Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 4/30/14
 
Walmart and CEOs from more than a dozen of its suppliers have signed commitments to boost the sustainability of the products Walmart sells, from more “sustainable” agriculture practices and recycling, the global retailer said in a news release.

The pledges are part of what Walmart is calling its Sustainable Product Expo, a three-day collaboration to expand the availability of products that “sustain people and the environment. “

The participating suppliers include eight food companies whose efforts are projected to “bring 8 million acres of farmland into sustainable agriculture programs and eliminate 6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs),” the release said. Additionally, companies joined with Walmart and the Walmart Foundation in a recycling initiative called the Closed Loop Fund, with the goal of making recycling available to all Americans.

Participating executives include Kees Kruythoff, president, North America for Unilever; Denise Morrison, president and CEO, Campbell Soup Co.; and Greg Page, executive chairman of the board, Cargill. The Walmart group also includes Carter Roberts, CEO of the World Wildlife Fund, one of the founding organizations — along with Cargill — of the Global Roundtable on Sustainable Beef.

Working with Cargill, Walmart is developing a small-scale pilot program focused on investigating the best ways to communicate information about farm-to-fork sustainability to consumers. This is part of Walmart’s goal to source 15 percent of its beef supply with environmental criteria by 2023, according to the release.

Sustainability store
Walmart also unveiled plans for a “sustainability store” on walmart.com. The shopping portal will allow customers to easily identify brands that are making efforts to lead sustainability within a category by identifying them with a special icon. The portal is expected to be in place online by the end of the calendar year.

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