THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW
Engaging suppliers through Project Gigaton In 2016, Walmart became the first retailer to set an SBTi-approved target for emissions reduction and launched Project Gigaton, an initiative aimed at avoiding, reducing or sequestering one billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from retail product value chains.“ Project Gigaton is a way to get real climate action,” Kathleen says.
The programme focuses on Scope 3 emissions, which, at 98 %, represent the largest share of the retailer’ s carbon footprint. More than 50,500 suppliers are now involved, representing more than 75 % of Walmart’ s net sales.
Project Gigaton engages suppliers in practical, measurable actions to reduce emissions – and achieved its original target six years ahead of schedule. Kathleen credits the success to four key areas:
• Keeping it practical and focused“ We designed the programme with some of the best scientists from World Wildlife Fund, from CDP, from World Resources Institute, from Environmental Defense Fund to help us identify the biggest concentrations of emissions in value chains,” she explains.“ That allowed us to focus on practical projects that can get at sources of emissions that matter most instead of going to suppliers and asking them to measure or work on the emissions impact of every single item they sell in every part of the world, which would not be a very practical or high impact approach.”
5,900 +
suppliers have joined Project Gigatron, representing 75 % of Walmart’ s sales
• Clear business benefits“ We encouraged people to pursue the projects that mattered most for them and would create business benefits,” Kathleen explains.“ Things like energy efficiency that help lower cost, or things that would give them security in commodity supply, like avoiding deforestation.”
• Relevant support“ Some of our suppliers are big companies that don’ t need a lot of support from us,” she continues.“ Some of them do need support. So we offer learning modules, webinars, summits, to help people get practical ideas about how to go faster, alongside practical tools like Circular Connector, a tool that connects suppliers to third-party packaging solutions. HSBC has also offered lower cost financing to suppliers engaged in the programme.”
• Recognition“ We publicly recognise the suppliers that are engaged in reporting,” Kathleen says.
30 June 2026