Policies and Commitments

Accessibility Plan For Walmart Canada

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for Walmart Canada

Application

The 2022 to 2026 Accessibility Plan applies to Walmart Canada within the Walmart group of companies to which AODA applies. This includes:

• Walmart Canada Corp. Stores in Ontario
• Walmart Logistics sites in Ontario

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

The 2022-2027 multi-year accessibility plan outlines the goals and initiatives that reaffirm Walmart Canada’s (“Walmart”) commitment to creating an accessible place to shop and building an equitable and inclusive environment that values the contributions of people with disabilities.

This plan is updated at least once every five years and posted on Walmart Canada’s website.

Statement of Commitment

Walmart is committed to treating everyone in a way that allows them to live with respect and maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration, inclusion and equitable opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of people living with disabilities in a timely manner and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements, especially as they relate to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”).

Walmart is equally committed to supporting associates through advice, policies, tools, training, resources and governance structures that promote an inclusive and accessible workplace and support employees in delivering accessible goods, services and facilities.

Policies

Walmart has implemented a Customers with Disabilities Policy that applies to all stores in Canada to ensure that customers with disabilities are treated with respect and dignity in their shopping experience at Walmart.

Walmart has implemented a Duty to Accommodate Policy that applies to all associates in Canada to ensure that associates do not face barriers to working or continuing to work because of disabilities.

Accessible Emergency Information

Walmart is committed to providing its customers with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. Emergency procedure information is available to visitors of Walmart’s Home Office. Walmart also provides associates the opportunity to prepare individualized emergency response information plans to assist in the event of an emergency.

Training

Walmart has provided computer-based training to all of its associates on the subject of customers living with disabilities and Walmart will ensure that the training remains current at all times.

Walmart will provide training to associates, managers, service-providers and volunteers on applicable accessibility laws and on human rights legislation as it relates to people living with disabilities. Training will be updated and provided on an on-going basis. Records of the training, including dates and the number of individuals in attendance will be maintained in accordance with AODA.

Kiosks

Walmart will consider the needs of people living with disabilities when procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks. Walmart will identify areas of its business in which kiosks are used and coordinate with its vendors and suppliers to ensure that appropriate accessibility features (technical, structural, access path, etc.) are included in the design of any future purchased kiosks.

Customer Service

Walmart strives to provide customers with disabilities with the same level of access to goods, services, and facilities as the rest of the population. This can and does include:

• Accommodating the use of assistive devices, service animals and support persons by customers with disabilities, or considering and making available alternative arrangements where this is not possible.
• Communicating with customers in a way which accounts for unique disabilities, including providing alternate communication formats (such as large print or Braille).
• Providing reasonable notice to the public of any temporary disruption to facilities and services and are normally made available to persons with disabilities, including the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration of the disruption and a description of alternate services or facilities, if any, which are available to persons with disabilities during the disruption.

Information and Communications

Walmart is committed to meeting the communication needs of people living with disabilities.

Walmart has updated its websites and content on those sites to conform with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA.

Walmart will continue to i) assess current forms of company communication, ii) consider accessibility requirements when creating new forms of communication, iii) make appropriate changes and accommodations, and iv) ensure customers and associates are aware of how to participate in providing and receiving a response to feedback.

Walmart will continue to make sure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request and ongoingly assess all forms of information provided to the public and determine if there is anything that would make it hard for people/those living with a disability to read, see, hear or understand and establish processes for ensuring alternate formats are available in a timely manner.

Employment

Walmart is committed to fair and accessible employment practices.

Walmart will accommodate people living with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment and hiring processes and during employment. Job posting and advertisements will inform prospective candidates that accommodation is available in the hiring process. Offers of employment will notify successful candidates of Walmart policies for accommodating people with disabilities.

Walmart will review current recruitment policies, job descriptions, processes and communications and amend as necessary, and as required by the AODA, to reflect required Integrated Accessibility Standards.

Upon the request of an employee with a disability, Walmart will consult with the associate to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for information that is needed in order to perform they employee’s job, and information that is generally available to Walmart employees.

Walmart will develop or revise as required individual accommodation plans, and return-to-work policies for associates who have been absent due to a disability. Individualized emergency response information will be provided to employees with disabilities which reasonably require the provision of such information for emergency preparedness.

