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Walmart, Sam’s Club set goal to source beef more sustainably by 2025

Retail giant is exploring soil health, animal welfare, responsible use of antibiotics and partnerships

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

August 7, 2020

4 Min Read
Walmart sustainable beef cropped.png
Walmart aspires to source its fresh beef products more sustainably by 2025, including prioritizing soil health, animal welfare and responsible use of antibiotics.Walmart

As part of its commitment to sourcing 20 key commodities more sustainably by 2025, Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart, operator of Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club stores, announced a new set of aspirations to help the company meet its goal of sourcing beef products more sustainably.

“As the needs of the world have shifted, we are furthering our original goal while staying true to one of our earliest sustainability commitments — to sell more sustainable products while maintaining the low prices customers expect,” wrote David Baskin, Merchandising Vice President Meat, Walmart U.S., and Kyle Kinnard, Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager of Meat and Seafood, Sam's Club, in a blog post on Friday.

“Beef is one of these commodities. As the world population continues to grow, so does the global demand for protein, which brings a unique set of sustainability challenges and opportunities,” the blog continued. “Livestock grazing and beef production in the U.S. can be part of a resilient, sustainable food system. Grazing lands cover about 40% of the United States. This includes iconic ecosystems and important wildlife.”

In its announcement, Walmart acknowledged the important role of the nation’s farmers and ranchers in keeping well-managed grazing lands that can help secure clean water, enhance habitat, sustain rural communities and store additional carbon in the soil, which helps mitigate emissions.

Related:Ahold Delhaize USA updates sustainability policies for GMOs and animal welfare

“Farmers and ranchers are the stewards of these lands, and as an industry, we need to support ongoing and increased efforts to maximize the positive effects of cattle production,” said Baskin and Kinnard in their blog. “We’ve learned a lot from farmers and ranchers who understand the importance of soil health and grazing to carbon sequestration and have vested interest in ensuring they protect their land for generations to come.” (Check out the video below on the sustainability and health of America’s grazing lands.)

Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club U.S. announced the following aspirations that will further their work and ultimately bring the companies closer to meeting their 2025 objectives in sustainable beef sourcing:

• Sustainably raised: driving soil health and animal welfare.
Walmart aspires to source its fresh beef products more sustainably by 2025, including prioritizing soil health, animal welfare and responsible use of antibiotics. The retailer will continue working with suppliers to improve grain sourcing and grazing management practices across a total of 12 million acres (or more than 9 million football fields), while upholding its suppliers to the “Five Freedoms” for animal welfare. Walmart expects its suppliers will not tolerate animal abuse of any kind and support its position on the judicious use of antibiotics in farm animals.

Related:Grocery chains make strides in sustainability

• The need for greater transparency and partnership.
Walmart’s new aspirations also include encouraging its suppliers to continuously improve their efforts in understanding the entire beef production cycle, from farm to fork. Using a science-driven process, Walmart worked with The Nature Conservancy to identify opportunities and strategies to improve sustainability efforts throughout its supply chain, which can ultimately lead to improved soil health and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.

With this in place, Walmart aspires to source from fresh beef suppliers who have a tech-enabled supply chain to measure sustainability impact at scale. The infusion of modern technology may help beef suppliers measure the benefits of grazing and grain best practices, adaptively manage and offer a more accurate way to trace impact. It can also help support beef suppliers’ efforts to better understand the environmental footprint of their supply chains, for instance using geographic and greenhouse gas indicators.

To measure, track and understand which efforts are most successful, so Walmart can better share learnings across the sector, the company is also asking its suppliers to participate in annual reporting initiatives like Walmart’s Project Gigaton initiative and THESIS performance assessments.

• Collaboration is key.
Supporting farmers and ranchers in their efforts to improve and continuing to drive meaningful, lasting change across the beef supply chain calls for collaboration. While Walmart works with individuals and small groups of stakeholders, the company is also partnering in key collective action initiatives, such as the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable BeefMidwest Row Crop Collaborative and Field to Market.

“These efforts help the industry come together to share and align on best practices, course correct where needed and continue to evolve the industry to meet goals for suppliers and the environment,” wrote Baskin and Kinnard. “Overall, we see an opportunity for a whole-system transformation and continued progress across the beef supply chain. That is why we focus on sustainability in our sourcing decisions and work to drive action in policy, advocacy and philanthropy both globally and domestically.”

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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