Walmart Announces Sustainability Advances

Walmart unveiled its achievements with the Sustainability Index, a system for measuring the environmental impact of products, during the company’s 2013 Global Sustainability Milestone Meeting. Data from the index revealed the retailer has been collaborating with suppliers, nonprofit groups, industry experts, and government to create and implement solutions that address problem areas and opportunities across its supply chain worldwide. Initiatives include increasing the use of recycled materials and reducing waste sent to landfills. In January 2014, the company will start labeling private-label cleaning products according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment Safer Product Labeling program. Also, the retail plans to expand the sustainability index to international markets and require suppliers to reduce fertilizer use in agriculture.