Wal-Mart CEO Scott to Retire

The news that Lee Scott is retiring in February 2009 as CEO of Wal-Mart came as a surprise to many. Scott has championed Wal-Mart's vision of environmental sustainability since 2005; laying out three sustainability goals: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain our resources and the environment. The company has achieved many noteworthy accomplishments in these areas.

The company has established Sustainable Value Networks, The Personal Sustainability Project for employees, the Sustainable Packaging Scorecard, has increased purchases of local and organic products, and continues working to green the 60,000+ suppliers that make up its supply chain. Wal-Mart has also announced a wind power purchase with Duke Energy that will provide up to 15% of the energy requirements for stores and other facilities in Texas. And the company has most recently announced the formation of a Green Jobs Council to foster the development of green jobs in the U.S.

There have been many other pioneers of socially and/or environmentally sustainable business models and operations. Yet by virtue of the sheer size and the magnitude of Wal-Mart's reach, Scott's influence in bringing "green" to mainstream business can't be denied - he has helped bring "green" into the lexicon of everyday business.

Wal-Mart has yet to address its social sustainability issues with the same fervor. But Scott recently addressed suppliers in China and "outlined a series of aggressive goals and expectations to build a more environmentally and socially responsible global supply chain."

We are all hopeful that Wal-Mart will continue its leadership in green (and sustainability) efforts under new CEO Mike Duke.

Wal-Mart Launches Green Jobs Council

Press Release

Wal-Mart Launches Green Jobs Council
Council to Identify Opportunities for Green Job Creation

Bentonville, Ark., Dec. 2, 2008 -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has established a partnership with many of its leading sustainability suppliers to facilitate the creation of green jobs in the United States. The Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council is comprised of representatives from throughout the retailer’s divisions, including store operations, real estate, logistics and sustainability, and representatives from suppliers across a variety of industries.

“We believe that creating green jobs is essential to keeping the United States competitive in the global marketplace,” said Leslie Dach, executive vice president of corporate affairs and government relations for Wal-Mart. “At Wal-Mart we believe that by bringing these companies together and working collaboratively we can help develop a larger green job workforce in this country.”

As part of its company-wide sustainability goals, Wal-Mart is committed to being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling environmentally-friendly products. The company is moving toward these goals by using sustainable sourcing practices including energy efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy and lifecycle management. These initiatives are making Wal-Mart a more sustainable company and helping create a favorable environment for green job creation.

For example, Wal-Mart recently announced its first substantial purchase of wind energy in the U.S. which will lead to the creation of green jobs in Texas. The wind power will supply up to 15 percent of the retailers’ total energy load in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities. This is one example of the dozens of projects Wal-Mart is implementing across its operations with green job creation potential.

At an inaugural meeting of the Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council, participants identified their top catalysts for creating green jobs, including government policies, executive leadership for sustainability programs, and market drivers such as increased customer demand. Top barriers identified by the group include a lack of a trained workforce and lack of access to capital, especially in the current economic environment.

Participants are also working to more clearly define standards for green jobs and to work collaboratively towards facilitating green job development. More than 30 suppliers participated in the inaugural meeting, including large and small companies such as BP Solar, Dematic, General Electric, HydroPoint Data Systems, Lennox, ReCold, Schneider Electric, SwissLog, Systecon, Thermastor, and Zurn.

“Wal-Mart’s Green Jobs Council is driving collaboration among a variety of companies that are focused on America’s most valuable resource; the American worker,” said Christopher Spain, chairman and chief strategy officer for HydroPoint, Data Systems in Petaluma, Calif. “To overcome both rising unemployment and dwindling natural resources, we must invest in our nation’s workforce through the development of jobs that preserve the environment for generations to come. I believe the goals of the Green Jobs Council are highly achievable. ”

Wal-Mart plans to convene its next Green Jobs Council meeting in Washington, D.C., in early 2009.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom and, through a joint venture, in India. The Company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

Wal-Mart Better Living Business Plan Challenge

The Wal-Mart Better Living Business Plan Challenge 2009 is accepting entries.

(The Challenge) provides a forum for students to showcase their best ideas and to help Walmart learn from some of the brightest minds in the world. The competition challenges students to invent sustainable products or develop sustainable business solutions and present them to a panel of Walmart executives, suppliers, and environmental organizations. In addition to gaining an audience with some of the top business and sustainability leaders in the United States, the winning school will receive $20,000 to invest in their business or product.

