Walmart works on reducing its forest footprint

11 / 07 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

Walmart is working on reducing its forest footprint and promoting sustainable management and conservation efforts through depending on either recycled material or certified virgin fiber in its products that contain paper and pulp.

The journey from tree, to pulp, to paper is a long one and that journey impacts forests around the world. Walmart aims to have it begin and end with sustainability at its core.

Walmart believes that a healthy natural world is key to healthy communities. That belief drives the company’s zero net deforestation goal, using pulp and paper sourcing practices that seek to reduce its forest “footprint” and promote sustainable management and conservation efforts.

This goal is important because deforestation is occurring at a staggering pace.

Walmart is strengthening its sustainable sourcing requirements for products that contain paper and pulp (excluding wood pencils) sold in stationery departments across its US stores.

Walmart requires these products be made from either recycled material, virgin fiber certified to standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), or a mix of recycled and certified virgin fiber.

Once fully transitioned to certified and/or recycled content, packaging on products like loose-leaf paper, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, planners, poster board and more will have FSC, SFI, PEFC or 100% recycled logos visible to our customers.

“Purchasing paper products made with fiber from responsibly managed forests or recycled fiber is an important action consumers can take to help sustain forests for people and nature,” said Linda Walker, senior director, forests, World Wildlife Fund.

“We applaud the step Walmart is taking to strengthen its stationery sourcing requirements and help its customers be part of the solution.”

People want to feel good about the products they buy, and Walmart’s customers count on the company to deliver access to safer, healthier and more affordable products in a way that is sustainable for people and the planet. That’s why Walmart encourages suppliers to certify their products and works with them to increase transparency and traceability back to products’ origins.

As Walmart continues to work with others to prioritize sustainable forestry, the company has the chance to be part of a change that supports forests, and the people who rely on them, for generations to come.