Retailing | 3:30 March 01, 2010 | Pete Dodd | Print this story

Wal-mart aims to slash carbon emissions

US discount retailer Wal-Mart plans to cut 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses from its global supply chain by 2015, the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars a year off the road, the company said.

Working closely with its 100,000 suppliers, Wal-Mart said it will target products with the highest level of associated carbon emissions and examine how they are sourced, manufactured, packaged and transported. Independent consultancy ClearCarbon will monitor results.

Wal-Mart president and CEO Mike Duke said energy efficiency and carbon reduction were central issues today. “We’ve been working to make a difference in these areas, both in our own footprint and our supply chain. We know that we have an opportunity to do more and the capacity to do more,” he said.

Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defence Fund, which helps organisations cut emissions, said Wal-Mart’s efforts would transform its global supply chain.