When the makers of Hamburger Helper decided to straighten their wavy packaged noodles, they began a chain reaction that has saved nearly 900,000 pounds of paper fiber annually, reduced greenhouse emissions by 11 percent, and create more shelf space for its products in Wal-Mart stores.
That is one small step leading to big changes in Wal-Mart’s goal to use 100 percent renewable energy, create zero waste and sustain natural resources and energy.
“Being environmentally friendly is good for business and saves money,” said Matt Kistler, Wal-Mart’s vice-president of Corporate Strategy/Sustainability. The savings are then passed on to Wal-Mart’s and Sam’s Clubs’ customers.
Kistler outlined Wal-Mart’s environmental goals Tuesday during a breakfast plenary session.
The packaging change by Hamburger Helper, said Kistler, was the equivalent of taking 500 trucks off the road.
Hamburger Helper packaging is one way Wal-Mart hopes to achieve its goal of reducing overall packaging by 2013.
“That may seem small but it will reduce carbon dioxide by 660,000 tons, save the supply chain $3.4 billion and will be the equivalent of taking 200,000 trucks off the road,” Kistler said in describing the annual impact of such a reduction.
Wal-Mart is working with other suppliers in an effort to reduce its impact on the environment.
“Wal-Mart controls 12 percent of its environmental footprint,” Kistler said. “The rest is in the hands of our suppliers.”
Wal-Mart has designated some of its stores for experiments in energy savings and waste reduction. Everything from solar panels to waterless urinals is being considered.
“The costs are initially high,” Kistler said in urging other corporations to join Wal-Mart saving energy. But over time “the cost reductions are dramatic.”
—Jack Penchoff
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