Analysis of Wal-Mart's Approach to Environmental Sustainability

This report examines Wal-Mart's approach to environmental responsibility and sustainable operations. It outlines the company's key objectives, including creating zero waste, using 100% renewable energy, and selling sustainable products. The report discusses Wal-Mart's corporate governance, ethical compliance measures, and strategies for enhancing sustainability across its operations and supply chain. It highlights the company's focus on continuous improvement, public policy, and economic inclusion, detailing initiatives like providing training for associates, promoting diversity, and supporting economic inclusion in communities. The analysis draws on the 2017 Global Responsibility Report and other sources to illustrate Wal-Mart's efforts to meet legal and ethical standards, reduce environmental impact, and promote positive societal outcomes.

Responsible Operation and the
Environment

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
In today’s era, it is important for an organisation to maintain and manage appropriate
consideration for environment so that better and effective working towards society will become
possible (Heizer, 2016). It is the major duty of top management of Wal-Mart to define all
working towards environment properly by following suitable considerations. Along with this,
there is the need for continuous improvement which further assists in better and suitable gains.
TASK
The top management of Wal-Mart defines their goals and targets towards environment by
following all regulations in an appropriate and suitable frame. They have followed the ISO14001
in which they are taking effective steps towards responsible operations in environment. The
management of a company is enhancing sustainability and responsible operations of environment
to reshape their work and encourage others as well for betterment (Jackson and et. al., 2016).
Thus, in this aspect, they majorly framed three major goals or objectives which are stated as
follows:
 To create zero waste
 To operate with 100% renewable energy
 To sell such products that sustain the resources and environment (Sustainability, 2018).
These three major objectives created with a single aim of enhancing sustainability of
operations as well as promote effective and appropriate value chain (Yap and Ground, 2017).
Wal-Mart has a good corporate governance that supports them towards meeting all legal
and ethical compliances in a better and suitable manner. Business sets their benchmark in an
appropriate and suitable frame so that competitive advantages could be gained. Wal-Mart
mentions 14 key areas for their relevance to change the retail sector which facilitates an option to
both business and consumers which are stated as follows (2017 Global Responsibility Report,
2017):
 For making an appropriate and ethical compliance at workplace, Wal-Mart provides 24
hours global helpline centre where all issues and problems get resolved. Along with this,
an official website of “WalmartEthics.com” present in 14 language which assist others to
compliant against any kind of issue. This compliance also supports in better and effective
working so that all ethical considerations will get effectually fulfilled.
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 Cop up of manual working of customers with technology by providing them automated
application of discount and offers which get replaced through manual one in China. This
enables in providing better cashier services towards customers by reducing the chances of
errors and providing suitable offers which really entitles to clients and users. In FY2017,
business launches an application or tool which further supports in mitigating risked items
to get sold from their official website
Moreover, business also focuses on Environment protection act, 1986 in which they are
using appropriate and suitable working patterns for enhancing the sustainability and removing
chances of wastage (Mikkilä, Panapanaan and Linnanen, 2016). This enables them in better
working as well as in protecting the environment so that aspect could be accomplished.
Wal-Mart believes in continuous improvement of working as it get determine with their
mission and vision. They want to service quality products at minimum rates which further assist
in making life of their user appropriate. In this facet, they frame public policy which standardise
as well as provide better economic opportunities for service users as well as associates
(Prathipati and et. al., 2017). The four major key strategies for economic mobility and inclusion
are signified as:
 Providing great jobs, training and advancement for associates
 Promoting culture diversity and inclusion at Walmart
 Accelerating the mobility of front-line retail workers beyond Walmart
 Support to promote economic inclusion in communities and supply chain as well
Their economic or public policy supports them to grow and develop in a better way so
that overall growth and enhancement of society could become possible. In their FY2017, all
essential and appropriate things deliver properly so that better and appropriate opportunities to
each and every individual will become possible. More than 20,000 associates complete their
training which further assists in appropriate and suitable work as well as service delivery.
Wal-Mart provides each and every single information to their stakeholders by
understanding their perspective. Although, management wants to build trust between their wide
number of stakeholders as well as by addressing all societal challenges as well (Olanrewaju and
Mbohwa, 2016). This enables them to grow and get developed towards positive and right
direction. Moreover, they need to present that all things get done in a beneficial and suitable
frame which further assists in better and appropriate growth.
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CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the project that business needs to be keenly based and focused
on all operational working and promote effective and efficient environment as well. It enable
them to grow and get develop towards right and positive direction so that better outcome
supposed to accomplish.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Heizer, J. (2016). Operations Management, 11/e. Pearson Education India.
Jackson, S. A & et. al. (2016). Examining the impact of design for environment and the
mediating effect of quality management innovation on firm performance. International
Journal of Production Economics. 173. 142-152.
Mikkilä, M., Panapanaan, V., & Linnanen, L. (2016). The Pursuit of Responsible Business:
Corporate Responsibility of Finnish Companies in Their Global Operations. In Key
Initiatives in Corporate Social Responsibility (pp. 177-200). Springer, Cham.
Olanrewaju, O. A., & Mbohwa, C. (2016, October). Evaluating factors responsible for energy
consumption: Connection weight approach. In Electrical Power and Energy Conference
(EPEC), 2016 IEEE (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Prathipati, A. K. & et. al. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,667,470. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.
Yap, N. T., & Ground, K. E. (2017). Socially Responsible Mining Corporations: Before (or in
Addition to) Doing Good, Do No Harm. In Comparative Perspectives on Global
Corporate Social Responsibility (pp. 185-207). IGI Global.
Online
Sustainability. 2018. [Online]. Available through: <https://corporate.walmart.com/global-
responsibility/sustainability/>.
2017 Global Responsibility Report. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://corporate.walmart.com/2017grr>.
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