Since 2005, Walmart has integrated sustainability into its corporate development strategy. In 2020, Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart Inc., announced that Walmart had set itself on a path toward becoming a regenerative company. Walmart was to double down on addressing the growing climate crisis by targeting zero emissions across the company’s global operations by 2040. Walmart and Walmart Foundation committed to help protect, manage or restore at least 50 million acres of land and one million square miles of ocean by 2030 to help combat the cascading loss of nature threatening the planet.

In China, Walmart is committed to integrating sustainability into all aspects of our operations and supply chain, and encouraging consumers to shop in an environmentally friendly way. 

In China, Walmart sets green operations objectives into all parts of management. Walmart hypermarket stores and Sam’s Clubs across China save energy and reduce emissions in six aspects.

1. Digitalized and Intelligent Management

Stores are equipped with intelligent tools to monitor and control energy use, leading to energy savings. Stores have undergone range hood frequency conversion retrofit, and upgraded lighting control systems and the adjustment capacity of automatically controlled air conditioning systems.

2. Energy Saving Improvements

Walmart uses effective and low-energy equipment and products, including upgraded refrigeration systems, R448A environmentally friendly refrigerants, enhanced magnetic levitation water chillers, and improved LED high bay lights to enhance energy efficiency.

3. Clean Energy

Walmart continues to use solar photovoltaic power generation and clean energy to support green energy development.

• Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Rooftop solar photovoltaic systems have been implemented in Shanghai Pudong Sam’s Club, Walmart Shanghai Nanpu Bridge Store, Dalian Xianglujiao Sam’s Club, and the distribution center in Pingshan, Shenzhen. As of June 2022, the systems had generated3.8 million kilowatt hours, reducing over 3,780 tons of carbon emissions.

4. Low Carbon Energy Savings in Day-to-Day Operations

Every year, Walmart runs training and awareness campaign on energy saving, encouraging associates to appropriately use and save energy.

5. Enhancing Store Waste Conversion

Walmart continues to recycle waste including cardboard boxes, stretch film, hard plastic in large quantities.

6. Reducing Food Loss and Waste

In July 2021, All Walmart hypermarkets and Sam’s Club launched “surplus food donations” to serve the community, reduce food waste, and reduce potential carbon emissions resulting from food destruction.

In 2022, Walmart China expanded its collaboration with Shanghai Oasis Public Service Development Center to build a recurring food donation network across China. Walmart China took the lead in exploring a standardized, operable and replicable model of surplus food donations by a hypermarket or supermarket retailer. “Walmart China’s Community Food Bank” will gradually branch out to all outlets in China, becoming a forerunner in the retail industry to build a nationwide surplus food donations network.

In addition, Walmart China announced its strategic partnership with China Chain Store and Franchise Association in the “Surplus Food Donation Pioneering Program”. The collaboration aims to promote food reduction by the retail industry, and contributes to constructive solutions for surplus food donations by retail chain stores and franchises in China.

In August 2023, to further advance actions to reduce food loss, Walmart China upgraded the program with CCFA to launch the Cherishing Food – Joint Action to Reduce Food Waste Project. The project aimed to encourage companies in retail, food and other related industries to work together to reduce waste in food and raw materials, and recycle food waste. Such efforts would have an impact that extends from retail to upstream supply chain to further reduce food waste. Mengniu Group, Mondelēz China, PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, OATLY, and SGT Food were the initial members of the joint initiative.

• Project Gigaton

Walmart Suppliers Lead the Change, Help Deliver Project Gigaton Goal More Than Six Years Early

In 2017, Walmart Inc. announced the launch of “Project Gigaton”, aiming to reduce or avoid one billion metric tons (a gigaton) of greenhouse gases from the global value chain by 2030. Through Project Gigaton, our suppliers have now reported actions that are expected to reduce, avoid or sequester over ONE GIGATON of CO₂e emissions—helping us reach our goals six years early! 

A big thank you to all suppiers who have made contribution to hitting this initial Project Gigaton goal.

Celebrate your success:

• If you have achieved Giga Guru or Sparking Change status, you will find your company's name and logo on the public recognition page.

Although we have achieved our 1 gigaton goal, we will continue Project Gigaton—because as a society we have a long way to go. Building a net zero emissions future will require a massive transition in our world's energy and transport systems, materials and infrastructure. We continue to invite our suppliers to participate in Project Gigaton to build a resilient supply chain together. 

•  6 Pillars for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

We sincerely invite our suppliers to participate in “Project Gigaton” to build a greener supply chain with us.

How to Participate

1.     Create a Sustainability Portal account and sign up for “Project Gigaton”.

Visit Walmart Sustainability Hub, and sign in using your Retail Link account to join.

2.     Set your SMART emission reduction goals.

Work within your organization to set an emissions reduction goal; all goals should be SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time Limited.

3.     Report your impact each year through the annual survey questions and get recognition for your progress.

Report your progress through“Emissions Calculators” each reporting season (approximately September to November).

4.     Official Recognition by Walmart

Companies achieving the following recognition status are recognized on the public recognition page by Walmart to demonstrate their emission reduction achievements.

ü  Giga Guru

ü  Sparking Change

In 2023, Walmart announced that we were raising the bar for Giga Guru and asking suppliers to share carbon footprint in Project Gigaton in September. We are here to help and are excited to share three new tailor-made learning opportunities on Carbon Footprint Calculation to help you identify where to start or how to accelerate your climate journey.

Lesson 1: Getting started on estimating your carbon footprint

Lesson 2: From estimating emissions to accelerating action

Lesson 3: Climate action for companies with 500 employees or less – Introduction to to the SME Clime Hub

• Scale up Sustainable Merchandising

Sam’s Club supports Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable seafood and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP). In 2017, Sam’s Club was the first retailer piloting MSC certified sustainable seafood traceability system in China. In 2018, Sam’s Club launched its sustainable seafood strategy. In 2019, Sam’s Club extended the focus from seafood to the impact thatplastic makes on the ocean, and continued to expand the merchandise representation of sustainable seafood. As of May 2022, approximately 70% of frozen seafood products under Sam’s Club private brand “Member’s Mark” were MSC、BAP and ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) certified.