Fact Sheets

At Walmart, we understand the importance of supporting the communities we serve and we are committed to helping families in need. In 2008 alone, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation gave $378 million to communities across the U.S. In June 2009, the Walmart Foundation donated $7.8 million to support food banks and provide healthy, summer meals to children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year. This holiday season, the Walmart Foundation launched the “Walmart Gives Back” campaign as part of its effort to eradicate hunger in America. The campaign includes 35 donated refrigerator food trucks to Feeding America which will enable the food banks to transport up to 52.5 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 41 million additional meals, per year. In addition, the Walmart Foundation will award Meals On Wheels a $2.2 million grant to help its 140 chapters across the U.S. provide nutritious meals to individuals and families who are elderly, homebound, disabled, frail or otherwise at risk.

At Walmart, we appreciate the service and sacrifice of our nation’s military men and women, their families, and our veterans. We strive to support their heroism in a variety of ways, and have traditionally worked to understand and address some of the specific and special unmet needs facing the military community.

At Walmart, we understand how critical education is to the lives and well-being of all Americans. In 2008, Walmart and its Foundation gave more than $66 million to fund educational programs in communities across the country. Through our scholarship programs alone, the company awarded more than $8 million in 2008. By supporting education, the Walmart Foundation ensures that the leaders of tomorrow have access to the quality education opportunities they need to be successful today.

While the economic crisis continues to impact communities around the globe, Walmart and its domestic and international Foundations stepped up charitable giving in countries around the world from February 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009, with more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts, an $85.6 million increase over its global giving in the previous year. The company’s long-term commitment to giving back locally has positioned the retailer as a trusted source of funding for community programs, especially those that address hunger, homelessness, education, job training and other basic needs. *

Continuing its long-term commitment to giving back locally, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation increased giving by 30 percent with $378 million donated to local organizations from February 2008 through January 2009. With donations generated by customers at its stores and clubs through programs like the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign and Children's Miracle Network fundraising, Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $455 million to local community organizations. The Walmart Foundation is committed to serving the unmet needs in communities across America.

The “Walmart Gives Back” holiday giving campaign provides $32 million in monetary and in-kind donations to charitable organizations across the United States. The campaign includes contributions to Feeding America, Meals On Wheels Association of America, Operation Homefront and Wreaths Across America as part of a holiday giving initiative focused on providing hunger relief and support for military families this holiday season.

Community: We believe in a philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. We know we can make the greatest impact on our communities by supporting causes that are important to our customers and our neighborhoods. In 2008, Walmart international operations and corporate foundations donated more than $45 million to our communities around the world. International associates and customers contributed an additional $29 million through company sponsored fundraising activities.

“We’re all working together; that’s the secret. And we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, but we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better lifestyle, a better life for all. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished; we’ve just begun.” – Sam Walton (1918-1992).

Walmart saves people money so they can live better. An independently certified study found that our company saves the average American household $3,100 per year.* We want our customers and our communities to be healthy, which has led us to offer in-store clinics and $4 prescription medicines. Walmart is also becoming a more sustainable company by innovating to conserve energy, minimizing waste and introducing affordable, environmentally friendly products. Recognized as the country’s largest corporate giver of cash to charitable causes, Walmart makes the majority of our charitable donations locally where we can have the greatest impact. According to Nielsen estimates, more than 200 million people in the U.S. shop at Walmart each year, choosing us to save them time and money.

In a speech to Walmart store managers in Kansas City on January 23, 2008, Walmart CEO and President Lee Scott laid out the company’s vision for addressing major issues that are important to the future of the company and the world.

At Walmart, helping communities is what we do every day. And when a crisis strikes this becomes an even greater priority.

At Walmart, helping communities is what we do every day. When a crisis strikes, that charge becomes an even greater priority -- we are committed to reacting quickly and effectively when and where disasters hit the hardest. Each year, Walmart is called upon for assistance following natural disasters from floods and tornadoes to wildfires and hurricanes worldwide and has been an integral part of local recovery efforts in the communities we serve. Since 2007, Walmart and its Foundation have donated more than $16 million for disaster preparedness and disaster relief efforts.

Walmart's growth in the U.S. market has sparked increasing debate about the economic impact of its expansion. As a contribution to this debate, Walmart commissioned IHS Global Insight in 2005 to undertake an independent research effort to analyze this issue. The goal of this research was to independently and credibly document the national- and local-area impacts in terms of jobs, wages, prices, consumer buying power, productivity, and gross domestic product (GDP).1

The latest news on Economic Opportunities from Walmart.

