WTN Blog

At WTN Services™, we clearly understand that being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment, our community and our people are goals that must work together with constant focus and attention. Our Sustainability goals at WTN Services™ are simple:

• To provide a socially responsible work environment that is recognized as an employer of choice,
• To contribute to our business community, trade and local community through volunteerism and sensible economic support,
• To lead in innovations, then task and lead our vendors, partners and ourselves in implementation of sustainable environmental improvements
• To demonstrate sustainable governance and shareholder responsibility thus create a workplace that is a stable economic engine to afford our team members a safe, stable work environment with competitive pay and benefits.

Each and every day we challenge ourselves on how we can improve upon the goals listed, we refer to this initiative as the WTN Services™ LEAN & GREEN Initiative. As we celebrate Earth Day 2008 and sustainability awareness this Earth Awareness Week, we publish our sustainability report card for 2008. This year past year has been a year of many opportunities and we are happy to report that WTN Services™ is moving forward in our measures of sustainability in a positive direction.
Employer of Choice-

• We have one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry of fulfillment services exceeding our goal of employee retention while nurturing and investing in training of our peak performers.

Community Engagement of Manpower & Economic Support-

• We have contributed to supporting our industry by leadership roles in supporting the Wine Technology Symposium, Consumer Direct Symposium and trade groups such as the Coalition for Free Trade, Free the Grapes, Specialty Wine Retailers Association, the Wine Institute and others.
• We have contributed to our community through volunteerism of 1000s of hours and fundraising for such causes as HIV/AIDS & Cancer Outreach of the Queen of the Valley Hospital, and the Arts Community of Napa supporting the Lincoln Theater.

Sustainable Environmental Improvements-

• We have converted 80% of our clients from the use of Styro-shippers to corrugated or earth friendly pulp. We have partnered with packaging vendors to create innovations that further reduce the environmental footprint from our services offering.
• We have recycled in excess of 700 tons of cardboard and fiberboard keeping it from becoming landfill through our Napa, California and Albany, New York facilities.
• We have converted many clients to take advantage of our bi-coastal fulfillment offering reducing their and our carbon footprint by utilizing ground transportation verses air helping air quality for our customer base.

To demonstrate sustainable governance and shareholder responsibility-

• We have implemented efficiencies in our operations in both California and New York keeping our client pricing stable in these uncertain times, while enhancing and growing our business thus, increasing our value to our parent company and our shareholders through margin improvements and increases in revenue streams.
  
• Through Fresh University we have provided leadership and training opportunities to our team members, our clients and our key strategic partners and are championing and endorsing the idea of industry certification training through the new WISE Academy specific to the Wine Industry.
  

What follows is our WTN Services™ LEAN & GREEN Sustainability Scorecard 2008 representing our progress this past year. As we move forward in 2008 we will continue to champion, innovate, participate and improve through our WTN Services™ LEAN & GREEN Initiatives. We challenge ourselves, our partners, vendors and even our competitors to follow our lead, measure and strive to make our world a better place.
To a better quality life let us move forward…
Chris Edwards

Vice President & General Manager

WTN Services™

a division of 1800Flowers

2545 Napa Valley Corporate Drive Ste F

Napa Ca 94558

707.265.2934

cedwards@winetasting.com

www.wtnservices.com

www.winetasting.com
www.1800flowers.com