Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment on IGA Australia’s information systems
Question
Task: how to assess a business information system using Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment research techniques?
Answer
Introduction
This Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignmentwill assess IGA Australia’s information system. IGA is an Australian supermarket chain that has more than 1400 stores across the country. The company was founded in 1926 that offers a wide range of groceries, including fresh produce, meat, and dairy products. The company has tried to engage with the community, with mixed results. It has also worked hard to understand its impact on the environment, and is now regarded as a sustainability leader.
Digital Sustainability Strategy AssignmentObjectives
• To determine the main influences underlying the company emphasis on sustainability.
• To discuss about how the focus has evolved and is still changing throughout time.
Key drivers of sustainability
The key drivers of sustainability in IGA Australia identified on this Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment are to reduce environmental impact, promote social and economic development, and create a resilient food system.
1. Reduce environmental impact
The Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment research shows IGA Australia has set a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. In order to achieve this, the company is working to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and switch to renewable energy sources.
• Reducing energy consumption across all stores: IGA Australia has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce energy consumption across all stores. This includes installing energy efficient lighting, improving building insulation and installing energy efficient appliances.In addition, to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, they are promoting recycling and supporting their local community and schools across Australia.
• Improving waste management practices:The first step taken by IGA Australia to improve waste management practices was to develop a waste management plan. This plan includes guidelines on how to reduce waste, recycle waste, and dispose of waste properly(Cameron et al. 2022).
• Reducing water consumption:IGA Australia has been working with suppliers and manufacturers to find ways to reduce water consumption, and this new initiative will see a significant reduction in the amount of water used by the company.
• Minimizing packaging:The Company’s Sustainable Packaging Action Plan, which was launched in 2018. The Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignmentplan includes a number of initiatives to reduce the amount of packaging used by IGA stores, as well as to increase recycling and reduce waste(Halm 2021).
One of the key initiatives is the introduction of 'unpackaged' or 'naked' fruit and vegetables. These will be displayed in store without any packaging, in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by IGA stores. IGA Australia has also announced that it will be phasing out single-use plastic bags by 2020.
2. Promote social and economic development
• Work with Indigenous communities: IGA Australia is a national organization that promotes social and economic development through its work with Indigenous communities IGA Australia provides training, support, and resources to help Indigenous communities start and grow businesses(Turner et al. 2019)
• Support independent grocers: IGA Australia promotes social and economic development by supporting the independent grocer sector, which is a significant contributor to the Australian economy (Grimmer 2018).The Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment research shows IGA Australia lobbies on behalf of the sector and provides a range of services to independent grocers, including training and development, marketing and networking opportunities.
• Create a resilient food system:IGA Australia is working to create a resilient food system that can withstand shocks and stressors while continuing to provide secure access to food. IGA is committed to supporting local growers and producers, and to ensuring that its stores are stocked with food that meets the needs of the community (Pulker et al. 2019) IGA is also working to develop supply chain resilience through partnerships with suppliers, growers, and logistics providers.
The focus of IGA changed over the years
The Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment research shows the focus of sustainability in IGA has changed over the years from a purely environmental focus to a more holistic approach that considers the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the need to address the root causes of environmental problems, as well as the importance of considering the social and economic impacts of environmental actions.IGA's original environmental sustainability goals were to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste(Kurniawanand Feinnudin2021). However, over time, the company has realized that these goals are not enough to create a sustainable future for the company and its stakeholders. Instead, IGA has shifted its focus to social and economic sustainability and create a resilient food systems, which includes supporting local economies, local growers and producers, and to ensuring that its stores are stocked with food that meets the needs of the community.
Conclusion
This Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignmentconcludes that IGA Australia has adopted various sustainability initiatives to ensure the future success of the company. IGA Australia has also committed to reducing its carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy. Furthermore, IGA Australia has also pledged to support local communities and reduce its impact on the environment. This paper also discussed that IGA has moved its emphasis to social and economic sustainability and the development of resilient food systems. From the Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment findings it is established this involves assisting local economies, growers, and producers in the area, as well as making sure that its stores are supplied with food that satisfies societal demands.
References
Cameron, A.J., Brown, A., Orellana, L., Marshall, J., Charlton, E., Ngan, W.W., Ananthapavan, J., Isaacs, J., Blake, M. and Sacks, G., 2022. Change in the Healthiness of Foods Sold in an Australian Supermarket Chain Following Implementation of a Shelf Tag Intervention Based on the Health Star Rating System. Nutrients, 14(12), p.2394.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/12/2394Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment
Pulker, C.E., Trapp, G.S., Scott, J.A. and Pollard, C.M., 2019. The nature and quality of Australian supermarkets’ policies that can impact public health nutrition, and evidence of their practical application: A cross-sectional study. Nutrients, 11(4), p.853.https://www.mdpi.com/445924
Grimmer, L., 2018.Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. Case Studies in Food Retailing and Distribution, p.13.https://books.google.com/bookshl=en&lr=&id=lad2DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA13&dq=:+IGA+Australia+promotes+social+and+economic+development+by+supporting+the+independent+grocer+sector,+which+is+a+significant+contributor+to+the+Australian+economy.&ots=8vqpkq8ULJ&sig=p0cVPSHuwwW_PWa4WKmj-tL2rBM
Turner, L., Albers, T., Carson, A., Nelson, C., Brown, R. and Serghi, M., 2019.Building a regional health ecosystem: a case study of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and its System of Care. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 25(5), pp.424-429.https://www.publish.csiro.au/py/py19038
Halm, J., 2021.Assessing Barriers and Benefits to a Food Waste Composting Pilot Program in Oberlin, Ohio.https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/honors/812/Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment
Kurniawan, R. and Feinnudin, A., 2021. Assessing the Implementation of the Energy Management System in the First ISO 50001 Building in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Energy, 4(2), pp.129-139.https://www.ije-pyc.org/index.php/IJE/article/view/125Digital Sustainability Strategy Assignment