Walmart will review performance management, career development and re-deployment processes and amend as required to ensure the accessibility needs of associates living with disabilities are taken into account in connection with these processes.

Walmart will take the opportunity to identify and take any necessary steps to prevent and remove other accessibility barriers impacting employment.

Design of Public Spaces

Walmart will work toward meeting the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces which can include accessible off-street parking, ramps, sidewalks, entrances and service-related elements like service counters, check-out lines, waiting areas and washrooms.

Feedback

We want to hear about your experience. If you have questions or wish to provide feedback, our Customer Service Centre is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST (excluding holidays).

For more information:

• You can call our Customer Service Centre at 1-800-328-0402.
• You can send Customer Service an email about your experience.
• You can speak with an associate or store manager in-person at one of our stores.

If you require an alternative format, Customer Service will provide one to you upon request.

Customer Service Contact Information:
1940 Argentia Road
Mississauga, Ontario L5N 1P9

Phone: 1-800-328-0402

Email: cacustrel@wal-mart.com

Animal Welfare

We recognize that farm animals play an important role in providing nutritious meat, dairy and eggs to our customers. Walmart Canada believes the animals in our supply chain should be treated humanely throughout their lives and will not tolerate animal abuse of any kind. We support the globally-recognized “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare as an aspiration for animal welfare in our supply chain.

Walmart Canada is committed to ensuring the farm animals in our supply chain are treated humanely throughout their lives and that the welfare of farm animals be considered in selection of all production systems, practices and technologies.

We will not tolerate animal abuse of any kind and we support the globally-recognized “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare as an aspiration for animal welfare in our supply chain. We are working with our suppliers and industry partners to ensure the humane treatment of animals consistent with the Five Freedoms.

Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst – by providing ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.
2. Freedom from Discomfort – by providing appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease – by ensuring prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

In 2013 and 2016 respectively, Walmart committed to the pursuit of gestation crate free pork by 2022 and cage free eggs by 2025. Although progress has been made toward both of these goals it has become apparent that they will not be achieved in the original timelines. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue with the supply chain to make progress on these important initiatives. Additionally, we are working toward a reporting system that will provide periodic updates on our progress toward enhanced animal welfare.

In calendar year 2023 approximately 9% of shelled eggs, as a percentage of total shell egg net sales, were cage free and/or free run based on information provided by our suppliers.   Additionally, Walmart Canada continues to work with suppliers to source shelled eggs from cage free, free run and organic farmers. Check out our current assortment of cage free eggs which includes our own Walmart Brand of free run, organic eggs. 

Walmart Canada continues to work with suppliers to source pork from farms using open pen housing for sows as soon as possible based on availability and costs.

Additionally, Walmart Canada continues to work with suppliers to source shelled eggs from cage free, free run and organic farmers. Check out our current assortment of cage free eggs which includes our own Walmart Brand of free run, organic eggs.

Charter on Plastics

Walmart Canada’s plastic waste reduction commitment

Reducing unnecessary plastic waste and increasing plastic recycling are key priorities for Walmart Canada. Walmart Canada’s Charter on Plastics is a milestone commitment to reduce plastic waste across our operations.

Overview

Walmart Canada is pursuing a three-pronged strategy:

1. Use less plastic: Find viable alternatives to plastic and seek to reduce or eliminate plastic packaging where possible.
2. Recycle more: Where packaging is required in our private label brands, work to ensure it is 100% recyclable and increase the recycled content of the packaging.
3. Support improvements to the plastic waste reduction system: Partner with innovators to develop environmentally preferable options to plastics and promote reuse and expand recycling capabilities across Canada.

Full commitment

To use less plastic, Walmart Canada is:

• Reducing check-out plastic bags by a further 50% by 2025, taking approximately 1 billion check-out bags out of circulation over that period
• Eliminating all PVC and polystyrene packaging in Walmart’s own private brands by 2025
• Eliminating unnecessary plastic packaging in Walmart’s own private brand products
• Eliminating single-use plastic straws and replacing them with paper alternatives by 2020, taking approximately 35 million single-use straws out of circulation annually
• Providing customers with more environmentally-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic household products, including utensils, plates and cups
• Eliminating all single-use plastics from cafeterias at Walmart Canada’s corporate offices and distribution centres by the end of 2019

To recycle more Walmart Canada is:

• Committing to 100% recyclable packaging in all Walmart’s own private brands by 2025
• Developing design guides for our suppliers to help them reduce unnecessary plastic packaging
• Encouraging greater recycling by committing to use no less than 20% recycled content in our plastic packaging by 2025
• Helping make it easier for customers to recycle plastic film and other packaging through initiatives like The Plastic Bag Grab Challenge, a program developed by Recycling Council of Ontario that encourages students to learn and take action on plastic waste by reducing their use, while collecting discarded plastic bags for recycling in their schools and beyond.

