SEARCH
REWARDS
ABOUT US
ARTICLES
GET THE APP
GET THE APP
All
Beauty
Personal Care
Cleaning
Clothing
Shoes
Kids & Baby
Bedding
How we rate

Sustainable spending made easy.

Quick Links

SEARCH
REWARDS
ABOUT US
ARTICLES
HOW IT WORKS
TERMS OF SERVICE
PRIVACY POLICY
VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET DISCLOSURE

Copyright © 2026 Commons. All rights reserved. Oakland, CA.

Walmart

Big box retailer selling in stores and online

Walmart
Walmart's Sustainability Rating

Poor


  • Sourcing & Stocking

    Environmentally-mindful sourcing and stocking commitments?: No

    Promotes collections that help consumers make conscious decisions?: Has a collection but doesn't promote it well

    These collections include: other

    Stocks any Commons top-rated sustainable brands? (proportion of rateable categories): Yes - few

    Has time-bound targets to improve its sourcing for owned-brand products?: Yes - but only partial coverage

    On track for these targets?: Unknown - unclear or doesn't report progress

    Certifications for owned-brands and products?: Yes

    These certifications include: FSC, MSC


  • Packaging & Plastics

    Heavy reliance on virgin petro plastic?: Yes

    Shares info on ecommerce packaging?:No / not found

    Shares info on in-store and upstream packaging?:No / not found

    Shares info on own-brand packaging?:Yes - but reporting could be improved

    Petro-based plastics in packaging?: Yes - but working to reduce

    Recycled plastic?: Partially Recycled

    Uses environmentally-mindful materials (non-plastic) in packaging?: Yes

    These materials include ones that are: recyclable.

    Targets for improving its packaging materials?: Yes - and reports on progress

    Initiatives to reduce packaging volume / intensity?: Yes - vague / limited

    Plastic waste reduction through partnerships?: Yes: The Recycling Partnership, Closed Loop Partners, and others


  • Energy & Water Use

    Uses renewable energy in its supply chain and/or offices?: Yes - Some (<50%)

    Uses renewable energy in its stores?: Yes - some (<50%)

    Targets for increasing renewable energy?: Yes - specifics shared

    On track for these targets?: Yes

    Energy efficiency measures?: Yes - vague / limited

    Water conservation measures?: Yes - nonspecific

    Refrigerant management strategy?: Yes - specifics shared

    Efforts to lower shipping emissions (e.g. EVs)?: Yes - specifics shared

    Any EPA GreenChill certified stores?: No / not found


  • Waste Reduction

    Alt models to promote consumer reuse and recycling?: More than one model

    Packaging disposal guidance?: No / not found

    Corporate waste reduction initiatives?: Reusing to-store packaging, Other (incl general reducing landfill waste)

    Corporate waste reporting?: Yes - vague / limited

    Food waste reduction initiatives?: Yes - thorough

    Food waste reporting?: Yes - thorough


  • Slow Consumption

    Promotes overconsumption?: Yes

    Methods of promoting overconsumption: Incentivizes impulse purchases (e.g. one-click ordering), Other


  • Marketing

    Commons is still evaluating this brand's marketing emails.


  • Transparency & Reporting

    Sustainability page on consumer site?: No / not found

    Voluntary annual sustainability report?: Yes

    Last published: 2025


  • Emissions Tracking

    Reports its emissions?: Yes

    Breakdown in CO2e?: Yes

    Last reported in: 2024

    Estimated emissions footprint: 718938460 tons CO2e

    Scope 1+2 emissions intensity compared to industry / competitor average: Average


  • Targets & Offsets

    Science-aligned emissions reduction targets?: Yes - SBTi approved

    Target timeframe: Long-term (10+ years)

    Reports progress?: Yes - not on track

    Climate neutral certification?: No

    Offsets emissions?: No / not found


  • Supply Chain & Labor

    Publishes supplier information for owned production?: No

    Publishes supplier code of conduct?: Yes

    Code of conduct: prohibits forced labor, prohibits child labor

    Code of conduct does not sufficiently: disallow unauthorized subcontracting, ensure the right to collective bargaining, ensure a living wage, establish grievance mechanisms, include environmental clauses

    Code of Conduct covers all applicable suppliers (own-production and stocked-brand)?: Yes

    Labor certifications in supply chain?: No

    3rd-party criticisms of supply chain or labor conditions?: Yes - few


  • Advocacy

    Discloses all trade association memberships?: No

    Climate-obstructive trade association memberships: 3 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, CalChamber

    Pro-climate advocacy memberships?: No

    Employs state lobbyists?: Yes

    Percentage of lobbyists that are fossil-fuel aligned: Low 1-6%

    Donated more than $100k to any candidates or PACs from 2018-2024?: Yes

    Amount donated: $1M+

    How much more was given to obstructive candidates/PACs?: 54 percent

Walmart has some sustainability efforts and disclosures, but the level of progress or detail is below what we expect from a brand of its size. It also contributes significantly to climate-obstructive financing.

