Customer Education
Around the world, our markets are making an effort to educate the millions of shoppers who walk through our doors about the sustainable choices they can make when buying the products they need every day. Through a number of educational programs, product labeling efforts and community outreach programs, our customers are becoming more informed and better stewards of the planet.
Americas
United States
Since 2005, we have placed a number of environmentally preferable products on our shelves, including organic cotton T-shirts, reusable grocery bags, locally grown produce, recycled tire rubber mulch and sustainably harvested wood patio furniture. In 2008, we took our efforts one step further by launching our largest in-store environmental sustainability campaign in the U.S. Our Earth Month campaign was developed to inform the millions of American customers who shop in our stores and Sam's Club each week about the many ways their purchasing decisions can help improve the environment. With in-store signage and a new line of commercials and print ads, we educated our customers on the environmental benefits of the more than 50 products we featured during the month of April as part of our Earth Month campaign. Earth Month will now occur on an annual basis in April.
Sam's Club in the U.S. launched an in-store campaign that helps members identify environmentally preferable products on the shelves by labeling them with an icon and the phrase "Simple Steps to Saving Green™." Products carrying the special leaf eco-symbol have been created, processed or distributed in a more sustainable manner than similar products. Additionally, some of the products that have been labeled with the symbol also contain another third-party certification, such as fair trade certified, ENERGY STAR® certified or USDA certified organic.
Canada
More and more, Canadians want products that are manufactured, sourced and packaged in sustainable ways. Wal-Mart Canada launched a program called "For the Greener Good," which features products that are comparable in quality to the national brands at a lower Wal-Mart price; certified to be environmentally preferable by a third-party organization; and will cross many categories in stores, including consumables, hard-lines, and health and wellness. Currently, there are more than 900 stock keeping units (SKUs) that are in the "For the Greener Good" program, including organic clothing, energy-efficient appliances and biodegradable cleaning products.
Argentina
Wal-Mart Argentina developed a program, "Let's Buy Awareness," in partnership with the ReCrear Foundation, to promote responsible consumer habits within local communities. By placing strategically located signs in key areas of their stores, customers were invited to submit their solutions to environmental problems that matter most to their neighborhoods, schools and organizations within their communities. More than 5,800 customers and schools submitted their recommendations, and several schools received ARS 5,000 ($1,582 USD) in prize money for their suggestions.
Asia
India
Sustainable products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, organic green tea, an ENERGY STAR®-certified Nokia cell phone and reusable bags are sold by our joint venture partnership to our partner's company, Bharti Retail.
Japan
Seiyu in Japan launched the Eco-Nico Workshop, which is an environmental and social education program for children to attend at neighborhood stores. Store managers and other staff members offer tours of the stores while explaining the inner workings of supermarkets, environmental problems, food safety and ways to reduce trash.
