Sustainability and Walmart CEO McMillon take center stage

An estimated 3,000 suppliers and Walmart’s top executives are scheduled to participate in the retailers Product Sustainability Expo to be held from April 29 through May 1.

Promotional materials for the event, to be held at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark., describe it as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate amazing advances in sustainability and to discover emerging opportunities and innovations that represent a new standard in retail.

“It has been almost five years since we announced our intention to set a new retail standard for the 21st century through the development of a Sustainability Index,” according to an invitation sent to suppliers. “Since then, we have been ‘building sustainability into the nuts and bolts of what we do as a retailer — buying and selling merchandise,'” according to Duncan Mac Naughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising and marketing officer.

Plans call for key business leaders to address sustainability priorities, recognize key partnerships and discuss challenges that require attention. Also on tap at the event is a presentation by Walmart’s new president and CEO Doug McMillon who is making his first address at the event since assuming leadership of the company last month.