Waste: Circular Economy Walmart Report
Walmart
February 28, 2025
At a Glance
● In 2023, Walmart worked with third parties to divert 83.5% of our global operational waste from landfills and incineration. Walmart set a goal to divert 90% of operational waste (considered “zero waste” by ZWIA1) in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by 2025. We believe our waste initiatives in the U.S. put us on pace to achieve this goal; Canada and Mexico are delivering solid progress, but will likely not meet the 2025 timeline.
● As of the end of 2023, we reduced global operational food loss and waste intensity by 21.0% vs. 2016 baseline. While our trajectory is not yet on pace to achieve our reduction goal (50% by 2030), we have seen positive momentum since 2021.
● Packaging serves an important function, helping to conveniently and safely handle, transport and store food and other products. We want to help reduce the amount that becomes waste. In 2023, we continued our efforts to reduce packaging and encourage design for recycling. While the absolute weight of virgin plastics used in our global business increased 6% (relative to 2020 baseline), in large part because of growth in certain product categories (e.g., food), we reduced our overall plastic packaging intensity (weight of plastic per net sales dollar). While we have made significant progress towards our ambitious 2025 goals for recycled content, virgin plastic reduction, and packaging recyclability, we expect to fall short of achieving these goals by 2025. We will continue to report progress on our ongoing efforts, as these initiatives help Walmart reduce materials cost and waste, conserve resources, enhance efficiencies, and reduce emissions.
● While we continue to work towards reducing waste, progress depends on many factors outside our control, including emergence and scalability of innovative more-recyclable materials, public policy for materials management systems, infrastructure development (especially to support recyclable and compostable materials), and societal behavior change.
We aim to be part of the transition from a “take-make-dispose” approach to one that values the reuse, recycling, and regeneration of materials. We aspire to reduce waste in our global operations and work with suppliers, customers, and communities to accelerate the adoption of innovative packaging and products designed for circularity.
Read the full report here: https://corporate.walmart.com/purpose/esgreport/environmental/waste-circular-economy