At our annual Shareholders meeting in Fayetteville, Ark. last week, actor Tom Cruise addressed a stadium full of thousands of associates to talk about Walmart’s Live Better programs. He shared his views on how Walmart has served as a model for how business can address some of the biggest issues facing our world.
Among the work that Walmart is doing to help communities, Cruise talked about Walmart’s commitment to source more than 20 billion dollars from women-owned companies for our U.S. business over five years and to double our purchases from women in international countries where we do business. He also talked about our progress in making food healthier and fresh produce more accessible in food deserts.
Cruise then talked about the environment and some of the ways that Walmart is making sustainability good business by using renewable energy and diverting waste from landfill.
“Walmart is aiming to use 100 percent renewable energy in its operations…. and today is the largest onsite solar power generator in America,” Cruise said. He then went on to recognize our progress in reducing waste by diverting 80 percent of what we throw away in the U.S. away from landfill as we strive to ultimately create zero waste.
“Because what’s good for the environment, for society, for public health is good for business too,” he said. “The ambition to take on big challenges is one that is deeply rooted in the Walmart culture and values, and lived by its associates every day.”
