Walmart Global Responsibility Report Message From CEO Doug McMillon

This year marks 25 years since then-President George H. W. Bush awarded our founder, Sam Walton, the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Bush came to Bentonville, Arkansas that March day to present the award. And while he spoke about Sam’s business success, he focused most of his remarks on the personal qualities that set Sam apart from his peers: his determination, his decency and the good Walmart does in communities. As he accepted the award, Sam said that if we work together we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better life.

That purpose still motivates us. We love making our customers’ lives easier—saving them money and making shopping simple and convenient. Helping people live better also means supporting our associates and serving our communities, and doing the right thing every day. At the end of the day, it comes down to trust.

Earning trust means selling quality products at low prices and giving back to communities. But it goes even deeper than that. All over the world, we’re seeing that customers are increasingly aware of the products they are buying and their impact on the world. They have less time to research the products they buy—yet they care even more about how they are sourced. They’ll choose to shop with retailers who provide that transparency so they can feel good about the items they purchase. They expect us to use our strength to make a difference on environmental and social issues.

That is our expectation too. We believe we can deliver for our customers at the same time we create what Dr. Michael Porter from Harvard Business School calls “shared value” for our business and society. In 2005, we set three aspirational goals: to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, create zero waste and sell products that sustain people and the environment.

Click here to view the complete message & experience the Walmart Global Responsibility Report 2017