International. Supermarket chain Walmart announced it is in the process of removing 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015.
Through its partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, Walmart helped its suppliers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17.4 million metric tons by the end of 2014, compared to the 2010 baseline.
In October 2014, Walmart announced four key pillars linked to its commitment to developing a more sustainable food system: improving food affordability for customers and the environment, increasing access to food, facilitating healthier eating, and improving food safety and transparency.
Walmart launched its Climate Smart Agriculture Platform, which aims to drive improvements in agricultural productivity through the efficient use of fertilizer and water. By the end of 2014, Wal-Mart had established joint agricultural partnerships with 17 suppliers, cooperatives and service providers on 23 million acres of land, with the potential to reduce 11 million metric tons of greenhouse gases by 2020.
In its own operations, Walmart reported a 1% reduction in GHG Scope 2 emissions from energy purchased in 2014, compared to 2013. This is the eighth consecutive year that the retailer has reported a decrease in carbon intensity per unit of sales area and by net sales.
Image: Wikipedia.