Information Resources, Inc. released a report, titled “Walmart, Helping Consumers Navigate a Transforming Economy,” that highlights Walmart’s exceptional position for growth within the struggling U.S. economy. The research concluded that Walmart’s ability to offer goods at low prices and its improvements to the total shopping experience are resonating with a broader mix of consumers, who are now reaping the benefits of shopping at Walmart. The current strategy adopted by Walmart allows consumers, suppliers and stakeholders to withstand the changing U.S. economy.

At Walmart, we are committed to creating opportunity beyond the walls of our stores and Clubs. The Jobs and Opportunity Zones (JOZ) program is about making unique contributions to the local community by offering an even greater economic boost to the people and the neighborhoods that need Walmart the most. This effort is an extension of the company’s dedication to associates, the communities we serve, and to the millions of working families who rely on us every day to save them money, so they can live better.

At Walmart, we understand that more and more families are facing financial challenges due to today’s tough economy, and we are committed to supporting the millions of consumers who are not using traditional checking accounts to manage their finances. In line with this commitment, Walmart is stepping up its money services efforts and launching “Operation Main Street: Money Management,” a program which includes a $3 Rollback price on the Walmart MoneyCard and a focus on financial literacy.

En Walmart, entendemos que cada vez más familias enfrentan desafíos financieros debido a la economía difícil actual, y asumimos el compromiso de apoyar a millones de consumidores que no utilizan cuentas corrientes tradicionales para administrar sus finanzas. Junto con este compromiso, Walmart aumenta sus esfuerzos para ofrecer servicios monetarios y lanza “Operación Calle Mayor: administración del dinero” (“Operation Main Street: Money Management”), un programa que incluye un precio de reducción de $3 en la tarjeta Walmart MoneyCard y se concentra en el entendimiento financiero.

Los consumidores sin una relación bancaria son los que no tienen acceso a los servicios financieros tradicionales. Los consumidores que los usan de forma insuficiente pueden tener acceso a los servicios financieros, pero no los usan con regularidad.

Unbanked consumers are those who lack access to mainstream financial services. Underbanked consumers may have access to financial services, but don’t use them regularly.

The CATO Institute recently issued an article in its publication, the Regulation, on Walmart’s impact on small “mom and pop” businesses, titled “Has Walmart Buried Mom and Pop? (2008)”  The article concluded that the popular and publicly-accepted belief that Walmart destroys small businesses in its path is a misconception.

Scholars from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) detailed the benefits of big-box retailers, such as Walmart, to consumers, workers and the economy in the book, “The Walmart Revolution.”1 Their research and analysis concluded that Walmart’s economic impact is more positive than negative, and that the negative impacts are minimized by gains associated with the retailer’s existence. The book indicated that Americans benefit as a result from Walmart presence in communities and credits Walmart as being “part of the solution to the problem of poverty in America.” By focusing on community impact, consumers and employee relations, the book indicated that Walmart’s impact is far-reaching and provides many social and economic benefits.

Global Insight 2007 study

University scholars researched the age-old question “Is Walmart good for the economy?” The study, “The Effects of Walmart Supercenters on Grocery Prices in New England (2008)”1 focused on the impact of Supercenters on grocery prices, and its competitive effects on prices at conventional supermarkets.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Walmart places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides to support women and the organizations and issues of importance to them.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Walmart places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides to support the African-American community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Walmart places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides to support the American Indian and Alaskan Native community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among
its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart has made tremendous strides to support the Asian and Pacific Islander-American community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

With more than 1.4 million associates in the U.S., we understand that diversity and inclusion is more than numbers and programs. It is, at its heart, about people - valuing their talents and abilities, seeking their unique perspectives, and creating an inclusive environment that invites and welcomes all to participate. This becomes the foundation for an inclusive, sustainable business that embraces and respects difference, develops all associates, serves our customers better, and is a partner to the community.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Walmart places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides to support the disability community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

2008 Diversity Awards & Recognitions

At Walmart, we believe that business wins when everyone matters. As one of the country’s largest private employers, our company places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive working environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. This commitment is demonstrated to our associates, our customers, our suppliers and to the communities we serve.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Walmart places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve our customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides to support the Hispanic community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

As one of the country’s largest private employers, Walmart places a diverse and multicultural workforce—at all levels—among its top priorities. And our commitment to diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We believe we can better serve customers and provide a positive work environment for our more than 1.4 million U.S. associates by cultivating respect for their diverse lives and backgrounds through various company initiatives. As part of this commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides to support the mature community and the organizations and issues of importance to it.

