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• Waste created through the construction of the stores was recycled. At Aurora,
approximately 50 percent of materials were diverted from the landfill. McKinney
diverted 10 percent from the landfill.

Products
At its heart, Wal-Mart is, after all, a retailer. Although it’s nice that the company has
installed pervious parking lots and waterless urinals in some locations, it’s only part of the
story. To address what’s going on inside the stores—specifically what’s on its stores’
shelves—Wal-Mart has set some goals there too.
Its plans range from altering the types of packaging used, to only stocking certain types
of products. This includes the following:
• Stocking sustainable products, such as organic fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood,
clothes made from organic cotton, and household products that are safe for families.
• Selling only concentrated liquid laundry detergent in all of its U.S. stores and Sam’s
Clubs by May 2008.

NOTE The commitment is expected to save more than 400 million gallons of water, more than
95 million pounds of plastic resin, and more than 125 million pounds of cardboard. For water
alone, this is the equivalent of 100 million individual showers.

• Reaching its goal to sell 100 million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), a full
3 months ahead of schedule.
• Selling reusable bags in all its discount stores, Supercenters, and Neighborhood
Markets for $1 each.
• Working with suppliers to develop “Extended Roll Life” products, which eliminate
plastic wrapping from individual toilet paper or paper towel rolls by selling them as PART IV
a multiple unit package.

NOTE By selling twice as many “Extended Roll Life” Charmin 6 Mega Roll packs, the company can
ship 42 percent more units on its trucks, eliminate 89.5 million cardboard roll cores, eliminate
360,087 pounds of plastic wrapping, and reduce its diesel consumption by 53,966 gallons.
• Ensuring that its imported shrimp are farmed with environmental sustainability in
mind. Wal-Mart partnered with the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and
Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc. (ACC) to certify that all foreign shrimp
suppliers adhere to Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards.

Waste Reduction
Go behind any store, and you’ll see at least one dumpster, filled to the brim with trash and
refuse. Several years ago, progress was made in that a separate dumpster was set out for
shipping containers, cardboard boxes, and other recyclables. As utilitarian as that is, it’s not
enough for Wal-Mart. The company doesn’t want there to be any dumpsters at its stores,
and no sign of Wal-Mart in any landfills.