Special Report: Go for the Green

The need for larger team sizes is justified when a strong business case exists for sustainability programs. Retailers most commonly seek a return on investment for sustainability projects that's similar to any of the company's other investments. Across the industry, the average minimum payback period for a sustainability project is two years to three years. Top performers, however, plan over a longer time period and often pursue projects with paybacks as far out as three years to five years.