Walmart announces effort to reduce harmful emissions

BENTONVILLE, Ark. In a special press conference held on Feb. 25, Walmart CEO Mike Duke announced a number of initiatives designed to reduce his company's impact on the environment.

"Today we’re announcing an aggressive new goal to eliminate 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the life cycle of the products we sell around the world by 2015," said Duke.

According to Duke, this number represents one and a half times Walmart's carbon growth over the next five years. The effort to reduce emissions will be done in partnership with the company's suppliers, Duke added.   

Walmart collaborated with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to develop this approach that looks at the supply chain on a global scale, the company reported. Other external advisers include PricewaterhouseCoopers, ClearCarbon, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the Applied Sustainability Center (ASC) at the University of Arkansas. This team will identify projects, quantify reductions, engage suppliers and ensure proper procedures are followed for each GHG reduction claim.

Duke also addressed the U.S.'s current energy situation, saying that "America needs comprehensive legislative policy that addresses energy, energy security, the country’s competitiveness and reducing pollution."