Wal-Mart Sustainability
A Case Study of Wal-Mart’s “Green” Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management has been the cornerstone to Wal-Mart’s success and remains their primary competitive advantage in the retail/department store industry. Their distribution system is generally regarded as the most efficient and they have an approach to supply chain management that has long emphasized visibility through the sharing of information with their
suppliers. Although there are hundreds of logistical functions which allow Wal-Mart to be the price and logistics leader, the focus will be primarily on the company’s newly adopted strategy of making logistical processes “green” and more environmentally conscious. According to the Supply Chain Management Review, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott committed the company to three ambitious goals: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy; to create zero waste; and to sell products that sustain Wal-Mart’s resources and the environment.