Dubbed “Project Gigaton,” the initiative was unveiled at the retail giant’s annual sustainability summit, along with an “emissions reduction toolkit” that will be available to suppliers and any other businesses who would like to join the project. The aim of the project is to slash one gigaton of GHG emissions by the year 2030.
CNBC is reporting that Walmart says that removing one gigaton of GHG emissions is equivalent to “removing 211 million passenger vehicles off U.S. roads and highways for one year.”
At the launch of the project on Wednesday, Laura Phillips, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president for sustainability, said, “Through the years, we’ve seen that integrating sustainable practices into our operations improves business performance, spurs technological innovation, inspires brand loyalty, and boosts employee engagement.”
But this latest initiative by a corporate giant is but one of the sustainability goals Walmart is working to achieve. Walmart has also set a goal of being supplied with 100 percent renewable energy, as well as achieving zero waste across its operations globally.
Walmart is also a member of RE100, an organization made up of some of the world’s biggest businesses, all committed to renewable energy. And you may be surprised at some of the familiar names in the group, like IKEA, Bank of America, AstraZenaca, Apple, Google and the BMW Group, to name just a few.
Walmart’s Project Gigaton, and all the suppliers that have already joined in the initiative, get a big Green Thumbs Up from Digital Journal for taking the lead in bringing the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and the harm they are causing to the environment to the public’s attention.
In related news, the Dairy farmers of America (DFA), joined the project. David Darr, President, Farm Services at DFA had this to say: “We are excited to work with Walmart toward their sustainability goals, and aligned with their vision. Our farmer members have a strong track record of progress and stewardship and are excited to continue this journey as technology evolves in this area.”
Kees Kruythoff, President, Unilever North America said, “We congratulate Walmart on using the power of collective action to tackle carbon reduction and climate change. We will continue to support Walmart’s efforts in reducing one gigaton of carbon through initiatives like our Sustainable Agriculture commitment.”
Project Gigaton has been welcomed by environmentalists and people across the nation that believe the science-backed truths about global warming. Businesses and corporations have shown a leadership role in fostering sustainability in our environment, and the initiative is a “testament to the transformative impact that leaders of industry can have on our greatest common challenges,” Carter Roberts, president, and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement.
