When the world’s largest retailer chose to make environmental leadership a higher priority, Conservation International welcomed the opportunity to work closely with Wal-Mart® on a comprehensive set of initiatives that may eventually change the way the world does business. By incorporating conservation practices into their own operations as well as their merchandise supply chains Wal-Mart has initiated a new standard of corporate responsibility and taken a leadership position on important environmental programs.
Wal-Mart’s commitment to environmental responsibility had its beginnings in a conversation between Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton and CI founder and CEO Peter Seligmann. The discussion took place while the two were in Costa Rica to explore the incredible marine biodiversity and see how the Costa Rican government is showing leadership in protecting that country’s natural resources. It was the start of a close, effective partnership between Wal-Mart and CI that is gaining the attention of consumers and the business world alike.
In 2005, Lee Scott developed three aspirational goals for Wal-Mart:
- To be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy.
- To create zero waste.
- To sell products that sustain our resources and environment.
“As one of the largest companies in the world, with an expanding global presence, environmental problems are OUR problems. The supply of natural products (fish, food, water) can only be sustained if the ecosystems that provide them are sustained and protected. There are not two worlds out there, a Wal-Mart world and some other world.” - Lee Scott, Wal-Mart Chief Executive
Leaving a Smaller Footprint
As the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart is concerned about their overall impact on the planet. In the fall of 2004, CI played a critical role in helping Wal-Mart assess its environmental footprint, assisting the company to develop a sustainability strategy, and identifying high impact actions to achieve environmental solutions.
ACT: Take our short quiz to measure your own environmental footprint
Since then, CI, in partnership with other conservation organizations, has been working with Wal-Mart on achieving environmental improvements in the company’s merchandise supply chains, such as agricultural products, seafood, and jewelry. CI has also worked with Wal-Mart to directly support conservation in key international areas, such as Brazil.
A Groundbreaking Approach to Responsible Jewelry
Wal-Mart partnered with CI to create its first completely traceable jewelry line. Launched in July of 2008, the Love, Earth® jewelry collection marks a major shift in how jewelry is produced.
DOWNLOAD: Read Wal-Mart's Love, Earth Project FAQ
Wal-Mart worked in collaboration with CI to develop a set of environmental and social practices for sourcing the entire line of jewelry and then went out and found producers who met those criteria. In addition, the project includes an online tracking system that for the first time enables customers to trace the stops their purchase made throughout the entire mine to store process.
The introduction of Love, Earth is an effective way to assure Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club customers that their sparkling new purchase has been mined, polished, manufactured and delivered to the store while adhering to the company’s strict environmental criteria.
SEE ALSO: Partnerships for Responsible Mining and Responsible Jewelry Shines Brighter
A Commitment that Reaches to the Forests of Brazil
In a trailblazing initiative, Wal-Mart’s Brazilian operations have partnered with CI to provide funding for a biodiversity conservation project in Brazil’s Amapá National Forest. This $1.5 million, five-year partnership seeks to transform the 414,000 hectares (over 1 million acres) of forest into a model of tropical forestry management and sustainable use of Amazon resources.
The project will focus on three areas: the improvement of forest management; the preparation and implementation of a comprehensive Management Plan; and the elimination of non-sustainable activities through substitution of more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Among other benefits, the program will eventually prevent the release of 458 million tons of carbon, protect 183 million trees, and provide employment, education, and business opportunities to thousands of local people.
Treading Lightly on the Oceans
Wal-Mart’s 2006 commitment to hold its wild-caught fresh and frozen fish suppliers to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards was an effort that CI was eager to support. Wal-Mart and CI collaborated with suppliers, as well as other partner groups such as the World Wildlife Fund, to address the improvements needed to rebuild depleted fisheries. The initiative stresses the importance of looking at fisheries management as part of a larger strategy to protect entire marine ecosystems.
READ MORE: How can companies green their supply chains?
CI was also proud to work with Wal-Mart to ensure the farmed shrimp they purchased was certified by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA). We provided input on the environmental aspects of the GAA standards, and Wal-Mart encouraged the GAA to adopt many of our recommendations, which strengthened the environmental sections of the standards. These criteria were especially important in regard to the protection of coastal wetlands.
A Leadership Role
Wal-Mart’s interest in sound environmental practices isn’t limited to their own businesses. They’re also a member of CI’s Business and Biodiversity Council, a community of companies committed to leveraging their business experience and resources to conserve biodiversity.
By initiating and executing these impressive and important sustainability and conservation programs and policies, Wal-Mart is making important strides in corporate environmental responsibility.
Want to trace a piece of Love, Earth jewelry from mine to market?
Go to http://www.loveearthinfo.com/, find the “Trace it from Mine to Market” box and enter: SMPM88.