Walmart believes in fostering the inclusion of minority- and women-owned and operated businesses in its network of vendors. Our Supplier Diversity Program allows us to create opportunities for diverse suppliers to provide their goods or services to the nation and the world. This program helps us achieve our business goals to create jobs and bring quality products and services to our customers, allowing them to save money and live better. As part of its diversity commitment, Walmart has made tremendous strides in support of minority- and women-owned businesses.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, of the world’s one billion poorest people, three fifths are women and girls. Of the 960 million adults in the world who cannot read, two thirds are women. At Walmart, we understand how critical education, training and entrepreneurship are to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and believe we can help -- that we can make a difference.

On February 7th, Walmart partnered with leaders in business, government, labor and public policy communities to launch the “Better Health Care Together” campaign.

As the world’s largest retailer and one of the nation’s largest providers of health benefits Walmart recognizes it has an enormous opportunity to positively impact the lives of our associates, customers and communities. We are uniquely positioned to be an advocate and ally for them and their health.

At Walmart, we believe that America’s health care challenges are larger than any individual corporation – even the largest. But we want to do our part to offer solutions to these issues. As part of our commitment to providing affordable, accessible solutions to America’s health care challenges, we’re focused on innovation in the following areas: our enhanced personalized associate benefits, expanding adoption of electronic health records, increasing utilization of e-scripts, our $4 prescription medication program and growing the network of in-store clinics.

Our Walmart Vision Centers and Sam’s Club Optical Centers are dedicated to being the trusted eye health care provider of choice for patients seeking the best value.

As part of its commitment to bring affordable health care to Americans, in May 2008 Walmart launched phase three of its $4 Prescription Program. Expected to save Walmart customers millions annually, the program now covers a 90-day prescription for $10, additional women’s health medications and a new $4 over-the-counter (OTC) offer. The 90-day option gives more choices to customers and physicians who may have been limited to mail order prescriptions in the past.

Walmart Argentina started its operations in August 1995, opening a Sam’s Club in Avellaneda in the greater Buenos Aires area. The first supercenter was built in November 1995 in Avellaneda, Province of Buenos Aires. In 2007, Walmart Argentina introduced the format Changomas in La Rioja Province and in September 2007 celebrated the grand opening of a distribution center in Moreno City, Buenos Aires province. On Oct. 1, 2007, Walmart announced the acquisition of three Auchan stores in La Tablada, Quilmes and Avellaneda (all in the proximity of Buenos Aires) and has since integrated these stores into Walmart supercenters.

Walmart Brazil began operations in Brazil in 1995 with two supercenters and three Sam’s Clubs in the state of São Paulo and gross sales of R$ 12 million. In 14 years, the company grew to become the third largest retailer in Brazil with sales close to R$ 17 billion. Two acquisitions propelled Walmart Brazil through this transition: Bompreço’s 118 stores in the northern region of Brazil and Sonae’s 140 stores in the southern region. With these acquisitions, Walmart Brazil grew from a two to nine brand company with multiple store formats (retail, wholesale and soft discount). During the last two years, the company grew organically, building new stores for all of the brands across 18 states and the federal district.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Walmart Canada was established in 1994 with the acquisition of the Woolco Canada chain of 122 stores.

In January 2009, Walmart acquired a majority in Distribución y Servicio D&S S.A., Chile's leading food retailer. D&S began as a family-owned operation led by Manuel Ibáñez Ojeda in 1957 with its first supermarket called Almac. The business was expanded by his sons, Felipe Ibáñez Scott and Nicolas Ibáñez Scott, who remain engaged in the business. With headquarters in Santiago, D&S has more than 34,000 associates. The company operates several formats including hypermarkets Hiper de LIDER, supermarkets Express de LIDER, Super Bodega Acuenta and Econo convenience stores. It also has developed a significant credit business through its Presto credit card, with 1.6 million users.

