In 2010, U.S. retail giant Walmart announced that its global supply chain would reduce carbon emissions by 20 million tons by the end of 2015. By the end of 2014, Walmart and its partner NGO, the Environmental Defense Fund, had already helped its suppliers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17.4 million tons, ahead of schedule.
Walmart recently released its 2015 Global Responsibility Report, revealing the company's efforts in environmental sustainability over the past year.
In October 2014, Walmart announced its commitment to a sustainable food system, whose four core pillars include:
1. Increase the production of food products that are more affordable for consumers and have a smaller environmental impact;
2. Enhance the accessibility of food;
3. Promote healthy eating and strengthen food safety;
4. Enhance the transparency of the food supply chain.
Walmart also launched the Climate Smart Agriculture Platform, primarily promoting more efficient fertilization and irrigation systems to increase agricultural yields. From its launch until the end of 2014, Walmart had established alliances with 17 suppliers, businesses, and service providers, covering 23 million acres of farmland, and was expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11 million tons by 2020.
In addition to its global supply chain, Walmart's retail operations reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1% in Category 2 energy procurement in 2014. This marks the eighth consecutive year that Walmart has reduced carbon emissions per retail location or per unit net value.
Another goal is zero waste. In 2014, the company's waste recycling rate in its U.S. operations increased to 82.4%, while the global recycling rate (including stores, logistics centers, and other facilities) was estimated at 68%. In emerging markets, Walmart has further reduced food waste by 11%.
Regarding water resources, Walmart claimed that it achieved 8% operational savings in 2014 compared to the 2013 baseline, exceeding its target by as much as 7%. At its retail locations, 34% of water resources were recycled or reused, and Walmart aimed to increase this target to 60% by the end of 2015.
Since Walmart is a retailer, improving its own operating model will not have a significant impact on the environment. However, Walmart will promote the concepts of energy conservation, carbon reduction, water conservation, and zero waste sustainability to its supply chain. Only when many supply chains around the world respond to sustainability initiatives can the environmental improvement be multiplied.
For Walmart's detailed sustainability efforts in 2014, please refer to the attached document: Walmart_2015-global-responsibility-report
Sources:Environmental Leader (2015-04-27) (Compiled by PIDC) Attachment file:Walmart_2015-global-responsibility-report.pdf
