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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has unveiled an environmental plan to boost energy efficiency, cut down on waste and reduce greenhouse gases tied to global warming as part of a wider effort to address issues where it has been pummeled by critics.
Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott said the world's largest retailer wants to be a "good steward for the environment" and ultimately use only renewable energy sources and produce zero waste.
"As one of the largest companies in the world, with an expanding global presence, environmental problems are our problems," Scott said in a transcript, released Tuesday, of a speech he gave Monday to employees titled "21st Century Leadership".
Targets include spending $500 million a year to: increase fuel efficiency in Wal-Mart's truck fleet by 25 percent over three years and doubling it within 10 years; reduce greenhouse gases by 20 percent in seven years; reduce energy use at stores by 30 percent; and cut solid waste from U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs by 25 percent in three years.
He said improving fuel mileage in the trucking fleet by one mile per gallon would save more than $52 million per year. The company also aims to cut energy usage at its stores by 30 percent.
Wal-Mart recently opened an experimental store in McKinney, Texas, to study environmental efforts such as heating the store with used cooking and motor oil. Scott said the savings so far were not enough to cover the cost of building the store, but that it may be economically feasible if Wal-Mart takes advantage of its size and rolls out such changes across the chain.
Scott said the plan was part of goals set after a year of talks with Wal-Mart's employees, suppliers, critics and customers that he said showed many of the issues where the company was on the defensive could be opportunities instead.
Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott said the world's largest retailer wants to be a "good steward for the environment" and ultimately use only renewable energy sources and produce zero waste.
"As one of the largest companies in the world, with an expanding global presence, environmental problems are our problems," Scott said in a transcript, released Tuesday, of a speech he gave Monday to employees titled "21st Century Leadership".
Targets include spending $500 million a year to: increase fuel efficiency in Wal-Mart's truck fleet by 25 percent over three years and doubling it within 10 years; reduce greenhouse gases by 20 percent in seven years; reduce energy use at stores by 30 percent; and cut solid waste from U.S. stores and Sam's Clubs by 25 percent in three years.
He said improving fuel mileage in the trucking fleet by one mile per gallon would save more than $52 million per year. The company also aims to cut energy usage at its stores by 30 percent.
Wal-Mart recently opened an experimental store in McKinney, Texas, to study environmental efforts such as heating the store with used cooking and motor oil. Scott said the savings so far were not enough to cover the cost of building the store, but that it may be economically feasible if Wal-Mart takes advantage of its size and rolls out such changes across the chain.
Scott said the plan was part of goals set after a year of talks with Wal-Mart's employees, suppliers, critics and customers that he said showed many of the issues where the company was on the defensive could be opportunities instead.
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