Walmart began its retail operations in China in 1996 with the opening of a supercenter and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen. Walmart's Global Procurement Office opened in February 2002. In February 2007, Walmart purchased a 35 percent interest in Trust-Mart. Walmart China currently serves more than 7 million customers weekly in 87 cities.

In September 2005, Walmart acquired a 33 1/3 percent interest in CARHCO from the Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. In February 2006, Walmart increased its interest to 51 percent and the name CARHCO was changed to Walmart Centroamérica. Walmart Centroamérica is the region’s largest retailer, with more than 500 stores and over 30,000 associates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

In September 2005, Walmart acquired a 33 1/3 percent interest in CARHCO from the Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. In February 2006, Walmart increased its interest to 51 percent and the name CARHCO was changed to Walmart Centroamérica. Walmart Centroamérica is the region’s largest retailer, with more than 500 stores and over 30,000 associates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

In September 2005, Walmart acquired a 33 1/3 percent interest in CARHCO from the Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. In February 2006, Walmart increased its interest to 51 percent and the name CARHCO was changed to Walmart Centroamérica. Walmart Centroamérica is the region’s largest retailer, with more than 500 stores and over 30,000 associates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

In September 2005, Walmart acquired a 33 1/3 percent interest in CARHCO from the Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. In February 2006, Walmart increased its interest to 51 percent and the name CARHCO was changed to Walmart Centroamérica. Walmart Centroamérica is the region’s largest retailer, with more than 500 stores and over 30,000 associates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Bharti Walmart Private Limited is a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises, one of India's leading business groups with interests in telecom, agri-business, insurance and retail, and Walmart, the world’s leading retailer, renowned for its efficiency and expertise in logistics, supply chain management and sourcing. The joint venture is establishing wholesale cash-and-carry and back-end supply chain management operations in line with Government of India guidelines. Under the agreement, Bharti and Walmart hold a 50:50 stake in Bharti Walmart Private Limited. The first wholesale cash-and-carry facility named “Best Price Modern Wholesale” opened in Amritsar in May 2009.

Seiyu is one of the largest supermarket chains in Japan. The company was established on April 19, 1963. In May 2002, Walmart acquired a 6.1 percent stake in Seiyu. In December 2005, Wal-Mart acquired a majority interest in Seiyu, making Seiyu a Walmart subsidiary, and on December 5, 2007, Walmart‘s tender offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Seiyu was completed successfully, raising Walmart’s ownership of Seiyu from 50.9 percent to 95.1 percent. Walmart proceeded with additional steps to acquire all of the remaining shares, which resulted in the delisting of Seiyu shares from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in April 2008. In June 2008, Seiyu became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart. As of March 2009, Walmart established a holding company named Wal-Mart Japan Holdings Godo Kaisha and has made Seiyu a wholly-owned subsidiary of the holding company. Seiyu also converted its company form from Kabushiki Kaisha to Godo Kaisha on Sept.1, 2009.

In 1991, Walmart entered into a joint venture with Cifra with the opening of a Sam’s Club in Mexico City, the first market in Walmart’s International division. In 1997, Walmart acquired a majority position in Cifra, and in February 2000 the name changed to Walmart de México (WALMEX). In November 2006, Walmart de México received a license from Mexico’s Finance Ministry to organize and operate a bank in the country and in November 2007 bank began operations with 16 branches in five states of Mexico. In 2008, Walmart de México celebrated 50 years of service to Mexican families and launched the campaign "Good News" in all business formats to contribute to the care of the economy.

In September 2005, Wal-Mart acquired a 33 1/3 percent interest in CARHCO from the Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV. In February 2006, Wal-Mart increased its interest to 51% and the name CARHCO was changed to Wal-Mart Centroamérica. Wal-Mart Centroamérica is the region’s largest retailer, with more than 500 stores and over 30,000 associates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Walmart opened its first store in the municipality of Fajardo in 1992. The first Sam’s Club opened in Bayamon in 1993. Two Sam’s Club followed in 1994. The first Walmart supercenter opened in 2001 in the Municipality of Cayey. In 2003, the company acquired Supermercados Amigo, adding one of the Island’s largest neighborhood supermarket chains to its portfolio. In 2008, the company opened two supercenters in the municipalities of Ponce and Canovanas and launched a new format (small neighborhood supermarket pilot program) called Super Ahorros. In April 2009, a new Super Ahorros was opened in the metro area of San Juan.