Walmart is holding back government climate action through its money and influence by donating significantly more to climate-obstruction than pro-climate causes. It has donated $2,201,220 to climate-obstructive candidates or PACs since 2018, and it's a member of three obstructive trade associations.

A large portion of the environmental impact of purchases made at retailers comes from upstream decisions on sourcing materials and ingredients. Retailers are responsible for these decisions for their whitelabel brands, but can also push change by highlighting sustainable options from other brands. Walmart has product collections that are environmentally-mindful, but it doesn’t promote them to consumers well. It has some targets to improve its sourcing for its whitelabel products, but doesn’t report on any progress.

Walmart uses some (<50%) renewable energy in its supply chain, offices, and stores. However, it doesn’t have any EPA GreenChill certified stores, unlike its main competitors. Poor refrigerant strategy is a large contributor to GHG emissions in food retail, and the GreenChill program recognizes stores and brands using lower refrigerant emissions.

Walmart publicly shares its emissions measurements and has SBTi-approved reduction targets. However, its targets are not on track. Its emissions are significantly increased due to its gas station operations.

Walmart doesn’t report enough on its ecommerce or in-store packaging. Based on information about its whitelabel packaging, it uses primarily virgin plastic, which contributes greatly to waste production and excess energy use.

Walmart encourages overconsumption, which contributes to excessive landfill waste and energy use, and has widespread impacts on the environment. It has initiatives to reduce waste from corporate operations, but it doesn't provide detailed reporting. It does provide detailed reporting on its initiatives to reduce food waste in its supply chain.

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (harmful) to 5 (best). How we rate →

https://www.walmart.com/cp/8747893

https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2021/10/06/toward-regeneration-together https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2023/06/14/raising-standards-in-tuna-supply-chains-walmart-and-sams-club-announce-enhanced-seafood-policy https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/esgreport/2025/FY2025-Walmart-Sustainable-Commodities-Report.pdf

https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/esgreport/2025/FY2025-Walmart-ESG-Report.pdf

https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/esgreport/2025/FY2025-Walmart-ESG-Report.pdf https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2024/07/29/new-tech-and-collaborations-at-walmart-and-sams-club-boost-operational-efficiency-and-reduce-food-waste

https://www.epa.gov/greenchill/greenchill-certified-stores

https://www.climatefriendlysupermarkets.org/scorecard

https://www.walmart.com/cp/resold-at-walmart/6134748

https://www.walmartsustainabilityhub.com/assets/walmart-recycling-playbook-JsNw53Ki.pdf https://www.walmartsustainabilityhub.com/assets/sustainable-packaging-playbook-C6nUZz18.pdf

https://sciencebasedtargets.org/target-dashboard

https://corporate.walmart.com/suppliers/requirements/standards-for-suppliers

https://fminus.org/lobbyists/

https://www.fec.gov/data/browse-data/

What did you think about this rating?

Share your feedback →

crab
brand
nudge

Want more transparency from Walmart?

Take a minute to let Walmart know how they can become more sustainable. Use our easy email template!

Email Walmart ->
About Walmart
Walmart  logo
Where to shop

Visit Walmart


Category

General Store


Tags

Retail store/Grocery/Department Store


Certifications

Vegan Society


Sustainability information was last updated in January 2026.

A sticker of the word 'quiz'

Do you need to buy new?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT ->
folded shirt, pants, and a pair of boots

Read about our ratings methodology

HOW WE RATE ->

Can't find the brand that you're looking for?

SUGGEST A BRAND ->

Get Rewards

Earn for sustainable purchases

Commons rewards you for sustainable purchases from all our Top Rated brands, plus thousands of everyday purchases — from thrift stores to public transit.

Learn more about rewards ->

Rewards in app promo
Sustainable Alternatives to Walmart
  • Who Gives A Crap

    Cleaning Products

    Who Gives A Crap

    Plastic-free toilet paper with recycled and bamboo options

    Not Yet Rated

  • Bobbie Baby

    Other Food & Drink

    Bobbie Baby

    USDA organic baby formula

    Not Yet Rated

  • Package Free Shop
    Top Rated Badge

    General Store

    Package Free Shop

    Package-free products for people and planet

    Good

  • Blueland
    Top Rated Badge

    Cleaning Products

    Blueland

    Waterless cleaning and personal care that's plastic-free

    Best