To support improvements to the plastic waste reduction system, Walmart Canada is:

• Becoming the first Canadian retailer to publicly commit to using How2Recycle labelling on all our own private brand products by 2025
• Partnering with governments, manufacturers and other stakeholders, to work towards reducing unnecessary plastic packaging and increasing plastic recycling
• Proud to be a founding partner of the Plastic Action Centre, a unique knowledge hub solely dedicated to plastic waste education and reduction across Canada and beyond
• A founding member of the Canadian Circular Economy Leadership Coalition which seeks to foster collaboration among industries, experts, communities and all levels of government
• A supporter of the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter, which seeks to move toward a more resource-efficient and sustainable approach to the management of plastics
  A signatory to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which commits to eliminating all problematic and unnecessary plastic items
• Enacting the Closed Loop Fund to engage the industry in supporting recycling infrastructure (one of the major gaps in the circular economy) and supporting the major NGO/industry consortia studying the issue (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, Trash Free Seas Alliance) Working with The Walmart Foundation, who will be providing support for Canadian initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste

The problem of plastic waste

• While plastic waste is on the rise, it’s estimated that less than 11% of plastic waste is currently recycled in Canada, only slightly better than the 9% global average, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada
• The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s Strategy on Zero Plastics waste estimates that 95% of the material value of plastic packaging, or between $100 and $150 billion dollars annually, is lost to the global economy after only a single use
• According to the Recycling Council of Ontario, one billion single-use plastic bags are handed out in Canada every year – nearly two million single-use plastic bags are distributed worldwide every minute
• 57 million single-use plastic straws are thrown out every day
• 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic have been generated around the world since 1953; 6.3 billion tonnes have gone to waste
• Eight million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year
• More than five trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans

Sustainability at Walmart

Plastic waste is one of several sustainability priorities for Walmart globally. Walmart has committed to zero waste across operations in four key markets, including Canada by 2025. Last year Walmart Canada committed to zero food waste by 2025. Currently, 87% of waste at Walmart Canada is diverted from landfill.

This commitment builds on Walmart’s long history of supporting plastic waste reduction initiatives in Canada, including:

• Decreasing plastic bag use in Walmart Canada stores by 50% through plastic bag fees
• Committing to 100% recyclable packaging in all private brands by 2025
• Providing lead sponsorship of Recycling Council of Ontario’s national Plastic Bag Grab Challenge in elementary schools for past 3 years
  

Global Anti-Corruption Policy

Updated: June 29, 2012

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide (collectively "Walmart" or the "Company"), are committed to maintaining the highest possible ethical standards and complying with all applicable laws. In all of its operations, Walmart seeks to avoid even the appearance of impropriety with respect to the actions of any of its officers, directors, associates, employees, agents or representatives. This policy prohibits corrupt payments in all circumstances, whether in dealings with government officials or individuals in the private sector.

General Directives

It is the policy of Walmart to comply with all relevant Anti-Corruption laws including, but not limited to, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") and the UK Bribery Act.

Accordingly, Walmart prohibits anyone acting on behalf of the Company, directly or indirectly, from making or receiving improper payments.

Improper payments means receiving or paying bribes or giving, offering, or promising to give money or anything else of value to any person, including any Government Official, in order to improperly influence any act or decision of a person, or to otherwise gain an improper benefit for the Company.

A Government Official may include, but is not limited to, any officer or employee of a foreign government, a public international organization, a member of a political party, a candidate for foreign political office, any foreign government department or agency thereof, or any official or employee of a state-owned business enterprise.

The use of Walmart funds or assets for any illegal, improper, or unethical purpose is strictly prohibited.

Compliance with this Global Anti-Corruption Policy (the “Policy”) is required of all associates and third parties that are engaged to interact or may interact with government officials on the Company’s behalf. All associates are responsible for ensuring that third parties with whom they interact fully understand and follow the policy and associated procedures in their activities related to Walmart business.

