Wal-Mart Strategic Partnership

The Center has a long and productive partnership with Wal-Mart, beginning in 1989 when Sam Walton invited CRM President Terry Minger to attend the first-ever meeting of Wal-Mart’s Environmental Advisory Board. CRM has maintained a position on this board, chaired until 1992 by Hillary Clinton. Since 1994, Terry Minger has continuously served as the Chairman of this board.
As a non-profit partner, CRM has encouraged Wal-Mart to take many steps to increase its environmental performance. Accomplishments to date include:

• A "Home Office" audit that resulted in an aggressive recycling program

• The development of a nation-wide "Green Coordinator" program that offered an elected store employee the opportunity to coordinate and oversee all local environmental activities

• The development of an "Environmental Demonstration Store" program that piloted a variety of green building technologies in three Wal-Mart store locations: Lawrence Kansas; Moore, Oklahoma; and City of Industry, California

• The roll-out of successful demonstration store features in all stores (i.e. skylights, dimming systems)

• The programming of "Environmental Education Centers" in each of the 3 demonstration stores

• The adoption of a national "blue bag" recycling program to capture Wal-Mart’s blue bags with in-store recycling collection bins

• The development of several educational programs for kids including Kid’s F.A.C.E. (Kids for a Clean Environment), Animal Tracks, and the National Wildlife Federation partnership

• Development/production of an environmental newsletter for employees: Green Scene

• Development of an in-store signage program to identify environmentally improved products

Current activities include:

Awarding of a Wal-Mart "Environmental Supplier of the Year" – including nomination solicitation, definition of criteria, and selection

Development of a "buyer education" program to educate buyers regarding environmental product qualities and opportunities

A partnership with US EPA’s Energy Star program to feature Energy Star products in Wal-Mart stores