assessments at a time is a drain on our time and resources. THESIS not only makes it easy for us to answer one assessment for multiple retail customers, but the consistency across thequestions asked year-to-year also helps us measure our progress.” Georgia-Pacific 

Learn more about THESIS

Where did THESIS come from? 

THESIS was originally created by TSC starting in 2009 and launched as The Sustainability Index in 2014. In 2019, TSC partnered with SupplyShift to create our current iteration of THESIS, powered by SupplyShift’s cutting edge platform and informed by TSC’s deep roots in higher education, including ASU, the University of Arkansas, and Wageningen University + Research. THESIS currently has more retail users than ever before.  

Every spring, TSC staff work with TSC members to revise and update THESIS for the upcoming fall campaign.  

Who is SupplyShift? 

THESIS is powered by SupplyShift, TSC’s partner who is committed to helping businesses create more transparent, responsible, and resilient supply chains. Learn more about SupplyShift and visit THESIS on their platform

What is the Science Behind THESIS?

THESIS is rooted in TSC’s university-based, scientific methodology. THESIS is rooted in LCA methodology and was developed in a pre-competitive way using TSC’s stakeholder engagement expertise that brings the CPG industry, NGOs, and higher education together for greater impact. It is this combination of stakeholders that sets THESIS apart from other consultant-led performance assessment platforms.  

TSC methodology is based on creating and evolving strict, LCA-based key performance indicators using relevant sources and evidence for hotspots, which are activities in the product life cycle that cause social or environmental impact.  

THESIS at a Glance 

TSC Impact Report

Summary of 2021 THESIS Scores From 2016 to 2021, the THESIS assessments of product manufacturers have improved (relatively):

%

from 32.5% to 48.4% (where 100% equals the maximum score).

This is an indication that the systems and processes put in place to respond to THESIS KPIs are creating positive changes in the manufacturer’s practices and its supply chain, leading to an overall improvement in scores. Scores improved from 2020 to 2021 at about the same pace they have annually over all six years.

THESIS Industry Insight Reports 

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

PACKAGING INSIGHTS

TRENDS IN TEXTILES

The Difference: University-Based Research

TSC and THESIS come out of research based at our two founding universities, Arizona State University and the University of Arkansas, with contributions from our partnership with Wageningen University + Research.  

Get Started with THESIS Today.

Amy Scoville-Weaver

Director, Retail