Violations 

Any associate or third party who violates this policy in connection with Walmart business will be subject to disciplinary measures, up to and including termination in the case of an associate, or termination of business relations in the case of a third party and, where appropriate, referral of the matter to relevant law enforcement authorities.

Global Implementation of Anti-Corruption Policy

To effectively implement this policy, Walmart shall maintain an effective risk-based Global Anti-Corruption Program (the "Program") designed to prevent, detect, and remediate bribery and recordkeeping violations. As part of the program, Walmart shall adopt operating procedures specifically targeted to the corruption risks that exist for all of its operations, worldwide. Management in each affected area shall be responsible for ensuring that adequate resources are devoted to maintaining effective compliance programs. A senior executive at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., shall be given overall responsibility for the Program, and shall report regularly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which shall exercise reasonable oversight as to the implementation and effectiveness of the Program.

The procedures and governance used to implement this policy, shall include, at a minimum:

• Effective controls on the disbursement of funds and other assets to ensure that disbursements are not made for improper purposes;
• Measures to ensure that books and records accurately reflect the disposition of assets;
• Clearly articulated standards of behavior as included in Walmart's Statement of Ethics, which shall be well publicized to all of Walmart's operations, worldwide;
• Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines for day-to-day management and implementation of the compliance procedures;
• Effective training of executives, associates and, where appropriate, third parties regarding relevant anti-corruption standards and procedures;
• Testing by Internal Audit or a third party for compliance with the anti-corruption procedures, including review of expenditures for operations that interact with government officials;
• Corruption risk assessments conducted annually;
• Conducting due diligence of third parties engaged to interact with government officials on behalf of the Company;
• Effectively publicized means to report or seek guidance on actual or potential anti-corruption issues, as well as procedures for responding to such reports or requests;
• Regular review and, if necessary, revisions or updates to this policy and to the related procedures where appropriate, including in response to legal, regulatory, or industry changes or violations of the Anti-Corruption Policy;
• Appropriate incentives and punishments for associates, executives and third parties for adherence to or violations of, respectively, the relevant policy and related procedures.

Reporting

Every associate or third party who has information that this policy or related procedures may have been violated, or believes he or she is being asked to pay a bribe or receive a bribe, or otherwise act in contravention of this policy shall immediately report the event, as provided by Walmart's Statement of Ethics. Reports shall be made, and may be made anonymously to any officer (Vice President or above) of the Company, Global Ethics, the International Global Ethics Helpline, or the International Anti-Corruption Compliance Manager/Director. Reports may also be made to the Local Ethics Helpline, the legal department, the Compliance and Ethics Office or the Market Anti-Corruption Compliance Manager/Director. If anyone receives a report through the Open Door process he or she shall promptly forward the report to one of the contacts stated in this paragraph. Anyone who receives a report through any of the channels stated in this paragraph shall immediately report to the Global Ethics Helpline.

Contact information for making reports through the International or Local Helplines are below:

Walmart's International Global Ethics Helpline: 800-WM-ETHIC (800-963-8442)

Web: www.walmartethics.com or
Email: ethics@wal-mart.com

Specific country contact information can also be found on www.walmartethics.com

Anyone who reports a suspected violation of this policy will not be subject to disciplinary action or retaliation for the act of making the report. However, anyone who reports a suspected violation may be subject to disciplinary action to the extent he or she violated any Walmart policy or procedure. 

Health Products Stewardship Association

As part of our commitment to responsible medication and medical sharps disposal, we are proud to support Medications Return Programs and the Sharps Collection Programs managed by Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA). These programs provide a safe and convenient way for consumers to dispose of unused or expired household medications and used medical sharps in an environmentally responsible manner.

To learn more about properly storing and handling pharmaceuticals and medical sharps or finding a collection location near you, we encourage you to visit the HPSA website at www.healthsteward.ca.

Human Rights Statement

Our Business and Values

Walmart’s purpose is to save people money and help them live better. We achieve our purpose through our associates and recognize that our associates make the difference. Through our business, we provide customers with convenient access to safe, affordable products and services; contribute to the community; create career opportunities; and provide opportunities for suppliers to grow their businesses that, in turn, employ others.

