Wal-Mart is going green with "Sustainability 360"

About six years ago, Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott gave his first presentation broadcast to over 1.5 million employees and each of its suppliers. He laid out a detailed summary regarding Wal-Mart's new sustainability initiative to make a positive impact and greatly reduce the impact of the company on the environment in order to become the most competitive and innovative retailer worldwide. Therefore, three very ambitious goals were created. Wal-Mart should

1. be supplied 100% by renewable energy
2. create zero waste
3. sell products that sustain the company's resources and the environment

More sustainability at Wal-Mart

In order to fulfil these goals, Wal-Mart rolled out the "Sustainability 360" program, that includes a clearly defined toolbox for the company itself, for suppliers (around 60.000) and other stakeholders. As one of the main improvements for customers, Wal-Mart is going to introduce a carbon footprint for all of its products. In consequence, each supplier is obliged to provide information in 12 categories concerning the environmental impacts of his product. Wal-Mart will evaluate the figures and set out a company-own eco label. This label allows customers to compare environmental issues in case of buying a product. 

To achieve the goals mentioned above, Wal-Mart spends about $500 million every year since "Sustainability 360" started in 2005. In future, the competitive situation of the retailer will show if this huge amount of upfront costs lead to a business advantage. Hopefully customers will appreciate environmental efforts.