Unlock New Opportunities for Thought Leadership with SB Webinars

Walmart Meets 20% Emissions Reduction Goal a Year Early

Walmart announced it has achieved its objective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all facilities built before 2005 a year earlier than expected.

Walmart announced it has achieved its objective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all facilities built before 2005 a year earlier than expected.

In 2009, Walmart CEO Mike Duke announced at the company’s semi-annual Sustainability Milestones Meeting that it was on track to meeting 36 of the 37 energy and environmental goals set four years earlier. The lone goal the company lagged on was the one it has now met ahead of schedule.

Emissions data from 2011 showed a more than 20 percent drop in GHGs from its 2005 baseline. However, Walmart’s overall emissions have increased during the same period from 19 million to 22 million tons of carbon dioxide due to global expansion.

The retailer says it has met emissions goals primarily through renewable energy. The EPA’s Green Power Partnership ranks Walmart as the fifth-largest user of clean energy in the U.S., although only 4 percent of its power comes from renewable sources. The company’s sheer size means it consumes more than 751,000 megawatts of power each year.

Last month, the company announced a goal to eliminate 20 million metric tons of GHGs from its global supply chain by the end of 2015. The amount is equal to one and a half times Walmart’s expected total carbon footprint growth during the same period. The retailer says it has partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund to develop a global supply-chain approach to reducing emissions.

Walmart also recently said is has worked with SolarCity to install solar panels in 12 stores throughout the state of Ohio, adding close to 6 million kilowatts of energy, or enough to power more than 820 homes. The installations are expected to supply 5 to 20 percent of each store’s overall energy.

“Energy efficiency and carbon reduction are central issues in the world today,” said Mike Duke, Walmart president and CEO. “We’ve been working to make a difference in these areas, both in our own footprint and our supply chain. We know that we have an opportunity to do more and the capacity to do more.”

Last year the company released a CSR report highlighting progress on goals for reducing waste, increasing locally grown produce and developing sustainability rankings for its products.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, November 14, 2024
SB Member Network Discussion Group: From Brand to Brand
Member Event
More Information

Thursday, December 5, 2024
Circularity by Design: How to Influence Sustainable Consumer Behaviors
Webinar
Sponsored by Sustainable Brands
More Information

December 11-12, 2024
SB Member Network: Shifting Customer Behavior and Demand December Member Meeting
Member Event
Sponsored by Amazon
More Information

Related Stories

More Travel Offerings Highlighting Interinfluence of Climate Change and Tourism CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE
More Travel Offerings Highlighting Interinfluence of Climate Change and Tourism
How Can Brands Help Consumers Unravel Myths Around Recycling? CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE
How Can Brands Help Consumers Unravel Myths Around Recycling?
Study Explores Marketing Tactics for Lower-Impact Menstrual Products CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Study Explores Marketing Tactics for Lower-Impact Menstrual Products
Study: Conflicting Motivations Prevent Us from Washing More Sustainably CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Study: Conflicting Motivations Prevent Us from Washing More Sustainably
Cross-Industry Collaborations Turning the Tide on Cold-Water Washing CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Cross-Industry Collaborations Turning the Tide on Cold-Water Washing
Abillion: Fueling the Plant-Based Revolution from Platform to Plate CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE
Abillion: Fueling the Plant-Based Revolution from Platform to Plate