Wal-Mart Pushes Efficiency Among Suppliers

Wal-Mart Stores is pushing its suppliers to be more energy efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 million metric tons by 2015, the Associated Press reported.

The retailer isn’t forcing suppliers to reduce emissions, but has offered to work with them to reach its goals, AP said.

The company has already worked with suppliers to reduce packaging. Other efforts include asking television and DVD manufacturers to cut emissions, in addition to food and clothing manufacturers, AP said.

Wal-Mart is working with the Environmental Defense Fund to measure reductions. The 20 million metric ton goal is equivalent to taking 3.8 million cars off the road for a year.

The nation’s largest retailer has made efforts in the past few years to reduce its own emissions. Efforts have included increasing efficiency on its truck fleet.

Wal-Mart Stores, Bentonville, Ark., ranks No. 3 on the Transport Topics Private 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian private carriers.