Walmart respects human rights; our work is guided by our values:

• Respect the individual
• Act with integrity
• Serve our customers
• Strive for excellence

We engage in diverse business activities across the globe, with more than two million full-time and part-time associates from a variety of ethnicities, orientations, backgrounds and life experiences. Our associates also are members of thousands of local communities around the world. We endeavor to act in an ethical and responsible manner and have policies and procedures in place to guide our decisions and behaviors.

Our associate base is large, our supply chain reaches thousands of suppliers and we serve millions of customers in communities around the world through our store presence as well as online. We are mindful that many adverse human rights risks are complex and can be the result of systemic issues, making it challenging for any single organization to have an impact. When it comes to addressing these human rights issues, we seek to go beyond our own policies and procedures by working collaboratively with other stakeholders to inform our approach and identify root causes; sharing our work with others; and using our leverage to help drive positive change.

We identify our salient human rights priorities based on relevance to our company purpose, key categories and markets; the scale and severity of the potential human rights risk; and Walmart’s ability to make a difference. Our response to human rights issues is informed by international instruments including, but not limited to, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labor Organization’s 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We have also taken into consideration input from relevant internal and external stakeholders and experts.

This statement describes Walmart’s approach to human rights in all aspects of our operations globally, including all associates at all levels of the organization.

A Foundation of Compliance

Governments have the responsibility to protect and uphold human rights of their citizens. Walmart respects those human rights and complies with the laws of the countries in which we operate. We expect our associates, suppliers, contractors and others within our sphere of influence to act accordingly.

We respect the basic rights of workers as those rights are defined under applicable law in the countries in which we operate and from which we source the products we sell. Those basic rights include freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor, the effective abolition of underage labor and the elimination of discrimination in respect to employment and occupation.

Our Values in Action

Respect the Individual

We believe in treating all people with respect, whether it is a co-worker, supplier, customer or any person doing business with us. This means treating one another with fairness and dignity in all our interactions in the workplace and as members of society. We also seek and embrace differences in people, ideas and experiences.

We recognize there are different views about freedom of association. Our view is, consistent with applicable law, that Walmart respects the rights of associates to join, form or not to join an employee association or trade union of their choice without interference. Associates should exercise these rights in an informed manner, and with the benefit of thoughtful consideration and available information. In the exercise of these rights, we believe in the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information, provided there is no interference.

Act with Integrity

Acting with integrity guides how we approach our work on human rights. To implement this work, we:

• Assess, on an ongoing basis, potential adverse human rights impacts, the severity of the potential impact, and the relevant processes in place;
• Integrate relevant findings into policies and procedures, based upon the assessment;
• Track progress as part of Walmart’s efforts to continuously improve;
• Communicate with relevant internal and external stakeholders to help shape and inform our work and priorities; and
• Adjust our human rights priorities, as needed.

While there exist a variety of mechanisms—including those offered by governments—to raise and seek redress of actual or perceived human rights concerns, Walmart also has developed its own grievance mechanisms to enable workers, customers, workers in the supply chain, communities where we operate and other stakeholders to be heard and be given proper consideration. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, our anonymous ethics hotlines and longstanding Open Door Communications Policy for associates, and the internal structures that support resolution of each issue raised. We encourage stakeholders to raise concerns and to report activities they suspect may contravene the values and positions we express in this statement or any Walmart policy. We will not retaliate against any party for raising concerns in good faith.

We seek to be transparent about our human rights efforts and will periodically provide additional details, inclusive of our priorities, through our Global Responsibility Report or similar means. The work is overseen by company executives and led by a cross-functional team, relying upon and developing standards, programs and practices, training and reporting.

Our Code of Conduct articulates how we promote our culture of integrity across the company and is the foundation of our approach to human rights. Our Standards for Suppliers forms the basis of our work to address social issues in the supply chain of goods for resale. Our Culture & Belonging website lays out how we build an inclusive workplace culture where every associate feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work every day.

Serve our Customers

Our customers are the reason we’re in business. We strive to meet and exceed their expectations by providing safer, more affordable, more accessible, healthier and more sustainable goods and services.

Strive for Excellence

Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, wanted his company to be a force for good, and we seek to use our scale, capabilities and influence to help people and communities. This spirit is an important component for how we engage on human rights topics to drive meaningful change. We find this approach not only mitigates risk—it can generate significant, lasting value for our business and for society.

Adoption

The Walmart Board of Directors approved this statement on November 2, 2018. The Board reviews our progress on human rights, at minimum, annually.