Students must declare their intent to compete by November 1, 2008. There will be several rounds of competition until the 8 final teams are selected to present their plans in Bentonville AR and the final 2 teams will present before Wal-Mart executives and a live audience. First, second, and third place winners will receive $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000 respectively.

The competition is sponsored by Wal-Mart, Net Impact, and The Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Wal-Mart Joins WWF's Global Forest & Trade Network

Press Release

Commitment to improve the management of valuable and threatened forests

WASHINGTON, D.C. and Bentonville, Ark. July 14, 2008 – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. joined the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) initiative to save the world’s most valuable and threatened forests, WWF announced today. By joining the GFTN, Wal-Mart has committed to phasing out illegal and unwanted wood sources from its supply chain and increasing its proportion of wood products originating from credibly certified sources – for Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club locations in the United States.

“With nearly half of the world’s forests already gone, action is urgently needed,” said Suzanne Apple, WWF’s VP for Business & Industry. “Wal-Mart’s commitment to support responsible forestry answers that call to action. WWF welcomes the company to a global community committed to healthy business and healthy forests.”

The United States is the largest consumer of industrial timber, pulp and paper in the world. The U.S. is also among the top destinations for imports of wood from areas where illegal logging and trade are common, such as Indonesia, China and Brazil. Thus, the U.S. market is critical to protecting forests worldwide.

Wal-Mart’s commitment includes the importation and sale of all wood-based products with an initial focus on wood-based furniture. Wal-Mart sources furniture from the Amazon, Russian Far East, northern China, Indonesia, and the Mekong region of southeast Asia. These areas include some of the most biologically diverse places on earth, places that WWF is working to protect.

Within one year, Wal-Mart will complete an assessment of where its wood furniture is coming from and whether the wood is legal and well-managed. Once the assessment is completed, Wal-Mart has committed to eliminating wood from illegal and unknown sources within five years. The company will also eliminate wood from forests that are of critical importance due to their environmental, socio-economic, biodiversity or landscape values and that aren’t well-managed.

“One of our goals at Wal-Mart is to sell products that sustain and protect our resources. By joining the GFTN we can further this goal by providing our customers with a reliable supply of wood products that come from responsibly managed forests,” said Matt Kistler, Wal-Mart’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability. “This is just one way Wal-Mart is helping our customers save money and live better.”

WWF works with private companies like Wal-Mart and public agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to promote responsible forest management that gives weight to social values, environmental conservation and economic benefits. The World Bank estimates that illegal logging costs developing country governments more than $5 billion per year in lost taxes and other revenues.

USAID has invested almost $6.5 million since 2003 in WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network. WWF has leveraged USAID’s investment to secure an additional $33.8 million investment to expand GFTN operations into emerging economies. Many of those emerging economies are now part of Wal-Mart’s global supply chain.

“Today’s development assistance is about mobilizing the ideas, efforts and resources of governments, businesses and civil society by forging public-private alliances that stimulate economic growth, develop businesses opportunities and address environmental issues” said Jacqueline E. Schafer, Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade at USAID. “Corporate engagement in WWF’s Global Forest & Trade Network has enormous potential to curb the environmental destruction associated with illegal logging in producer countries, while contributing to the economic growth of both producer and consumer countries alike.”

Wal-Mart’s commitment to promoting responsible forestry builds on the company’s collaboration with WWF. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart committed to purchasing 100 percent of its wild caught seafood sold in the U.S. from sources certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) within four years.

About World Wildlife Fund
For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level, from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. Go to worldwildlife.org to learn more.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Wal-Mart serves more than 176 million customers weekly in 14 markets. The Company’s securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. For more information: www.walmartfacts.com.

Wal-Mart Adds a New Facet to Its Fine Jewelry Lines: Traceability

Press Release

Retailer Partners with Conservation International to Launch Love, Earth Jewelry and New Sustainable Criteria

Bentonville, Ark. and Arlington, Va. – July 15, 2008 – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today launched Love, Earth® jewelry, its first completely traceable fine jewelry line available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Club locations and on Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. Marking a shift in how affordably-priced fine jewelry is produced and sold, the new line is the result of collaboration between Wal-Mart, Conservation International (CI) and Wal-Mart’s supply chain partners. It will give customers the ability to trace the path of their Love, Earth jewelry from mine to store by simply going online.

