Monday March 8, 2010

Walmart Sets Greenhouse Gas Target

Bentonville, AR — Walmart Stores, Inc. is aiming to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain worldwide by the end of 2015.

The retailer is building on its supply and packaging scorecards, which it debuted in 2007, to collaborate with suppliers on reducing carbon pollution in transportation, raw material sourcing and waste. The company claims its global footprint offers major opportunities to reduce carbon emissions through increased energy efficiencies.

CEO Mike Duke explains: “Like everything we do at Walmart, this commitment ends up coming down to our customers. And, as we help our suppliers reduce their energy use, costs and carbon footprint, we’ll be helping our customers do the same thing.”

Walmart says it will concentrate on product categories with the highest embedded carbon. Fresh food, clothing and certain electronic products are said to be among the highest carbon-outputting categories.

To be included in the company’s initiative, suppliers to Walmart must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from products through the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, customer use or disposal.

More information on the program can be found by visiting walmartstores.com/greenhousegas.