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Wal-Mart to Only Sell Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

The nation's largest retailed promised to only sell concentrated liquid laundry detergent to save water, plastic and cardboard. The move is one of several high-profile commitments made at the third Annual Meeting of the Clinton Climate Initiative. Read More

(Updated on July 24, 2024)

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced this week that it will only sell concentrated liquid laundry detergent in the U.S. in a bid to spur change in the retail industry and reduce water and plastic usage.

The nation’s largest retailer sells a quarter of the liquid laundry detergent in the U.S., and the move already has led top laundry manufacturers to change their operations to accommodate the request. Wal-Mart plans to begin the transition next month in the South, following in the North and Midwest through May.

The company made the announcement at the third Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, which has seen several prominent announcements this week. Wal-Mart also signaled this week it will measure energy use and carbon emissions of the supply chain of seven product categories as part of a partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project.

The move to sell only concentrated liquid detergent will save more than 400 million gallons of water, 95 million pounds of plastic resin and 125 million pounds of cardboard, the company said.

The announcement joins other high-profile promises from other organizations to tackle global warming and other social challenges. Standard Chartered Bank offered to underwrite up to $5 billion in debt to renewable energy projects with a total project value of as much as $10 billion. Equator Environmental LLC will create a $100 million private equity fund that will invest in environmentally friendly projects.

X Prize Foundation will award up to $300 million to innovators in energy and climate change, education, health and poverty alleviation through large-scale global competitions. The Green for All Initiative unveiled at the Clinton Global Initiative will train 250,000 green collar workers.

The Alliance for Climate Protection, along with Mark Buell and Susie Tompkins Buell will spend $5 million to engage leaders in both political parties and civil society to find ways to reduce emissions.

Florida Power and Light will invest $2.4 billion in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, such as solar power plants and customer education programs. Pratt Industries will spend $1 billion to construct new paper mills, waste-to-energy plants and materials recovery facilities.

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