Love, Earth is the retailer’s first step toward having all of the gold, silver and diamonds used in the jewelry sold in its Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club locations come from mines and manufacturers that meet Wal-Mart’s sustainability standards and criteria. The criteria address both environmental, human rights and community issues. By 2010, the retailer aims for at least 10 percent of its jewelry offerings to achieve these standards.

“Wal-Mart recognizes that our customers care about the quality of their jewelry and its potential impact on the world,” said Pam Mortensen, vice president and divisional merchandise manager for Wal-Mart. “With Love, Earth, customers are getting an affordable and beautiful piece of jewelry that also helps sustain resources and strengthen communities.”

Consumers can visit http://www.loveearthinfo.com/ to see where their Love, Earth jewelry was mined and manufactured, and learn about suppliers’ environmental and social programs. The site also offers information about the standards used to select suppliers and ensure the entire process is more sustainable.“With its considerable influence, market reach and commitment to sustainability, Wal-Mart has brought together like-minded suppliers, mining companies and conservation partners to work together to build a traceable jewelry supply chain at an impressive scale,” said Dr. Assheton Stewart Carter, Senior Director of Business Policies and Practices at Conservation International. “We hope others in the jewelry industry will follow this leadership example and thus enable consumers to make simple choices that benefit the environment and mining communities when shopping for jewelry.”

To create Love, Earth, Wal-Mart selected partners in the mining and jewelry manufacturing industries that already demonstrated environmental and social leadership, including Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian mining company; Newmont Mining Corporation, a global gold producer headquartered in Denver, Colorado; and Aurafin, a Florida-based jewelry manufacturer. During the next phase of the partnership, the retailer plans to expand the number of approved mining and manufacturing suppliers and introduce diamonds in the Love, Earth line.

The Wal-Mart Love, Earth collection is made from 10 karat gold and sterling silver; the Sam’s Club collection from 14 karat gold and sterling silver. Each collection includes fashion pendants, hoop earrings, bangles and fashion beads. Created with gold and silver, the Love, Earth collection is designed to symbolize the Earth’s elements and based on the precepts of recycle, reduce, and respect.

Want to trace a piece of Love, Earth jewelry from mine to market?Go to http://www.loveearthinfo.com/, find the “Trace it from Mine to Market” box and enter: SMPM88.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)

Every week, millions of customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $296 million to local United States communities. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartstores.com/, http://www.walmart.com/, or http://www.walmartfoundation.org/.

About Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity in the biodiversity hotspots, high-biodiversity wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems. With headquarters in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, CI works in more than 40 countries on four continents. For more information about CI, visit http://www.conservation.org/.

Wal-Mart Offers Recycling for Fairbanks

In the absence of a community recycling program, the Fairbanks, Alaska Wal-Mart has stepped in to offer local residents the opportunity to bring their recyclables to the store. Wal-Mart employees will manage the community recycling program. They will accept common recyclables, such as plastic, newspaper, aluminum, and cardboard. Items are loaded onto Wal-Mart trucks, transported by train across the state, and then shipped to the state of Washington for recycling.

It is the transport of items that has prohibited the Fairbanks community from establishing a feasible recycling program of its own in the past. However, since Wal-Mart already has the logistics in place for its store recycling initiative, it will simply include the community's recyclables alongside its own. "Managers and associates at the retail store say recycling falls in line with corporate efforts to reduce the corporation’s environmental footprint...(and) we’re all excited to be able to help the community out."

Wal-Mart Seeks Cleantech Vendors & Green State Capitols

At today's Cleantech Forum XVI, Wal-Mart announced "The Cleantech Accelerator," a request for proposals from vendors who can offer cleantech solutions. Wal-Mart is seeking new vendors that can provide innovations at lower costs than what is currently available. They have specifically targeted the following areas:

• Sustainable management of organic waste


• Sustainable management of oil-based waste


• Sustainable management of household hazardous waste


• Alternative battery technologies for forklifts


• Wind harvesting


• Sustainable building materials


• Closed-loop water processing

Working with Cleantech, they have created a web site for companies to submit their proposals.

