Walmart 2013 Annual Report Download - page 13

Walmart 2013 Annual Report || 11
Global
Responsibility
Helping our customers and
communities live better
As the world’s largest retailer, we have the ability and the responsibility to
make a dierence on issues our customers, communities and associates
care about … to help people live better. We focus our leadership on
three key areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility and
associate opportunity.
Social responsibility. Through charitable contributions, skills training
and global sourcing initiatives, we’re improving the lives of so many
others. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s charitable contributions
surpassed $1 billion in cash and in-kind donations last year to address
needs of local communities globally. We continue to strengthen our
women’s economic empowerment initiatives through a variety of
programs. Last year, for example, more than 73,000 low-income women
around the world received job skills training, access to markets and
career opportunities. With our healthier foods initiative, we’re helping
customers easily identify healthier food options. And for manufacturers,
we’re enhancing auditing, training and education, and stakeholder collab-
oration to reinforce our commitment to safe working environments in our
global supply chain.
Environmental responsibility. We’re focused on responsible energy
consumption globally and now obtain approximately 21 percent of our
electricity from renewable sources. Walmart has the most onsite solar
capacity of any business in the U.S., according to the EPA. Our goal remains
“zero waste” and, to reach it, we’re rethinking processes, using smarter
packaging, recycling and reducing plastic bag use. In addition, we’re
applying and scaling the Sustainability Index – a tool to measure and
drive the sustainability qualities of products. As part of this global eort,
Walmart committed to buying 70 percent of the goods sold in U.S. stores
and clubs only from suppliers who use the Index by the end of 2017.
Associate opportunity. Our founder, Sam Walton, fostered a unique
corporate culture, dedicated to a belief in limitless opportunity for
Walmart associates. Our global workforce reects the rich diversity of
the communities we serve. In addition, Walmart U.S. has committed to
hire a projected 100,000 honorably discharged U.S. veterans over the
next ve years and to increase opportunities for part-time associates
to advance to full-time careers. Our leadership development programs
resulted in meaningful increases in women and minority promotions
from hourly to management assignments.
To learn more about Walmart’s responsibility initiatives to help people
live better, access our 2013 Global Responsibility Report (GRR) at
corporate.walmart.com. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) collaborates
with many stakeholders for its framework on sustainability reporting.
This approach is now incorporated into Walmart’s 2013 GRR.
Top: Walmart empowers consumers to select healthier food
options, as we lower prices on fresh fruit and vegetables.
Middle: Solar power plays a leading role in Walmart’s
eorts to increase the use of renewable energy resources.
Bottom: Associates have the opportunity to build long-term
careers with Walmart.