Walmart grows its commitment to forest conservation

Walmart is updating its forests goals with several global initiatives.

The discount giant, which has pledged to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations by 2040 and is working with suppliers to avoid one gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 via its Project Gigaton program, now plans to source 100%-verified deforestation-free beef (by 2022) and soy (by 2023) from critical landscapes in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Walmart is also expanding efforts in sourcing sustainable palm oil and continuing efforts to source private brand pulp and paper (adding timber) from suppliers using Forest Stewardship Council, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or Sustainable Forestry Initiative certifications, or recycled content.

Walmart says it is on track to meet an existing commitment to use 100% certified palm oil and 100% certified or recycled private-brand paper products by the end of 2020. 

The Walmart Foundation has invested in initiatives such as improvements to the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch tool, a publicly-accessible global platform for monitoring deforestation; and funded the Map Biomas project through a grant to the Institute for Climate and Society to produce more accurate estimations of land use-related greenhouse gas emissions.

And in an effort to work collaboratively to stop forest loss with other retailers, manufacturers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Walmart has joined 16 of the world’s largest manufacturers and retailers as a member of the Consumer Good Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition. Through this effort, Walmart is part of a group of companies taking action to help reduce deforestation and forest degradation from key supply chains and drive transformative change across the industry.

“Healthy societies, resilient economies and thriving businesses rely on nature. Our vision at Walmart is to help transform food and product supply chains to be more regenerative as we work to protect, restore and sustainably use our natural resources,” said Mark Eastham, senior manager, sustainability, Walmart. “As Walmart continues to work with others to prevent deforestation, we have the chance to be part of a change that supports forests – and the people who rely on them – for generations to come.”