A. M. With a clear vision for the future, Walmart El Salvador presented the most significant advances in its sustainability strategy for 2024. Under the firm commitment to becoming a regenerative company, the company continues working to place nature and people at the center of each of its business decisions.
For Walmart, sustainability means acting today so that families and future generations can live better. Its strategy is based on four essential pillars: Climate Change, Nature, Zero Waste, and Community.
During 2024, Walmart took firm steps in each of these areas:
• Clean energy and efficiency:
o 98% of its supermarkets, plants, and distribution centers operate with high-efficiency LED lighting and smart refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
o Merchandise transportation was optimized to reduce empty trips, minimizing unnecessary emissions.
• Innovation in renewable energy:
o Solar panels were installed in the Walmart San Miguel and Maxi Despensa Sonsonate stores, generating 400 kW of clean power.
o During the year, 758 megawatt hours of solar energy were produced, enough to power 212 Salvadoran homes and prevent the emission of 82 tons of greenhouse gases.
o By 2025, 11 more stores will join this initiative.
• A recycling culture that unites customers and the community
• Walmart not only transformed its internal operations but also engaged its customers:
• 6,300 tons of recyclable materials were recovered, preventing the consumption of 48,000 barrels of oil and the felling of 90,000 trees.
• The #SinBolsasPorFavor campaign successfully removed 58 million plastic bags from circulation in El Salvador.
• 11 recycling stations installed in Walmart stores and Despensa de Don Juan collected more than 91 tons of materials with the participation of more than 133,000 customers.
• Zero Food Waste: Nourishing Communities
The commitment to reducing food waste led to the recovery of more than 400,000 pounds of products fit for human consumption in 2024. In total, Walmart has donated more than 4.5 million pounds of food through the El Salvador Food Bank, benefiting 42,000 people. In addition, the company has invested more than $206,000 in infrastructure and transportation to support this work.
• Social impact that transforms lives
During the year, Walmart allocated $747,628.34 in donations that benefited more than 323,000 salvadorans through partnerships with 13 social organizations.
• Our support for salvadoran SMEs
Through our Tierra Fértil and SME Programs, we support more than 100 salvadoran SMEs.
Our purchases from SMEs exceed $13 million.
Our Tierra Fértil Program benefits 1,300 salvadoran families.
Our Una Mano para Crecer Program generates direct employment for 1,000 salvadorans.
“Our goal is not only to preserve, but also to restore and renew the natural and social resources in the communities where we operate. We want to transform our supply chain and operations toward regenerative models that serve as an example for the industry”, said Claudia de Ibáñez, Deputy Director of Social License at Walmart El Salvador.
