Press Release - Walmart
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ABOUT Walmart
At Walmart, we believe that being a profitable and efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment. Since October 2005, Walmart has been guided by three sustainability goals for the company: (1) to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy; (2) to create zero waste; and (3) to sell products that sustain the environment. These aspirational goals challenge us to take a comprehensive approach to our business to affect change within, and beyond, the four walls of our company.
Today, our sustainability efforts have broadened and accelerated. As we broaden our efforts, we are working to reduce our environmental footprint globally and bring sustainable solutions to our more than 100,000 suppliers, 2 million associates and 200 million customers. We are working with our suppliers to make their products more sustainable, but we are also helping them become more sustainable businesses in their own right. Whether it is to improve our own operations or to provide our customers with environmentally friendly products at low prices, sustainability is integrated into everything we do. It is a natural fit into our companys commitment to helping people save money so they can live better.
To keep us on track, and to ensure were advancing meaningful change, weve created several benchmarks and timelines to measure our progress. These initiatives are aligned under our three aspirational goals, and just some of them include:
Doubling the efficiency of our truck fleet by 2015. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at existing stores, clubs and distribution centers by 20 percent by 2012. Reducing global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013. Reducing packaging across our global supply chain by 5 percent by 2013. Making the most energy-intensive products on our shelves 25 percent more efficient by 2011. Expand the success of Walmart Chinas Direct Farm Program by engaging as many as 1 million farmers by 2011.Overall, sustainability at Walmart is about doing better for our customers, our associates, our suppliers and our planet--and doing it together.
Sam's Club Introduces New Fair Trade Certified Coffee from Brazil
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(Justmeans.com / CSR News) - Em Português Brazilian coffee farmers link with mass market coffee consumers BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 18, 2009 – Today, Walmart, TransFair USA, SEBRAE-Minas Gerais and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that a new Fair Trade Certified coffee from Brazil will be sold to Sam’s Club members across the country. The two new Fair Trade Certified™ Member’s Mark coffee options will be available in more than 600 Sam’s Club locations in the United States. These new products are part of the innovative Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project that links Brazilian coffee farmers with mass market coffee consumers in the United States through Fair Trade certification. “We are excited to be expanding our offering of high quality Fair Trade Certified coffee at clubs throughout the U.S.,” said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president of Merchandising, Sam's Club. “This partnership falls in line with the company's mission of providing opportunity in communities around the world, as nearly 30,000 Brazilian producer family members are being positively impacted.” Through the Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project, Brazilian producers and their families receive increased employment opportunities, expanded access to new domestic and international markets, increased use of environmentally-sound production methods, and, in turn, improvements in their quality of life. Partner cooperatives are located in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo. Jeffery Bell, director of USAID/Brazil, said, “USAID believes that public-private partnerships are the most effective mechanism to respond to global challenges. The Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project is a successful alliance that combines our complementary assets to promote sustainability, expand social and economic opportunities within the Brazilian coffee value chain.” The project aims to expand and improve the quality of Fair Trade Certified coffee supply through investments in infrastructure, technical assistance with production and post-harvest processing, as well as training in coffee quality management. These investments will result in increased producer capacity through organizational strengthening including financial management operations and marketing. The partnership also raises the marketing capacity of Brazilian coffee growers to improve the reputation of Brazilian coffee, raises awareness of Fair Trade impact and empowers producers in the marketplace. Paul Rice, TransFair USA president and CEO, said, “Sam’s Club is an innovative partner in offering high-quality Fair Trade Certified coffee in a manner that both expands the marketplace and delivers value back down the supply chain to the farmer. A year from now we will be able to trace Member's Mark coffee sales directly to improved environmental management at Fair Trade coffee farms and higher quality of life in farming communities.” In 2008, imports of Fair Trade Certified coffee grew more than 30 percent. Fair Trade is a market-based approach to sustainable development, seeking to empower millions of disadvantaged producers worldwide while protecting the environment for future generations. Fair Trade empowers U.S. consumers to make a difference in the world simply by adjusting their shopping list. The dramatic growth of Fair Trade products proves that consumers are voting for a better world with their purchases, demanding sustainable, ethically-sourced goods. Roberto Simões, SEBRAE Minas Gerais president, said, “The Fair Trade program is in line with the purpose of SEBRAE's activity to increase business and promote Small and Medium Enterprises with social, environmental and economic sustainability. We support entrepreneurship and cooperation, and the program matches with our intention of helping local producers access international markets." Sam’s Club also sells Fair Trade Certified bananas, dried fruit and wine, among other products. About USAID/Brazil About Walmart About TransFair USA About SEBRAE # # # Ed. Note: Walmart is the legal trade name of the corporation. The name "Walmart," expressed as one word and without punctuation, is a trademark of the company and is used analogously to describe the company and its stores. Use the trade name when it is necessary to identify the legal entity, such as when reporting financial results, litigation or corporate governance. |
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