Walmart
Company Score
-0.25Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation headquatered in Arkansas. It is a retailer and wholesaler that operates a chain of hypermarkets, department stores and grocery stores all with EDLP 'every day low prices.'
In 2019 Walmart reported revenue of US$514.405 billion making it the worlds largest company by revenue. Walmart and its other 'banners', all 59 of them, have over 11,300 stores and clubs in 27 countries. It employs 2.2 million people which also makes it the largest private employer in the world. The company operates under the name Walmart in the US and Canada, Walmart de México y Centroamérica in Mexico and Central America, Asda in the UK, the Seiyu Group in Japan, and as Best Price in India.
Read about Walmart and its impact below.
Impact notes
Walmart has successfully reduced their GHG emissions by 93 million tonnes between 2017 and 2019
Paushali Bhattacharya
Mon Nov 30th, 2020 at 9:12am
According to a report, the annual greenhouse gas emission levels on earth have risen by 41% since 19906. The global average of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is about 50 billion tCO2e per year7.
Walmart retains its brick-&-mortar stores despite a rising success in e-commerce
Sandhyani.Borah
Fri Nov 27th, 2020 at 9:29am
The global e-commerce sector had a net worth of $3.5 trillion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $4.9 trillion by 20211. With everything being available on the internet, e-commerce provides a convenient platform for people to transact1. However, on the flip side, e-commerce has shut thousands of stores and rendered millions of people jobless2. According to a recent study, for every job created in e-commerce, four and a half traditional retail jobs are lost2.
Walmart found to source products from companies involved in forced Uyghur labor in China
Sandhyani.Borah
Wed Nov 25th, 2020 at 11:43am
According to the ILO, globally there are about 24.9 million people working as forced laborers1. Countries like China, Pakistan, India, North Korea, and Nigeria account for nearly 60% of modern slavery2. The workers there are exploited by the employers and are paid either meager wages or none at all2.
America’s biggest feminine hygiene products’ holder, Walmart, brings organic products for women
Kanak Gupta
Tue Nov 17th, 2020 at 9:17am
Globally, about 1.8 billion females of reproductive age undergo menstruation every month1;p13. On average, a woman uses 11,000 sanitary products (pads, tampons, etc.) during her life3. A female's body is vulnerable during menstruation2, and lasting for an average of 3-5 days2, synthetic sanitary products are hazardous to a female's body affecting their reproductive health and can even cause cancer5. About 90% of synthetic pads are made from plastic, dioxins, and other harmful chemicals4. In particular, Dioxin is labeled as carcinogenic by the WHO and weakens the immune system4. Dioxin, a potent carcinogen, can even enter into the fat tissues leading to cervical and ovarian cancer5. Materials used in synthetic pads further lead to vaginal infections, infertility, etc4.
Walmart engages with suppliers that have long been linked to deforestation
Kanak Gupta
Wed Nov 11th, 2020 at 10:13am
About 50% of deforestation is caused by farming, drilling, grazing of livestock, and mining1. Globally, 4.7 million hectares of forests are lost per year2 to produce soft commodities such as palm oil, soy, pulp, rubber, etc3.