Environment, diversity top issues for Wal-Mart

BENTONVILLE, Ark. Wal-Mart this week released a report outlining its progress toward being more sustainable. The comprehensive report detailed the company’s efforts to be more environmentally conscious, improve health care for its customers and associates, and to become more diverse.

“We know, as the world’s largest retailer, that people have high expectations of Wal-Mart, and that we have unique opportunities and a responsibility to our communities, our customers and our associates. One of our biggest opportunities – for the future of our business and of the world – is to become a more sustainable company,” said Wal-Mart president and ceo Lee Scott in an introductory letter to the report.

According to Scott, Wal-Mart has taken steps to become more energy efficient with the launch of its solar power pilot project and by improving fuel efficiency on its trucks. In addition, Scott said the company has made progress in achieving its goal of a 5% production in packaging.

In terms of health care, Scott said the company is offering associates a greater variety of health plans and that more than 90% of them report having coverage. Wal-Mart has also formed the Better Health Care Together coalition, Scott said, to help spur the conversation on health care reform in America.

Scott outlined the company’s diversity initiatives, which include the launch of the “Senioras de Atendimiento” program in Brazil and the Gender Equity Model in Mexico. In addition, Scott said that Wal-Mart is voluntarily sharing the annual report it provides to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.