The impact of Wal-Mart's commitment to sustainability "will be global and make a difference with products sold around the globe," says company president and CEO Mike Duke.

U.S. companies borrowed more in September than a year ago to finance new equipment, the most in any month since December, but global economic and policy uncertainties curbed spending, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association said.

In the United States, the concept of supplier diversity is becoming more embedded in corporate culture each year. Supply management professionals seek out small- and midsized businesses owned and operated by women, African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities to round out their supply chains, and they are increasingly developing relationships and partnerships built on the foundation of mutual benefit to both parties. Such initiatives outside the U.S. often aren't quite as developed.

Consumer confidence in the overall economy increased in October to the highest level since 2008, according to the October Index from the Consumer Electronics Association. Consumer confidence in technology fell slightly from the Index released in September.

To get products to customers in emerging markets, global manufacturers need strategies for navigating both the traditional and the modern retail landscapes.

When electric-car company Tesla Motors Inc. started selling its flagship Model S luxury hatchback earlier this year, it eschewed the traditional dealership network to open its own stores. That's not sitting well with U.S. auto dealers, who have controlled new-vehicle sales for nearly a century. Some are suing the new entrant.

Commercial vessels that operate beyond the internal waters of the United States, otherwise known as "beyond the boundary line," are subject to the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, which requires that they be allowed to rest.

What are the latest trends in supply-chain outsourcing? We get a perspective from Michael Dominy, research director with Gartner.

Achieving breakthrough improvements in sustainable packaging is more difficult than simply substituting one material for another. In fact, for many, the mere mention of the term can bring to mind flimsy plastic water bottles and noisy chip bags, designs with laudable intent but a high potential for detracting from the customer experience, according to a Deloitte report called "Thinking Outside the Box: Throw Away Your Current Approach to Packaging."