Responsible Sourcing

In 2008, we announced the integration of a new set of clearly defined environmentally and socially responsible practices into our supply chain. We did so with the understanding that this set of standards would be achievable only by working with our suppliers and the factories they use to produce merchandise for our stores. As Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke indicated in an October 2008 speech to suppliers in Beijing, our goal is to operate "a supply chain where goods are made in a way that protects our planet; where customers feel good about the safety, quality and durability of the products they buy; and where workers are paid well and treated well with the respect and dignity they deserve. To achieve this, we are expecting more of ourselves at Wal-Mart, and expecting more of our suppliers."

We know our customers and stakeholders are expecting more of us, too. They want to be confident that the products in our stores are safe and durable. They also want to buy products that were made in safe and healthy working conditions, and in an environmentally responsible way. As a company, we believe that suppliers who are responsible in their business practices and how they produce their products are much more likely to care about quality and, therefore, more likely to care about our customers. For this, and many other reasons, responsible sourcing practices in our global supply chain are critically important to us.

As we move forward to improve both our global supply chain and the products on our shelves, we will work with our suppliers to achieve the goals we have set for our Company, conduct factory audits, and develop new ways to communicate and interact with our suppliers. In this section of our sustainability report, we outline our plans to work with our suppliers to improve factories, the environment and communities around the world. These strategic plans enable us to make progress every year in becoming a more sustainable and responsible company.