ASDA can trace its roots back to two Yorkshire brothers, Peter and Fred Asquith, and a group of Yorkshire farmers who formed Hindell's Dairies in the 1920s. In 1965, Asquith and Dairies joined forces for the c of ASDA. In June 1999, ASDA was acquired by Wal-Mart Stores Inc, and in recent years, has grown to become Britain’s second largest supermarket.

Since the early days of our company, the ability to move product from place to place quickly and efficiently has been a key driver in Walmart’s success. Today, technology, innovation and the commitment of our associates continue to drive Walmart Logistics’ mission of providing Walmart customers and Sam’s Club members an outstanding shopping experience that is not only uniquely tailored to their community, but saves them money so they can live better.

Customers around the world trust Walmart to deliver the products they want at a price they can afford. As part of our commitment to helping people save money so they can live better, our company is committed to Electronic Product Codes, or EPC, as a leading edge technology that helps us improve the shopping experience for Walmart customers and Sam’s Club members.

At Walmart, we listen closely to our customers and members and know they are concerned about privacy issues. That is why we are committed to being transparent about how and why we use EPC technology.

Saving people money to help them live better was the goal that Sam Walton envisioned when he opened the doors to the first Walmart store. Today, more than 40 years later, that commitment is especially meaningful to our customers and we continue to deliver that promise to families. It’s the focus that underlies everything we do at Walmart.

Walmart.com (www.walmart.com) is the online retail outlet of Walmart stores. Our purpose is to help our customers save money and live better by offering them the best values on a large assortment of quality products and services online, while providing an easy, convenient shopping experience at Walmart.com. Walmart.com was launched in Fall 2000, and we are headquartered in Brisbane, Calif. (Northern California’s Silicon Valley).

At Walmart, we know being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment go hand in hand. In 2005, as part of our commitment to protect our nation’s natural resources, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Walmart launched Acres for America, with the goal to permanently protect one acre of important wildlife habitat in the United States for every acre of land developed by Walmart. The program was designed to completely offset the company’s land footprint in the United States. Pledging $35 million over 10 years to the project, Walmart committed to protecting enough land to account for its stores’ current land-use and development through 2015.

At Walmart, we believe that being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. One of our goals is to sell products that sustain our natural resources and the environment. Our Food, Agriculture and Seafood Sustainable Value Network is working with farmers, ranchers and fisheries to provide our customers with access to fresh food at affordable prices. One way we are able to do this is by purchasing more produce from local farmers and purchasing products that are grown and produced by people who use sustainable practices in their businesses.

At Walmart, we believe being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. In an effort to reach Walmart’s larger goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy, our Alternative Fuels Sustainable Value Network is working to incorporate renewable fuels into our retail fuel locations and for use in our fleet of trucks.

At Walmart when we talk about chemicals and the environment, we are talking about ensuring the safety of the products used inside and outside your home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is estimated that more children are injured every year from household chemicals than firearms. As a result, we are taking the initiative to provide products that are safer for mother, child and the environment.

On October 22, 2008 Walmart took the next step in its sustainability journey by hosting an unprecedented gathering of more than 1,000 leading suppliers, Chinese officials and NGOs in Beijing, China and outlined a series of aggressive goals and expectations to build a more environmentally and socially responsible global supply chain.  These efforts and others are helping Walmart follow through on commitments the company made in January about China and our mission of saving people money so they can live better. 

Walmart believes being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. We believe ALL families should have access to affordable, energy-efficient, and sustainable products, like light bulbs that can help reduce utility bills while also helping protect the environment, fruits and vegetables sourced from local farms, fresh seafood caught in a responsible way, clothes made from organic cotton, and forest and paper products that are safe for families, and are produced, packaged and delivered to our stores in an environmentally preferable way.

On September 26, 2007, former Walmart president and CEO, Lee Scott, announced a bold initiative to sell only concentrated liquid laundry detergent at U.S. Walmart stores, Sam’s Club locations and Neighborhood Markets as part of its commitment to sustainability. Transitioning to only concentrated liquid laundry detergent demonstrates Walmart’s unique position to drive change across an entire industry for the benefit of business, customers and the environment. We completed this goal in May 2008 and in 2009, expanded our efforts to bring more sustainable detergents to our Americas region.

