ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) released criteria that will be part of a scorecard
used to evaluate consumer electronics suppliers on the environmental
sustainability of their products. Starting in 2008, Wal-Mart will ask
suppliers to fill out the scorecard and buyers will have the option to use
the scorecard results to influence purchasing decisions. The announcement
reflects the larger company strategy to sell products that sustain natural
resources and minimize impact on the environment.
"Wal-Mart believes that this scorecard will move electronics in the
right direction -- a sustainable direction," said Ross Farnsworth,
divisional merchandise manager of home electronics at Wal-Mart during his
speech at the "Take It Back" conference in Annapolis, Md. "The scorecard
encourages improvements that are good for business as well as for the
environment, reflecting Wal-Mart's view that being a profitable and
efficient business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward to the
environment."
Next year, Wal-Mart will ask electronics suppliers to fill out a
scorecard that will assess the sustainability of their product. The
scorecard will evaluate electronics on energy efficiency, durability,
upgradability, end-of- life solutions, and the size of the package
containing the product. Products will also be evaluated on their ability to
use innovative materials that reduce the amount of hazardous substances,
such as lead and cadmium, contained in the product. The end result is a
score that shows suppliers where improvements can be made and allows
Wal-Mart to evaluate the environmental sustainability of the product.
"Many electronics contain hazardous materials and are disposed of
improperly. The scorecard issues a better score to those suppliers who
build products with fewer hazardous materials and offer electronics
recycling opportunities to customers," added Farnsworth.
Some suppliers are already integrating the metrics into their products.
Currently, many of the computers and televisions sold at Wal-Mart are
compliant with the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards,
including the popular Toshiba Satellite A55 laptop.
To encourage suppliers to start implementing the scorecard metrics into
their products now, Wal-Mart is co-sponsoring an innovative design contest
with the Green Electronics Council. Suppliers are encouraged to submit a
consumer electronics product that puts the scorecard metrics into practice.
The winner's product will be carried in Wal-Mart stores throughout the
nation.
As suppliers are encouraged to become more sustainable, Wal-Mart is
continuing with its own sustainability initiatives in its Electronics
Network. In February, Wal-Mart co-hosted a series of electronic waste
(e-waste) "Take Back" days. Together with Hewlett-Packard and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Wal-Mart collected more than 140,000
pounds of old electronics for recycling from residents in Florida, Georgia,
North Carolina and South Carolina. In addition to the Take Back days,
Wal-Mart offers year- round in-store recycling of cell phones and ink
cartridges and encourages customers to buy energy efficient products.
About Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets and Sam's Club locations in the United States. The
Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and
the United Kingdom. The Company's securities are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be
found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com . Online merchandise sales
are available at http://www.walmart.com .
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