Walmart | Priorities, Programs and Initiatives
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 2016 Global Responsibility Report
Enhancing Economic Opportunity
As a large global retailer, Walmart is working with others to use our strengths – our jobs, our purchase orders, our company voice, the convening power of our brand and our philanthropic investments – to create a more inclusive economic system that increases workforce mobility and economic growth in countries around the world. We have two main programs:
- Economic mobility - We aim to enhance economic mobility and inclusion of associates, retail and adjacent sector workers beyond Walmart, and workers in supply chains. Key initiatives include Associate Opportunity, Retail Opportunity, Women’s Economic Empowerment and U.S. Veterans.
- Business development - We aim to promote inclusive development of suppliers and other businesses, through initiatives such as Women’s Economic Empowerment, Supplier Diversity, Local Manufacturing and Small Business.
Enhancing Sustainability of Global Supply Chains
Walmart collaborates with suppliers, customers, nonprofit organizations and others to enhance the environmental and social sustainability of global supply chains. We are bringing our relevant strengths to bear, including customer and supplier relationships, purchase orders, philanthropy, our voice, physical assets and capabilities in sourcing, logistics, technology, operations and marketing, to name a few, to reshape systems for the better. We have six main programs:
- Energy and emissions - We aim to reduce the energy intensity and emissions in our operations and work with others to reduce emissions across supply chains. Key initiatives include Walmart Energy Efficiency/Renewables and Supply Chain Emissions Reduction.
- Zero waste - We aim to eliminate waste in our own operations as well as support waste reduction initiatives in the supply chain. Key initiatives include Waste Reduction (food and other materials streams, in and through Walmart operations), Product Design/Packaging and Recycling Education/Infrastructure.
- Natural resources - We aim to preserve natural resources that are vulnerable to global consumption growth through collective action in Deforestation (focusing on palm oil, soy, beef and paper), Water and Land Conservation.
- Sustainable food system - We aim to help the world feed a growing population by creating a more accessible, affordable, sustainable and healthy food system. Key initiatives include Food Access, Hunger Relief, Nutrition, Food Waste Reduction and Sustainable Food Production.
- Transparency and quality - We aim to promote transparency and quality in products we sell, through initiatives in Food/Product Safety, Sustainable Chemistry and Animal Welfare.
- Worker dignity - We aim to support the safety and dignity of workers in supply chains, through Responsible Sourcing and Compliance initiatives.
Strengthening Local Communities
We use our strengths to serve local communities in ways that go beyond our retail mission, in the face of disaster as well as day to day through the engagement of our 2.3 million associates in 10,000 communities worldwide. Key programs include:
- Disaster response and preparedness - We aim to enhance disaster resilience through initiatives that enhance the speed and focus of disaster response as well as increase community disaster preparedness.
- Community development - We aim to enhance the quality of life in communities through initiatives in Associate Engagement (in giving and volunteerism), Community Investment and Associate Support (through support for scholarships and crisis funds).
