Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
12.02.2008 - 12:10pm ET
News from:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Launches Green Jobs Council
Council to Identify Opportunities for Green Job Creation
(CSRwire) BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
(NYSE: WMT) has established a partnership with many of its leading
sustainability suppliers to facilitate the creation of green jobs in the
United States. The Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council is comprised of
representatives from throughout the retailer's divisions, including store
operations, real estate, logistics and sustainability, and representatives
from suppliers across a variety of industries.
"We believe that creating green jobs is essential to keeping the United
States competitive in the global marketplace," said Leslie Dach, executive
vice president of corporate affairs and government relations for Wal-Mart.
"At Wal-Mart we believe that by bringing these companies together and
working collaboratively we can help develop a larger green job workforce
in this country."
As part of its company-wide sustainability goals, Wal-Mart is committed to
being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and
selling environmentally-friendly products. The company is moving toward
these goals by using sustainable sourcing practices including energy
efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy and lifecycle management.
These initiatives are making Wal-Mart a more sustainable company and
helping create a favorable environment for green job creation.
For example, Wal-Mart recently announced its first substantial purchase of
wind energy in the U.S. which will lead to the creation of green jobs in
Texas. The wind power will supply up to 15 percent of the retailers' total
energy load in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities. This is
one example of the dozens of projects Wal-Mart is implementing across its
operations with green job creation potential.
At an inaugural meeting of the Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council, participants
identified their top catalysts for creating green jobs, including
government policies, executive leadership for sustainability programs, and
market drivers such as increased customer demand. Top barriers identified
by the group include a lack of a trained workforce and lack of access to
capital, especially in the current economic environment.
Participants are also working to more clearly define standards for green
jobs and to work collaboratively towards facilitating green job
development. More than 30 suppliers participated in the inaugural meeting,
including large and small companies such as BP Solar, Dematic, General
Electric, HydroPoint Data Systems, Lennox, ReCold, Schneider Electric,
SwissLog, Systecon, Thermastor, and Zurn.
"Wal-Mart's Green Jobs Council is driving collaboration among a variety of
companies that are focused on America's most valuable resource; the
American worker," said Christopher Spain, chairman and chief strategy
officer for HydroPoint, Data Systems in Petaluma, Calif. "To overcome both
rising unemployment and dwindling natural resources, we must invest in our
nation's workforce through the development of jobs that preserve the
environment for generations to come. I believe the goals of the Green Jobs
Council are highly achievable."
Wal-Mart plans to convene its next Green Jobs Council meeting in
Washington, D.C., in early 2009.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club locations in the United States. The
Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and
the United Kingdom and, through a joint venture, in India. The Company's
securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT.
More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartstores.com.
Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.
For more information please contact:
Kory Lundberg
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
1-800-331-0085
News Categories:
Sustainability and Corporate Governance
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