Walmart sustainability

Walmart has jumped in the wagon!

Environmental issues regarding big retail stores that create a lot of waste has caused a lot of controversy. Despite this, wal-mart moves forward not only to satisfy its customers but also to work hand-in-hand with the environment. A profitable business is more than enough but Wal-mart does not stop there. Wal-mart helps in decreasing waste and pollution through simple yet clear-cut goals.

First with energy efficiency, then to create zero waste management, and last is to sell products that sustain our resources and our environment. Organic cotton seems to be all the rage for many environmentally conscious consumers. Conventional cotton farming requires millions of pounds of pesticides, which damage our environment. The procedure of conventional cotton farming has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds and has a huge impact on the water supply used by both wildlife and humans. Not only are the animals at risk, we are too.

Over fishing creates problems for local fishermen. To help with this problem, Wal-mart plans to purchase all of its fresh fishes from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries. MSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting solutions to the problem of over-fishing. It also carries a distinctive blue eco-label to let the customers know that the fishes that they are buying were produced in a sustainable way.

Retail stores like Wal-mart consume a lot of energy. Wal-mart plans to decrease the percentage of the energy used in their stores by 30 percent. Energy efficiency not only reduces reliance on oil, it also saves money. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is also an effect of energy efficiency. Wal-mart sees the need to help the environment and their customers through this way because it not only benefits the environment by balancing the climate system; it also saves money for the consumers. Reducing waste is one of the leading problems in the world. The use of materials that are not recyclable produces great hazards for the environment. Wal-mart has plans of helping the world with cost effective plans. Wal-mart aims to lessen if not completely put away dumpsters in all Walmart outlets. They are also trying to avoid filling landfills with Wal-mart products.

The main cause of waste in this business is the packaging. Wal mart has addressed their suppliers to lessen the package size and if the use of packaging is needed, recyclable and renewable materials must be used. More that 3,000 trees will be saved in the process.

Walmart has also incorporated the value of recycling in children through “Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge,” a program where elementary school students from California are taught to be responsible. Through this course, the children are educated on how they can help the environment in their own way through recycling.

Also, Walmart has integrated the use of hybrid cars since June, 2003. Hybrid vehicles lessen gasoline consumption; these vehicles are also environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional automobiles.

Regardless of the overwhelming pressure to look good in the community, Wal-mart has faced all challenges and is now working hard for the safety of their customers and for the good of the environment.