Walmart fully understands that its role does not end when consumers load their purchases into their cars. When on its premises, Walmart strives to transform the consumer into a socially and ecologically responsible agent, thus spreading good consumer practices. Concern with the environment is constant, and extends throughout the product's life cycle, up to the post-consumption stage. The company understands its role in encouraging the conscientious use and reuse of raw materials. Even outside the supermarket, Walmart carries out publicity campaigns, online initiatives as well is using other innovative ways of helping to disseminate the importance of responsible consumption.
The use of plastic bags in supermarkets has become somewhat of a cultural tradition in Brazil, in that it is perceived as being necessary. Every hour, 1.5 million plastic bags are distributed across Brazil. Walmart strives to discourage the use of plastic bags on the part of consumers, in favor of other ways of carrying their purchases, such as returnable bags and boxes. In order to promote this proposal, Walmart launched the pamphlet Sacolina, e eu com isto? (plastic bags, what am I doing with these?) (available here), a publication which highlights the problems associated with the indiscriminate use of of plastic bags, and there inappropriate disposal in the environment, as well as their life-cycle, and studies that prove the environmental advantages of using returnable bags.
Walmart has also developed a program entitled Cliente Consciente Merece Desconto (conscientious consumers deserve a discount), which gives customers a discount of R$0.03 (equivalent to the cost of one plastic bag) for every five items purchased, who dispense with the use of plastic bags; the credit appears on the purchase receipt in real-time. Since the launching of this campaign, four years ago, more than R$4.2 million has been given back to customers in this manner. In 2013 alone, the figure came to a total of R$1.05 million.
The Walmart Brasil store chain has 230 recycling stations in its units, which function as delivery points for the voluntary disposal of glass, paper, cardboard, plastic and metal. This measure, which is aligned with the Política Nacional de Residuos Sólidos (national policy for solid residue), in addition to benefiting the environment, also contributes to increasing the level of work and raising the income of refuse collectors associated with the company's co-operative partnerships. In addition to recycling stations, Walmart also has 18 collection points for medicines that have passed their sell-by date in Walmart Brazil's pharmacies, in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Pernambuco. These residues, considered to be a health risk and capable of contaminating soil, rivers and water tables, are separated and transported by companies that are qualified to carry out this type of work. In only 12 months of this initiative, one ton of medicines was collected in this way.
In order to further encourage recycling, in 2013 Walmart launched the vitamin supplement, Active Up, which carries a R$2.50 voucher for every container returned. The containers collected were subsequently sent for incineration by a specialist company. Other promotions carried out during the year included, in the month of the anniversary of Walmart's pharmacies, discounts for anybody handing in medicines that had passed their sell-by date. Consumers can also count on Walmart Brazil's stores as a place to return old batteries and cellphones, which are subsequently disposed of in the correct manner.
Any consumers wishing to know more about sustainability can make use of free online course modules offered by the Getulio Vargas Foundation, in partnership with Walmart Brasil. The courses are: Sustentabilidade aplicado aos negócios: orientações para o gestor (sustainability applied to business: guidelines for managers); Sustentabilidade no dia a dia: orientações para o cidadao (sustainability on a day-to-day basis: guidelines for citizens); and Sustentabilidade, um valor para a nova geração: orientações para o professor de ensino fundamental (sustainability, a core value for the new generation, guidelines for teachers at the elementary level). In two years, more than 226,000 people, including small businessman, teachers and consumers, have completed these modules, which are part of the Open Course Ware Consortium (OCWC) program, a consortium of learning institutions from various countries, which offers courses and teaching materials free of charge, for any Internet user.
Walmart Brasil also sponsored the Initiation in Marketing course sponsored by FGV (Getulio Vargas Foundation). The various class divisions during the semester carried out research on products with sustainability characteristics suggested by the company, and held a presentation on this theme as a final course evaluation exercise. Representatives of Walmart participate in the initial class and an examination board that awards a prize to the group with the best performance. In 2013, eight class intakes underwent this course and the improvements suggested by them serve as an input for Walmart's private-label division, in the development of new items and products.