Position on Sustainable Seafood

Section I: Sustainable Products at Walmart | Our Pledge to Customers/Members

Our customers and members count on Walmart and Sam’s Club to deliver affordable products in a way that is sustainable for people and for the planet. To meet those needs, we work with partners all along the supply chain to improve the sustainability of products we sell. We do this while working to offer quality products, everyday low prices and putting customers in charge of their food choices by helping provide clear, accurate information about food ingredients and production.

Section II: Sustainable Seafood

Over the past half century, demand for seafood has increased five-fold. An estimated 75 percent of the world’s fisheries are at or beyond sustainable limits. Meanwhile, an estimated 1 billion people rely on fish as their primary source of protein, while another 200 million rely on the industry as their main source of income.

Section III: Walmart’s Position

Walmart aspires to help make choices easier and more transparent for people. We serve hundreds of millions of customers every year, and we advocate for them among suppliers to provide more sustainably produced products while maintaining the low prices customers expect. As part of our efforts to provide our customers affordable, safe, and healthier food, Walmart is committed to expand and enhance sustainable sourcing to cover 20 key commodities.

At Walmart, we value our relationships with the seafood suppliers who are dedicated to providing the highest in quality and safety through practices that promote sustainable fisheries and social responsibility. We know that seafood is an important source of protein, nutrition, and income for people all over the world. Therefore, we aspire to find our customers safe, affordable, and sustainable seafood that does not negatively affect global communities or the environment. Our goal is to build transparency and continuous improvement in the seafood supply chain so that we can build confidence and provide for our customers now and in the future.

Walmart believes the health of species, fisheries and ecosystems around the world is good for the planet and important to people today and in the future. We are working with our suppliers and partners to track the management of fisheries from which our suppliers source so that we can promote a sustainable supply.

In addition, we care about the men and women in our supply chain and in the seafood industry as a whole, and we are concerned about the ethical recruitment and treatment of workers. While this is a complex issue, we are actively engaged in bringing together numerous stakeholders, NGOs and other private sector companies to help find solutions.

Section IV: What we’re asking of our suppliers

Section IV.1: Fresh and Frozen Seafood

By 2025, based on price, availability, quality, customer demand, and unique regulatory environments across our global retail markets, Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, Walmart Canada, Walmart Brazil, Walmart Mexico, and Walmart Central America will require all fresh and frozen, farmed and wild seafood suppliers to source from fisheries who are:

• Third-party certified as sustainable using Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), or certified by a program which follows the FAO Guidelines¹ and is recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) as such. For our farmed supply, we expect suppliers to ensure sustainable production and sourcing throughout the supply chain, including final processing plant, farms, hatcheries and feed mills.

OR

• Actively working toward certification or in a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) or Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP) that has definitive and ambitious goals, measurable metrics, and time bound milestones.

Canned Tuna

By 2025, based on price, availability, quality, customer demand, and unique regulatory environments across our global retail markets, Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, and Walmart Canada will require all canned light and white tuna suppliers to source from fisheries who are:

• Complying with the International Sustainable Seafood Foundation (ISSF) sustainability conservation measures, including those adopted in collaboration with relevant tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMO) and from vessels that are registered on the Pro-active Vessel Register (PVR).

AND

• Third-party certified as sustainable using Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), or certified by a program which follows the FAO Guidelines1 and is recognized by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) as such. Walmart will also source from suppliers using better management fishing practices as validated through chain of custody (e.g. pole and line, free-school sets).

OR

• Actively working toward certification or in a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) that has definitive and ambitious goals, measurable metrics, and time bound milestones.

When it comes to the issue of method of catch, Walmart will offer customer choice in select markets, based on local customer preference and market retail norms.

• Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club offer customer choice by carrying FAD-free lines of canned tuna.
• Walmart Canada will add Marine Stewardship Council-certified or FAD-free tuna to its private brand assortment by the end of 2021.

Section IV.2: Tuna – Fresh/Frozen and Shelf Stable

By 2027, based on price, availability, quality, customer demand and unique regulatory environments across our global retail markets Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club U.S. and Walmart Canada will require all fresh, frozen and shelf stable tuna suppliers to source exclusively from vessels that have 100% observer monitoring1 (electronic monitoring or human observer). Acceptable forms of observer coverage include practices recognized or required by a governmental authority with jurisdiction over a fishery, or by the International Sustainable Seafood Foundation where no governmental standards apply. The requirement for observer monitoring does not apply to tuna fished by pole and line or hand line gear types.

