Wal-Mart discusses global warming steps
Wal-Mart discusses global warming steps
By MARCUS KABEL, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jul 12, 2:47 PM ET
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is the biggest private user of electricity in the world and has huge potential to cut back on greenhouse gases in-house and among its 60,000 suppliers, company officials said ahead of a global warming information stop Wednesday by former vice president Al Gore.
Wal-Mart working groups on environmental change were meeting ahead of Gore's visit to discuss steps already taken and new efforts ahead under a green initiative launched last October by Chief Executive Lee Scott to make the often-criticized company a better environmental citizen.
The world's largest retailer emitted the equivalent of 20.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, the main greenhouse gas, while the best estimate for its supply chain — all the production and shipping needed to fill Wal-Mart shelves — is 10 times that, said Jim Stanway, director of project development in Wal-Mart's energy department.
"We're big, but we're certainly not the biggest," Stanway said. Coca-Cola Co. produces about 5 million metric tons a year while utility American Electric Power emits about 160 million metric tons, he added.
Wal-Mart disclosed its CO2 figure for the first time this year.
Scientists have become increasingly concerned in recent years about the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels. Average worldwide temperatures have risen this century as a result of what many believe is a greenhouse effect from that pollution.
Stanway and other executives said Wal-Mart's potential to slow global warming stemmed from the size of its supplier network and the influence Wal-Mart can wield to encourage better practices by those companies it buys from.
"We have made it clear that all things being equal, we'll give business to operators who show they're fully engaged" in fuel efficiency efforts, said Tim Yatsko, Wal-Mart senior vice president of transportation.
Before a presentation from Gore on his anti-global warming campaign, executives from 14 so-called sustainable value networks traded ideas, with each group consisting of Wal-Mart people, suppliers and outside experts to work on specific issues like alternative fuels, textiles and logistics.
Charles Zimmerman, in charge of developing new Wal-Mart stores, said the company was already reducing energy demand by installing more efficient lighting and retrofitting refrigerators.
New store prototypes in the works will use design and technology to be 30 percent more efficient than today's stores and in the longer term even 50 percent more efficient.
"We are the number one private purchaser of electricity in the United States and therefore in the world," Zimmerman said.
In logistics, covering Wal-Mart's fleet of 7,000 trucks, Tim Yatsko said the company had already cut fuel use by 8 percent by putting alternative power units in rigs this year so they can stop idling engines during loading or breaks. That saved $25 million in fuel bills and cut 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Lee Scott plans to make the retailer a leader in cutting emissions, energy use and solid waste and selling more environmentally friendly products. Scott took the environmental offensive at a time when Wal-Mart is under attack from organized labor and other groups for its business practices, including employee pay and health benefits.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
By MARCUS KABEL, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jul 12, 2:47 PM ET
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is the biggest private user of electricity in the world and has huge potential to cut back on greenhouse gases in-house and among its 60,000 suppliers, company officials said ahead of a global warming information stop Wednesday by former vice president Al Gore.
Wal-Mart working groups on environmental change were meeting ahead of Gore's visit to discuss steps already taken and new efforts ahead under a green initiative launched last October by Chief Executive Lee Scott to make the often-criticized company a better environmental citizen.
The world's largest retailer emitted the equivalent of 20.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, the main greenhouse gas, while the best estimate for its supply chain — all the production and shipping needed to fill Wal-Mart shelves — is 10 times that, said Jim Stanway, director of project development in Wal-Mart's energy department.
"We're big, but we're certainly not the biggest," Stanway said. Coca-Cola Co. produces about 5 million metric tons a year while utility American Electric Power emits about 160 million metric tons, he added.
Wal-Mart disclosed its CO2 figure for the first time this year.
Scientists have become increasingly concerned in recent years about the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels. Average worldwide temperatures have risen this century as a result of what many believe is a greenhouse effect from that pollution.
Stanway and other executives said Wal-Mart's potential to slow global warming stemmed from the size of its supplier network and the influence Wal-Mart can wield to encourage better practices by those companies it buys from.
"We have made it clear that all things being equal, we'll give business to operators who show they're fully engaged" in fuel efficiency efforts, said Tim Yatsko, Wal-Mart senior vice president of transportation.
Before a presentation from Gore on his anti-global warming campaign, executives from 14 so-called sustainable value networks traded ideas, with each group consisting of Wal-Mart people, suppliers and outside experts to work on specific issues like alternative fuels, textiles and logistics.
Charles Zimmerman, in charge of developing new Wal-Mart stores, said the company was already reducing energy demand by installing more efficient lighting and retrofitting refrigerators.
New store prototypes in the works will use design and technology to be 30 percent more efficient than today's stores and in the longer term even 50 percent more efficient.
"We are the number one private purchaser of electricity in the United States and therefore in the world," Zimmerman said.
In logistics, covering Wal-Mart's fleet of 7,000 trucks, Tim Yatsko said the company had already cut fuel use by 8 percent by putting alternative power units in rigs this year so they can stop idling engines during loading or breaks. That saved $25 million in fuel bills and cut 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Lee Scott plans to make the retailer a leader in cutting emissions, energy use and solid waste and selling more environmentally friendly products. Scott took the environmental offensive at a time when Wal-Mart is under attack from organized labor and other groups for its business practices, including employee pay and health benefits.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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