Walmart aims to achieve “zero emissions” by 2040

Global retailer Walmart is “striving to power 100%” of its global operations with renewable sources of energy by 2035 as it aims to achieve “zero emissions across global operations by 2040.”

To achieve this lofty goal in July this year Walmart made a commitment to purchase 4,500 all-electric delivery vehicles to deliver online orders with “zero emissions.” Notably in 2021, an estimated 46% of Walmart’s global electricity needs were supplied by renewable sources.

“At Walmart, regeneration means having a lasting, net-positive impact on people and the planet through our products, services and business practices. We aim to do this by renewing, restoring and replenishing our social and environmental systems, pursuing more sustainable practices, strengthening communities, generating economic opportunity and conducting ourselves with ethics and integrity. As a critical part of this journey, our sustainability efforts are designed to drive regenerative practices in agriculture, forest and fisheries management; eliminate waste along the product supply chain; decarbonise our operations and promote the dignity of people in our supply chain,” stated Jane Ewing, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Walmart.

For example, “through Project Gigaton – Walmart’s initiative to reduce or avoid one billion metric tons of emission from the global value chain by 2030 – we are engaging over 4,500 suppliers on taking measurable action across climate, nature and waste. This year, we crossed the halfway mark towards our goal with suppliers reporting more than 574 million metric tons of emissions reduced or avoided globally,” Ewing added.