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The partnership will allow Wal-Mart to measure the amount of energy used throughout
its supply chain. It will then use the information to look at a group of suppliers to examine
ways to make procurement, manufacturing, and distribution more energy efficient.
Wal-Mart started its plan with a pilot group of seven of the most commonly purchased
products:

• DVDs
• Toothpaste
• Soap
• Milk
• Beer
• Vacuum cleaners
• Soda

Suppliers are encouraged to monitor their greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping Wal-
Mart reduce its total carbon footprint.

Experimental Stores
In 2005, Wal-Mart opened so-called “experimental” stores in McKinney, Texas and Aurora,
Colorado. It did so in an effort to measure the benefits of implementing sustainable practices
into Wal-Mart stores across the nation.
The experimental stores were built with recycled materials and employ energy-saving
technologies. Over a 3-year period, independent labs will continue to monitor the progress
of these experiments.

Skylights bring natural light PART IV
into the stores.
Food waste is composted,
which customers can buy.

Some heating is
accomplished with used
cooking oil and motor oil.

Pervious pavement allows
rainwater to percolate into Waterless urinals reduce
the ground naturally. water usage.

Initiatives taken at Wal-Mart’s experimental stores