In other Wal-Mart news today, the company also announced a partnership with the National Governor's Association to launch "Greening State Capitols." The partnership will offer two-day energy audits of capitol complexes and will make recommendations for efficiency improvements in the areas of lighting, HVAC, refrigeration and other equipment, technologies, and building structure.

Wal-Mart Releases "Sustainability Progress to Date" Report

Today Wal-Mart announced the release of "a comprehensive report of its sustainability efforts, outlining initiatives to improve the environment, health care, diversity, sourcing and highlighting the work of its foundation. The report discusses Wal-Mart's sustainability initiatives and defines the challenges, as well as goals, for moving forward."

"In an October 2005 speech titled "Twenty-First Century Leadership," Wal-Mart committed to three large sustainability goals: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain our resources and the environment. The report examines the progress Wal-Mart has made toward those commitments and details how the company has worked to integrate sustainable practices into its supply chain, the products it sells, the lives of its associates and the communities where it operates and sources."

The report, entitled "Sustainability Progress to Date 2007-2008: We're making sustainability our business," covers their progress over the past two years since announcing their sustainability commitment.

Wal-Mart, Clinton Climate Initiative Announce Partnership

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the Clinton Climate Initiative today announced a partnership to help bring environmentally-friendly technologies to cities across the United States and around the world. The two groups will explore ways to use their purchasing resources to lower prices on sustainable technologies such as energy efficient building materials and systems, energy efficient lighting and clean energy products.

“This shows what can be achieved when business, government and the non-profit sector work together on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today,” said Lee Scott, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “By combining our resources, we can help drive innovation, create new technology markets and ultimately reduce this country’s dependence on foreign oil.”

As part of the partnership the two organizations will:

• Collaborate regarding the design and discovery of new products and best practices related to environmentally-friendly technologies. This includes working together to develop specifications for new products and test new products.
• Work together to source new products, again sharing specifications as well as suppliers. This also includes going to market at coordinated times in order to maximize purchasing power and drive down costs.
• Designate a representative from each organization to coordinate with Wal-Mart’s building team, the Clinton Climate Initiative and its member cities.
• Continue to seek opportunities for the two organizations to collaborate.

Read the full story here.

How Green is Your State?

Forbes has released their first-ever ranking of America's Greenest States. To derive their list, they "ranked each state in six equally weighted categories: carbon footprint, air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management, policy initiatives and energy consumption." Topping the list is Vermont and at the end of the list is West Virginia.

In the meantime, Wal-Mart is using its extensive database of customer purchases to track consumer purchasing habits of Compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs), organic milk, concentrated/reduced-packaging liquid laundry detergents, extended-life paper products, and organic baby food. They find that California leads purchases of CFLs and organic baby food, Rhode Island tops purchases of organic milk, Arkansas leads the way in adoption of concentrated laundry detergents, and New Jersey tops the list for extended-life paper products.

Wal-Mart Surpasses Goal To Sell 100 Million Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Three Months Early

Wal-Mart announced today that they have reached their goal (set a year ago) of selling 100 million compact flourescent light bulbs (CFLs). They had planned to achieve this goal by the end of 2007, but instead have reached the goal three months early. This is encouraging as they estimate that the 100 million CFLs will have "the effect of taking 700,000 cars off the road, or conserving the energy needed to power 450,000 single-family homes."

Read the full story here.

Sustainability Continues Its March Into Mainstream Corporate Strategy

Wal-Mart has been in the news quite a bit for their commitment to sustainability (this includes greening their 60,000-plus supplier network). But what other multi-national corporations are also making the sustainability move?

Dell computers has recently announced they intend to be carbon neutral by next year, ING plans to be carbon neutral by the end of this year, Fleishman-Hillard plans to be carbon neutral by the end of this year, Volvo is seeking to make all their manufacturing plants carbon neutral, Google plans to be carbon neutral by the end of this year, Yahoo plans to be carbon neutral by the end of this year, News Corporation plans to be carbon neutral by 2010, and Richard Ellis plans to be carbon neutral by 2010.

These corporations' announcements are more indications that sustainibility is becoming mainstream and sustainability is becoming an important part of corporate strategy.