In today’s marketplace, sustainability isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have, especially for brands looking to partner with big-box retailers like Walmart. With increasing pressure from consumers and regulators, Walmart has been at the forefront of integrating sustainability into its supply chain, that started with its Supplier Sustainability Assessment, which as created in 2009.
Walmart’s 2009 Sustainability Goals were: “Walmart is committed to working with its suppliers, associates, customers and communities to achieve three aspirational goals: To produce Zero Waste, to be supplied with 100% Renewable Energy, and to sell Sustainable Products.” I bring these goals to your attention because Walmart’s sustainability goals have matured over the last fifteen years so if your brand is not doing what Walmart asked of its suppliers in 2009, you have some catching up to do.
Today, Walmart’s Sustainability Goals are:
- Zero Emissions across global operations by 2040
- Facilities powered with 100% renewable energy by 2035
- Zeroing out emissions from all of our vehicles, including long-haul trucks, by 2040.
- Transitioning to low-impact refrigerants for cooling and electrified equipment for heating in our stores, clubs, data centers and distribution centers by 2040.
- Working with suppliers to avoid 1 Gigaton of emissions by 2030.
- Protect, manage, or restore 50 million acres of land by 2030.
- Protect, manage, or restore 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030.
- Zero Waste operations in key markets.
- 100% recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable private-brand packaging by 2025.
- Achieve a 15% absolute reduction in total virgin plastic use by 2025.
- Make responsible recruitment the standard by 2026.
As demonstrated here, Walmart’s sustainability journey has continued to evolve, but the overarching goals here are related to greenhouse gas emissions, waste, nature, and people. If you are a brand, you should be asking yourself, how can we help Walmart achieve their sustainability goals? For example, if you can eliminate some of your packaging, you could be helping Walmart achieve their zero waste operations goal. If you aren’t already, you should also be asking yourself, how does our product make it easier for our customers to live healthier, and more sustainable lifestyles? Sticking with the packaging example, if you eliminate plastic packaging, and opt for a 100% fiber-based, curbside recyclable option, you could help your customers reduce the amount of plastic waste they are sending to the landfill. Doing so would also help your brand avoid fines and penalties from the growing number of EPR laws starting to take effect in the near future.
All of this is to say, big box retailers like Walmart, Target, Walgreen’s, and REI are asking their suppliers to measure and improve there sustainability performance, so brands who hope to earn shelf space at big box retailers should be able to answer the following 15 essential questions from Walmart’s 2009 Sustainability Assessment at a minimum:
Energy & Climate: Reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions
1. Have you measured and taken steps to reduce your corporate greenhouse gas emissions (Y/N)
2. Have you opted to report your greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategy to the
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)? (Y/N)
3. What are your total annual greenhouse gas emissions in the most recent year measured?
4. Have you set publicly available greenhouse gas reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
Material Efficiency: Reduce waste and enhance quality
5. If measured, please report total amount of solid waste generated from the facilities that produce
your product(s) for Walmart for the most recent year measured. (Enter total lbs)
6. Have you set publicly available solid waste reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
(Enter total lbs and target date)
7. If measured, please report total water use from the facilities that produce your product(s) for
Walmart for the most recent year measured. (Enter total gallons)
8. Have you set publically available water use reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
(Enter total gallons and target date)
Nature & Resources: High quality, responsibly sourced
raw materials
9. Have you established publicly available sustainability purchasing guidelines for your direct
suppliers that address issues such as environmental compliance, employment practices, and
product/ingredient safety? (Y/N)
10. Have you obtained 3rd party certifications for any of the products that you sell to Walmart?
People & Community: Vibrant, productive workplaces
and communities
11. Do you know the location of 100% of the facilities that produce your product(s)? (Y/N)
12. Before beginning a business relationship with a manufacturing facility, do you evaluate their
quality of production and capacity for production? (Y/N)
13. Do you have a process for managing social compliance at the manufacturing level? (Y/N)
14. Do you work with your supply base to resolve issues found during social compliance
evaluations and also document specific corrections and improvements? (Y/N)
15. Do you invest in community development activities in the markets you source from and/or
operate within? (Y/N)
Why This Matters
Successfully answering these questions isn’t just about compliance—it’s about aligning your brand with Walmart’s sustainability goals and proving your long-term viability as a supplier. Moreover, these efforts can reduce costs, enhance reputation, and build trust with environmentally and socially conscious consumers. If you are a smaller brand that has hopes of one day being on the shelves or Walmart, Target, REI, etc., then you could also gain a unique competitive advantage by having a strong sustainability program already in place. Finally, as sustainability becomes increasingly regulated, you are also mitigating risks by measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, taking ownership of your packaging, and ensuring that your products are PFAS-free.
How Emerger Strategies Can Help
At Emerger Strategies, we specialize in helping brands like yours simplify sustainability. From GHG accounting to sustainability assessments, we empower companies to meet Walmart’s expectations while making the business case for sustainability. We have successfully helped our clients exceed Walmart’s current sustainability requirements. Check out our Retailer Sustainability Compliance services for more information.
Let us help you position your brand as a leader in sustainable business practices. Reach out today to learn how we can guide you through Walmart’s sustainability requirements, and help you make the business case for sustainability!
