Wal-Mart To Measure Energy Consumption

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will measure the energy used to make and distribute some of its products and look for ways to cut carbon emissions.

The project will begin with seven types of items, including DVDs, toothpaste, soap, and milk, the company said yesterday in a statement. Wal-Mart is working with the Carbon Disclosure Project, a non-profit group focused on business risks caused by climate change, to monitor energy usage. Wal-Mart has pledged to cut energy use and the waste generated by its stores and truck fleet. Some facilities use solar power, others have energy-efficient lighting, and the company has worked with suppliers to reduce packaging. Critics fault it for bringing sprawl and traffic where it opens a store. "It will be a way to better connect with the next generation of consumers," the chief merchandising officer, John Fleming, said of Wal-Mart's environmental initiatives. He spoke at a forum in New York hosted by the Carbon Disclosure Project.