Challenge:

Walmart Canada, as well as all global Walmart operations, has a core sustainability goal to create zero waste.

Determining which waste streams our stores can divert from landfill is part of this goal. Another part is reducing and diverting as much as possible from our home office operations. We’re not proud to admit, but just a couple of years ago the waste generated from our home office associates was increasing. We used Styrofoam take-out containers and disposable plastic cutlery in our cafeteria and many desks were littered with empty plastic water bottles.

Our challenge was to create a zero-waste home office environment – and fast!

We define zero waste as achieving more than 95% waste diversion. We didn’t give ourselves a goal of 100% because it’s difficult to divert waste such as floor sweepings.

Strategy:

Our strategy is two-fold. We’re diverting as many waste-streams from our home office, and we’re reducing the amount of non-recyclable materials coming into our building.

So far, we have implemented the following waste-reducing and environment-friendly initiatives.

• Placed numerous multi-stream recycling units around the office

-Paper, beverage containers, plastic and organic

-Each stream has a picture menu under the slot to help associates sort their waste

• Set up a central recycling depot in the home office where associates can drop off their CFL bulbs, polystyrene, cardboard and e-waste

• Associates are encouraged to bring in items that are hard to recycle at home

• Replaced the Styrofoam take-out containers with compostable containers

• New containers do cost a little more but now we charge for them; this is a disincentive for associates to eat at their desks and promotes a better work-life balance in the office

• Replaced the disposable cutlery with compostable cutlery made from sugar cane

• Removed most, but not all, plastic water bottle vending machines

• Tripled the price of each 500ml plastic water bottle

• Empty plastic water bottles are recycled for those associates and guests who still wish to drink bottled natural spring water

• Washrooms are only locations in the office where there are centralized waste bins

• Installed reverse-osmosis filtered water stations throughout the building

• Offers hot, cold or room temperature water

• Installed sink stations throughout the building where associates can wash their reusable cups, mugs and water bottles

• Onsite Tim Hortons franchise offers a discount to those associates who bring their own reusable coffee mug

Results:

We have not yet achieved our goal of 95% waste diversion, but our monthly audits indicate we are closer than ever. We regularly reach numbers in the high 80s and low 90s.

Though the initial results are impressive, we are not satisfied. We have recently put a plan in place which we believe will give us that final push and take us over the last zero-waste hurdle. We’ll be implementing the second phase of our program in February 2010.

ROI: Less garbage in the waste bins means less cost to have our trash hauled to the landfill and many of our recycled waste streams have a market value.

ROI: Associates are happy that the company has given them the ability to recycle at work just like they do at home. Associates can genuinely see the green efforts their company is taking and they’re proud to work for Walmart Canada.

For more information about this sustainability initiative, or others, please contact:

Andrew Telfer

Manager of Sustainability

Walmart Canada

905-821-2111 x 4643

atelfer@wal-mart.com