Wal-Mart Says 2005 Emissions Were 20.8 Million Metric Tons

Bloomberg News reports that Wal-Mart said it emitted 20.8 million tons of Carbon Dioxide in 2005.  Wal-Mart has previously testified that it is responsible for over 220 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain, which is not accounted for in this estimate.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, said it emitted the equivalent of 20.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2005, about 15 percent of Exxon Mobil Corp.’s emissions last year.

About 13.9 million tons, or two thirds, of its emissions were from purchased electricity, Wal-Mart said in a submission to the Carbon Disclosure Project, which is collecting emissions data on behalf of investors with $31.5 trillion under management. Exxon, the world’s largest oil company, had emissions of 138 million metric tons last year, according to its submission on the project’s Web site.

Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, had total fossil fuel purchases of about $2 billion, assuming about 20 percent of the power it buys is from non-fossil sources such as hydro-electric, wind, solar and nuclear, the company said in its submission.

Combining the 20.8 million tons Wal-Mart reports for its own operations with the 220 million tons in its supply chain, Wal-Mart is reponsible for over 240 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.  As Wal-Mart continues to grow and expand its operations, it is vital that the company keeps its promises to lessen its environmental footprint through real and lasting environmental sustainablility initiatives.

• Click here to read more about Wal-Mart’s sustainability promises in our environmental blog.

• Click here to read more about Wal-Mart’s testimony to the US Senate on its supply chain greenhouse gas emissions.