At Walmart, we know that being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment go hand-in-hand. One of our goals is to sell products that sustain and protect the environment. Our Electronics Network is working with various organizations, government agencies, suppliers and other interested companies to develop and sell environmentally friendly and energy-efficient electronics. We are also seeking solutions to the growing problem of E-waste (electronic waste) by offering recycling services to our customers.   

Walmart is testing innovative technologies to help double fleet efficiency.

On September 24, 2008, at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, Walmart announced that it would work to reduce the weight of its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013 using a baseline established from January through December 2007. With millions of dollars spent each year purchasing plastic shopping bags and more than 176 million customers visiting our stores each week, reducing the number of plastic shopping bags we give away and increasing the availability and affordability of reusable bags demonstrates Walmart’s unique position to drive change across an entire industry for the benefit of business, customers and the environment. Achieving this goal could reduce plastic bag waste equivalent to 9 billion bags per year from Walmart’s existing stores alone.

At Walmart, we know being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. While we have reduced our energy intensity by sales volume, we recognize the opportunity to further reduce our environmental impact. By making changes to our own operations, we are finding ways to save money on energy and waste and working to reduce our direct carbon footprint. Additionally, we are bringing more sustainable practices into our supply chain to reduce our indirect environmental impact. Our Greenhouse Gas Sustainable Value Network is working to create business advantages from measuring, reducing and eliminating the use of fossil fuels in our stores and supply chain.

At Walmart, we know that being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together. One of our goals is to sell products that sustain and protect the environment. Our Jewelry Network is helping Walmart move toward this goal by working to ensure that our suppliers are adhering to the best environmental standards in all phases of jewelry production.

At Walmart, we know that being an efficient and profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together. Two company-wide goals are to create zero waste and to sell environmentally friendly products.

At Walmart, we believe that being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. One of Walmart’s company-wide sustainability goals is to generate zero-net waste. By offering our customers the option to bring their groceries and purchases home in reusable bags, we are reducing the amount of plastic we use and the amount of waste that ends up in the homes of our customers.

At Walmart, we believe being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. In an effort to reach our goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy, we are finding more ways to implement and utilize renewable energy sources in our stores, Sam’s Club locations and distribution centers.

At Walmart we believe being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. With more than 100,000 suppliers and more than 2 million associates working in 8,000 retail locations worldwide, we have the ability to reach and influence people around the world as we serve our customers and members more than 200 million times each week. Through an approach we call “Sustainability 360,” we are taking a holistic view of our business to develop goals that reduce our own environmental footprint and engage our suppliers, associates and customers in our sustainability efforts to achieve even greater results.

On July 16, 2009, Walmart announced plans to develop a worldwide sustainable product index, which is expected to lead to higher quality, lower costs and measure the sustainability of products and help customers, live better in the 21st century. One of the biggest challenges we all face is measuring the sustainability of a product. Walmart believes a research-driven approach involving universities, retailers, suppliers and non-government organizations (NGOs) can accelerate and broaden this effort.

At Walmart, we believe being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. Two of our company-wide environmental goals are to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy and to create zero waste. To move our company toward these goals, we created the Buildings Sustainable Value Network, which helps design and build more energy- and water-efficient stores and clubs in our U.S. operations.

At Walmart, we know being an efficient and profitable business can go hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. Two company-wide goals at Walmart are to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy and to create zero waste. Our company operates one of the largest private trucking fleets in the U.S. and the U.K. Today, our Logistics Sustainable Value Network (SVN) is working to make our entire truck fleet more efficient and create more sustainable distribution centers.

In 2005, Walmart mapped out environmental goals that would lead the company toward a sustainable future. One of these goals is to provide our customers with products that sustain our resources and protect the environment.

At Walmart we believe being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. One of Walmart’s company-wide sustainability goals is to send zero waste to landfills. To move toward this goal, we focus on the three “Rs” – reduce, reuse and recycle. By keeping these three words in mind, we continue to develop new initiatives that strengthen our business and our ability to deliver on our mission to help customers save money and live better.

At Walmart, we believe being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. In an effort to reach Walmart’s long-term goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy, we are committed to finding more ways to implement and utilize renewable energy sources in our stores, Sam’s Club locations and distribution centers.

At Walmart, we know that being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. Two of our company-wide goals are to sell products that sustain and protect our resources, and to generate zero-net waste. Through the Forest and Paper Network, we aim to reduce wasted paper and packaging from products, achieve transparency of our wood supply chain, and eliminate unwanted wood from our supply chain.