Walmart, one of the largest retailers globally, has seen remarkable financial success alongside a strong commitment to sustainability. As the company continues to grow, Walmart remains focused on reducing its environmental footprint, particularly through nature-based solutions and ambitious carbon reduction strategies. Despite a slight increase in emissions from its 2015 baseline, Walmart's approach to balancing business growth with sustainability demonstrates its dedication to long-term environmental responsibility.
Close-up of a newly planted deciduous forest in the United States, with a field of solar panels in the background. AI generated picture.
Financial success in FY Q2 2025
In its Q2 2025 financial year, Walmart reported a significant 4.8% increase in revenue, reaching $169.3 billion. With a 21% rise in global eCommerce sales, Walmart's digital expansion is a key driver of this growth. Operating income also rose by 8.5%, highlighting the company's robust financial health and operational efficiency. These figures illustrate Walmart's ability to scale its business while maintaining a focus on sustainability.
Walmart’s emissions reduction goals
Walmart has set an ambitious target of achieving zero emissions in its global operations (Scopes 1 and 2) by 2040, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s goals. The company aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 35% by 2025 and 65% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels. Since 2015, Walmart has already reduced its carbon intensity by 43.5%, showcasing progress in its sustainability journey.
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However, in 2022, Walmart experienced a 4.1% increase in total emissions due to increased onsite fuel usage, transportation shifts, and delays in renewable energy expansion. Despite these setbacks, Walmart remains committed to achieving its emissions goals by adopting innovative energy solutions, electrifying its transportation fleet, and improving efficiency across its operations.
Renewable energy solutions
Walmart's renewable energy strategy is at the core of its sustainability efforts. It includes the installation of solar panels on its buildings and using clean energy sources for its operations. Walmart is committed to sourcing 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2035. By 2022, Walmart had launched over 600 renewable energy projects across more than 10 countries. These projects include solar energy installations and community solar initiatives that benefit low-to-moderate-income areas. With power purchase agreements (PPAs) securing over 2 GW of renewable energy, Walmart has positioned itself as a leader in green energy adoption within the retail sector.
In addition to large-scale renewable energy projects, Walmart is committed to improving energy efficiency in its stores. The company is upgrading equipment, installing energy metres, and leveraging real-time monitoring to optimise energy use. These measures aim to minimise energy consumption and reduce the overall environmental impact of Walmart’s operations.
Electrification and reducing Scope 1 emissions
Walmart has recognised the critical role of its transportation fleet in achieving net-zero emissions. In 2022, 24% of Walmart’s Scope 1 emissions came from its fleet, leading the company to set a goal of full-fleet electrification, including Class 8 trucks. Walmart is exploring zero-emission technologies and scalable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of its logistics operations.
The company is also addressing emissions from stationary fuels, which represented 23% of Scope 1 emissions in 2022. Walmart is adding electrical connections for refrigerated trailers and improving energy efficiency in response to growing energy demands caused by extreme weather events.
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Project Gigaton: collaborative emissions reductions
A key initiative in Walmart’s sustainability strategy is Project Gigaton, launched in 2017. This initiative aims to reduce or avoid 1 billion metric tonnes of CO2e in the company's value chain by 2030. Walmart is working closely with suppliers, offering resources, workshops, and guidance to help them set and achieve their own emissions reduction targets.
Through Project Gigaton, Walmart collaborates with organisations like the World Wildlife Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund, leveraging collective action to tackle nature conservation. In 2022, the company successfully avoided more than 175 million metric tonnes of CO2e through this programme, demonstrating the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful emissions reductions.
In February 2024, Walmart announced that its suppliers had successfully removed 1 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from their value chains—an impressive achievement accomplished six years ahead of schedule. The 1 billion tonnes figure also includes projected emissions reductions from energy projects, such as factories transitioning to cleaner energy sources, extending through to 2030. Project Gigaton, Walmart’s ambitious initiative, aims for a 2.5% annual reduction in emissions, with a cumulative 30% decrease by 2030 compared to 2017 levels.
Walmart’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, which includes renewable energy investments and collaborative initiatives like Project Gigaton, illustrates its commitment to environmental stewardship. While challenges remain, the company’s proactive approach to cutting emissions and scaling green solutions positions Walmart as a leader in the transition to a more sustainable future. Through these efforts, Walmart not only advances its business interests but also contributes to global efforts to support nature restoration.
This case study highlights the importance of integrating sustainability into large-scale operations and demonstrates how companies like Walmart can drive change while maintaining financial growth.
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DGB Group is committed to empowering companies like Walmart in their journey toward carbon neutrality. As part of this mission, we recognise that nature-based solutions are essential to tackling the growing challenge of emissions reduction. nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, forest conservation, and ecosystem restoration, offer a powerful and scalable way to absorb carbon while also enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health. These solutions are critical in helping companies achieve their sustainability goals by providing natural carbon sinks that compensate for unavoidable emissions.
Our team of experts at DGB offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support businesses in their net-zero ambitions. This includes tailored carbon compensation solutions that invest in high-quality projects, detailed carbon footprint measurement to track and improve sustainability performance, and strategic sustainability consulting that helps organisations integrate environmental practices into their core operations.
As companies face increasing pressure to reduce emissions, nature-based solutions provide a cost-effective, scalable, and impactful approach to complement technological innovations. By collaborating with DGB, companies not only work toward carbon neutrality but also contribute to the restoration of vital ecosystems, ensuring a lasting positive impact on both the environment and global environmental efforts.
