The partnership between Wal-Mart and Earth Force is not just one for positive headlines or press, it is only a small part of our company's larger sustainability initiatives. As a company, we are taking a look at each part of our business to see how we can take waste out and recycle what we can.
Wal-Mart is working with our suppliers in all departments to reduce packaging, reducing the weight that must be carried on our trucks, reducing space we need in the stores. More and more packaging and daily use materials are being recycled in our stores as well-all plastic bags returned and cardboard boxes are baled and sent to recycling centers in a form called a "sandwich bale". Later this year even more waste will be baled, including plastic bottles, hangers, office paper, and cans. Ultimately, our purpose is to use our compactors less and less and recycle more and more. Our trucking fleet and warehousing divisions have a goal of doubling the trucks efficiency in the next ten years-we are adding 100 hybrid cars a year to our corporate fleet and opening more and more "environmental" stores wherein there are many different technologies showcased to test them in "real-world"
situations. More importantly, any advances in sustainability will be shared with our suppliers, vendors, and even competitors-these are not competitive advantages but people advantages. By working with Earth Force, we in the northwest Pennsylvania area hope to instill a sense of pride with our schools and children in our environment and future sustainability.
