Being the leader in social and environmental questions is one of our operating principles. Through this commitment, we try to set an example by supporting the most diverse initiatives, whether through investments or providing technical support, interaction, mobilization and spreading knowledge.
In 2009, we assumed the challenge, in partnership with our suppliers, of building a business model that gives priority to innovative actions respecting the environment, society and customers. The consolidated results from the five years of the Pacto pela Sustentabilidade (Pact for Sustainability) presented to our suppliers and other stakeholders show that we have a lot to commemorate and leave as a legacy the learning for new initiatives which will guide the agenda of the industry and retail sector in the future.
Internally, we maintained our focus on the pillars of Climate and Energy and Waste. At this time, when the national water crisis has impacted the most diverse sectors, we set up a Water Committee. We are continuing to invest in eco-efficiency initiatives in our units, such as in the use of LED lighting, the installation of new equipment with a lower consumption of water, and buying energy on the open market, amongst other actions.
Developing new talents is another priority front for the company. Retail is often the entry point to the job market and our responsibility is to train and educate this workforce so that it can continue to make a contribution to sustainable development and the growth of our business and the country. Over 1,000 employees were promoted to leadership positions in 2014 which shows that we are on the right path.
Upgrading the skills of professionals for the retail sector is also the Walmart Institute's focus and is done through the Escola Social do Varejo – ESV (Social Retail School). Over 6,000 young people have been trained since the program was created, including around 1,000 in 2014 alone. More than 80% entered the job market, 40% in our company. In 2014, 160 teachers from the public school network were trained in the ESV methodology and, in turn, taught the content to over 60,000 public school students.
Another concern we have is to ensure Walmart Brasil has a diverse workforce. To do so, we invest in promoting diversity. We have a Diversity Council which discusses the development of the diversity indices and puts forward action plans that take them into account, e.g. the rise of women to leadership positions.
All these initiatives, internal and external, are only possible thanks to the incorporation of the social and environment issues to the business strategy. Our work is always inspired by our mission “saving people money so they can live better”. This means offering more sustainable products without increasing the costs to our customers. On the contrary, it is essential to give access to products with differentials in terms of sustainability and prices that are always lower, guaranteeing customers that the final cost of the purchase is more advantageous every day of the week. This is what we call Preço Baixo Todo Dia – PBTD (Everyday Low Prices) and it is also implemented by means of a combined action along the entire value chain.
For all the support given in the various partnership initiatives, we thank our stakeholders who assume the challenge with us of bringing about positive changes that are increasingly more necessary. The conquests and lessons for the next steps forward stem from this joint effort, as the results presented in this Sustainability Report. Therefore, we will continue with our work of performing our role and maintaining our commitment to a more sustainable future for everybody.
Enjoy your reading!
Guilherme Loureiro
CEO and President of Walmart Brasil