Transshipment involves the transfer of fish or fish products from one fishing vessel to another vessel at sea or in port. At-sea transshipment can prevent the collection of accurate data about seafood products, and provide opportunities to hide illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities². Transshipment in any maritime zone incurs risks, but the risk of undesirable activity is typically greatest on the high seas. While in-port transshipment reduces the risk of certain actors engaging in or concealing undesirable activities, risk can be further mitigated by offloading tuna vessels in port with 100% observer monitoring. In addition to mitigating risk, monitored dockside offloading may provide a range of socio-economic benefits including local employment and reduced costs of goods.

To address the risk of high seas transshipment in our supply chain, by 2027, based on price, availability, quality, customer demand and unique regulatory environments, Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club U.S. and Walmart Canada will require all fresh, frozen and shelf-stable tuna suppliers to source from fisheries using zero high seas transshipment, unless the transshipment activity is covered by 100% observer monitoring (electronic monitoring or human observer). All suppliers are encouraged to report on transshipment rates at sea or in port and minimize the practice of high seas transshipment to the fullest extent possible.

¹ Walmart defines observer monitoring as the practice of collecting scientific, technical and relevant compliance information on commercial fishing activities at sea, such as data on catch, fishing effort and bycatch. Observer monitoring may be carried out by human observers or electronic monitoring systems that continuously record data during fishing trips using technology such as data sensors, video cameras, and GPS.

² Source: https://www.iss-foundation.org/glossary/transshipment/

Section V: Responsible Sourcing

Walmart’s commitment includes respecting the dignity of those who grow, catch and produce products for our customers. That is why Walmart suppliers globally—including seafood suppliers—are expected to comply with Walmart’s Standards for Suppliers and applicable Responsible Sourcing program requirements. Walmart’s Standards for Suppliers set out our expectations of suppliers and their facilities regarding the ethical treatment of workers, workplace safety, environmental responsibility, and appropriate business practices. The Standards apply throughout the supply chain, including vessels, hatcheries, feed mills, farms, and final processing facilities. Walmart expects its suppliers to be transparent, to disclose facilities consistent with policy and make all facilities available for audit or inspection at any time, and to commit to continuous improvement. Suppliers are also encouraged to involve themselves in Walmart-led or -supported industry initiatives focused on improving responsible sourcing in seafood supply chains. More about Walmart’s Responsible Sourcing program requirements and collaborative initiatives can be found at corporate.walmart.com/sourcing.

FAO Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. Revision (2009)

FAO Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Inland Capture Fisheries (2011)

FAO Technical guidelines on aquaculture Certification (2011)

Sustainable Chemistry in Consumables

Our customers want products that are affordable, safer and better for the environment.  We are committed to supporting the advancement of sustainable chemistry practices to help minimize the negative environmental and health impacts certain chemical products and processes may cause.  This commitment covers the following departments:  Health & Beauty Aids (D2), Household Paper (D4), Pets + Supplies (D8), Household Chemicals (D13) and Cosmetics (D46).

Sustainable chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of substances hazardous to humans, animals, plants and the environment (IUPAC definition).

Commitment

Walmart Canada’s commitment to sustainable chemistry is as follows:

• Walmart Canada will continually work with suppliers on sustainability improvements through the Sustainability Index (category sustainability profiles, etc) to address chemical disclosure, risk assessment and hazard avoidance.
• Walmart Canada encourages all suppliers to publicly disclose, on their product and/or company web-sites, all ingredients for their consumable-product SKUs sold at our stores.

The Walmart US business has developed an initial list of high-priority chemicals for continuous reduction, restriction and elimination, using informed substitution principles. This list will be reviewed regularly by Walmart US to determine if additional chemicals should be prioritized.  Walmart Canada supports Walmart US’ monitoring of the progress on reducing, restricting and eliminating these high-priority chemicals and their timelines to publicly report on such progress.

We anticipate any product innovations developed by US suppliers (which are also operating in Canada) to equally apply in the Canadian marketplace so that our Canadian consumers will also benefit from the above-described US efforts.

Alignment

Our Canadian commitment supports Walmart US’s sustainable chemistry initiatives; it also supports related timelines stated in their Sustainable Chemistry Policy.

Review

Walmart Canada will review this document as needed to ensure its relevancy.

Released: June 2014