Retailers like Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shops, REI, and even specialty retailers now expect brands to measure and improve their social & environmental performance. Why? Because these retailers have their own sustainability goals they are trying to achieve, such as: Net-Zero by 2050, Zero Waste, and others focused on climate, nature, waste reduction, worker livelihoods, and safer products; and as one of their suppliers, your brand is either helping or hindering them from achieving their sustainability goals.
In my opinion, retailers hold the most influence of how sustainability can be adopted globally because it is a market force that changes how businesses view sustainability. For example, brands who may not have previously considered making a switch to more sustainable packaging, or measuring and reducing their carbon footprint, but are now being asked by their retail customers. In many cases, these retailers are the brand’s largest customer, so unless they can afford to lose their business, it makes sense to help their customers by meeting, and preferably exceeding, their expectations.
What is Project Gigaton?
If you’re a Walmart supplier, your brand can help them achieve their Net-Zero by 2050 climate goals by participating in Walmart’s Project Gigaton. According to Walmart’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Kathleen McLaughlin, “In 2017, Walmart announced a bold ambition to work with our suppliers to reduce, avoid or sequester 1 gigaton — that’s 1 billion metric tons — of greenhouse gas emissions in product value chains by 2030. We called it Project Gigaton. Our merchants and suppliers got to work — project by project, year by year, on practical things like energy efficiency, packaging redesign, food waste reduction and trucking load optimization.”
Walmart successfully achieved their goal to reduce, avoid, or sequester 1 gigaton’s of GHG emissions in 2024, but according to McLaughlin, “we will continue Project Gigaton — because as a society we have a long way to go. Building a net zero emissions future will require a massive transition in our world’s energy and transport systems, materials and infrastructure.“
Why Your Brand Should Become a Giga Guru
Because Walmart is likely one of your brand’s biggest customers, it makes sense that you would want to exceed their sustainability expectations, and guess what? According to Walmart, who has 6,863 suppliers, only 967 have achieved Giga Guru status. That’s only 14% of Walmart suppliers, and reports indicate that in FY2023, suppliers participating in Project Gigaton represented ~75 % of U.S. product net-sales dollars for Walmart! Achieving Giga Guru status can help your brand gain a distinct competitive advantage. Additionally, Walmart features the suppliers that have joined, set GHG emission reduction goals, and demonstrated results through Project Gigaton, so your Walmart is giving brands who achieve Giga Guru status special recognition. Translation? Becoming a Giga Guru can help your brand stay on shelves longer, and strengthen your relationship with one of your biggest customers.
Here’s a short list of why your brand should become a Giga Guru:
- Competitive Advantage: Only 14% of Walmart suppliers have achieved Giga Guru status, and suppliers participating in Project Gigaton represented 75% of U.S. product net-sales dollars in FY2023!
- Reduce Costs: As electricity prices continue to rise you can hedge these costs through energy efficiency, packaging optimization, and waste reduction that are good for your bottom line.
- Strengthen Relationship: Reporting and recognition may help your brand become a preferred supplier, or inclusion in sustainability-focused programs.
- Mitigate Risks: With regulatory and stakeholder pressure increasing globally around GHG emissions disclosure (especially Scope 3), being ahead of the curve is beneficial.
- Protect Revenue: Walmart is working towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, so your brand help protect revenue by ensuring that you are helping Walmart achieve its sustainability goals.
“Emerger Strategies has been vital in helping us exceed our sustainability goals, and I highly recommend them to any company who needs help with retailer sustainability compliance! With Emerger Strategies’ comprehensive approach to sustainability, we have been able to take our reporting to the next level by employing their advanced knowledge, in addition to responding to and improving our scorecards for the annual CDP, THESIS and Project Gigaton reporting cycles.” – Carrie Orr, Sr. Director of Production & Compliance, Blue Sky
How Emerger Strategies Can Help
Don’t Lose Retail Shelf Space Over Sustainability Compliance
Fishing and outdoor brands are facing growing pressure from retailers to report emissions, validate sustainability claims, and meet packaging and regulatory requirements.
If your brand can’t provide clear, defensible sustainability data, the risk is real:
- Lost or delayed purchase orders
- Reduced shelf space
- Margin pressure from non‑compliance
- Increased regulatory exposure
The Retailer Sustainability Compliance System™ is a done‑for‑you solution that helps outdoor brands exceed retailer sustainability expecations, reduce compliance costs, and protect revenue—without hiring a full‑time sustainability team.
Contact us today to schedule a call, or fill out the form below for more information!