About Us
At Walmart, Hurricane Katrina really started it all for us. Our company's emergency response showed us the potential we have to make a difference on the social and environmental issues that matter most to our customers, associates and communities. We knew that if we could be that company all of the time and all around the world, we could do a tremendous amount of good.
Shortly after the Katrina disaster, our CEO at the time, Lee Scott, gave a speech called "21st Century Leadership." It put sustainability front and center for the company and laid out three goals:
- To be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy
- To create zero waste
- To sell products that sustain our resources and the environment
We've been working ever since to build a more sustainable company and create change globally. We have woven sustainability into our supply chain, our products, our associates' lives and the communities we serve and source from. Sustainability continues to make us a better company by reducing waste, lowering costs, driving innovation, and helping us fulfill our mission to save people money so they can live better.
As the world's largest retailer, we believe we have a responsibility to make a difference, and we are committed to using our size and scale to address pressing societal needs. Worldwide, we work with more than 100,000 suppliers – and every week – more than 200 million people shop our stores. That gives us a unique opportunity to have real impact. The world has high expectations of Walmart, and we are committed to meeting and exceeding them.
Our CEO Mike Duke describes it this way: "Today, sustainability is sustainable at Walmart. The outside world recognizes our leadership and our ability to get things done."
The Green Room is the next step in our sustainability journey and we hope it will be a platform for an ongoing conversation with NGOs, suppliers and others who want to share ideas and partner with us in helping people live better around the world.
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1.
anne | January 3, 2012 at 5:51 pm
There has got to be a way to mke smaller,lighter biodegradable packiging.
2.
Nick Aster | January 3, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Nice work guys, welcome to the conversation. We'll be following along!
3.
Walmart Green Room | January 5, 2012 at 11:15 am
Thank you for welcoming us, Nick! We’re looking forward to be more active in the online conversation!
4.
Lynn Anne Miller | January 4, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Thank you for including OrganicMania in your blog roll. You have a huge responsibility and a huge opportunity to effect real change.
I'm encouraged by what I read on your new blog. With Walmart now coming for the first time to my community, I have an even deeper interest in Walmart's environmental and social impact.
I
5.
Walmart Green Room | January 5, 2012 at 11:13 am
Thank you, Lynn! We hope our blog will help people get a better understanding of our journey towards reaching our sustainability goals, and we’re looking forward to being a part of the community.
6.
Tammy Polen Manocchio | January 4, 2012 at 10:09 pm
It is great to see a large corporation like Walmart stepping up and focusing on sustainability. I will be interested to see your new policies enacted in my local stores. I believe greener choices should be made accessible to all economic levels. Walmart making a stand and deciding to change will help people who want to make better choices do so without breaking the bank.
7.
Walmart Green Room | January 5, 2012 at 11:12 am
Thank you for your comment, Tammy!
8.
Adam Maynard | January 5, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I am going to be perfectly honest. I'm skeptical.
As you step more into the sustainability spotlight you will also place yourself under the microscope of public scrutiny. I understand this new branch of corporate responsibility came out of a recognized need to improve your public image, but in doing so you will only perpetuate the expectation that you improve your standard of business.
If you are to be successful in this endeavor you must answer the following question:
How can the worlds largest retailer, the success of which up to this point has depended on rampant consumerism, suddenly push a message of conservation and regeneration (and make it work)?
This is a fundamental question, an existential one, central to a "21st Century Walmart," and one that must be answered. You may impress many customers with your initial offerings, but prepare to defend your efforts against much tougher scrutiny.
I'd like to have faith that you can accomplish what you set out to do, and what your customers demand, but you have a long way to go before you get my blessing.
9.
Jennifer Johnson | January 13, 2012 at 5:09 am
These are great targets!It is amazing to see such a global and gigantic corporate prioritise sustainability.
10.
Josh | January 13, 2012 at 5:26 pm
It is great to see Walmart making a move towards sustainability. I like your goals you proposed but did you have a time frame on when you would like to achieve them? Also where are you in the process of achieving the goals? Do you have any data on energy reduction or waste reduction since The Katrinia accident?
Thanks and good luck!
Josh
11.
Walmart Green Room | January 17, 2012 at 8:49 am
Thank you for your interest in The Green Room and Walmart’s commitment to sustainability. We take our goals seriously and are working hard to create a more sustainable world to help people live better. If you’d like to find out more about our sustainability efforts, please take a look at the Walmart 2011 Global Responsibility Report, which includes new data and metrics to track and measure our progress. Thanks again for your thoughts, and please keep checking back for more posts from the Walmart Green Room!
12.
Anthony Gilbreath | January 15, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Some nice efforts, but there are huge holes in their sustaibility strategy.
It is a shame, but here is to hoping will be comprehensive some day.
13.
Anthony Gilbreath | January 16, 2012 at 1:28 pm
When I mentioned ‘comprehensive’ in my message, I wasn’t trying to be petty. Despite the supply-chain, energy, csr and other efforts that your making as a company are admirable and should be applauded, there are many other opportunities that are not being address – this is the missed opportunity – however I am sure you will expand these in the future. Wal-Mart should consider a Sustainability Audit to see what areas remain.http://www.caelusconsulting.com/Site-Pages/services.html#enKeep up your green work!
14.
Walmart Green Room | January 17, 2012 at 8:52 am
We appreciate your interest in the blog Anthony. We take our sustainability goals seriously and are working hard to create a more sustainable world to help people live better. If you’d like to find out more about our sustainability efforts, please take a look at the Walmart 2011 Global Responsibility Report and keep checking the Green Room for updates.
15.
Mark Langan | February 9, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Hello Walmart,
I’ve am an Artist from the Cleveland area and have been using recycled boxes as a creative medium for nearly a decade, Please take a look at my work as I believe you will find it of interest. Thanks!
Mark Langan