The company also says it will expand the Sustainability Index and measurement to international markets with the goal of improving product sustainability at the global level. Walmart Chile and Walmart Mexico will launch the Index in their respective markets in 2014. In addition, South Africa’s Massmart has begun to include key Index questions in its supplier sustainability surveys.

Additionally, Walmart pledged to increase its use of recycled materials at yesterday’s meeting. A company spokesperson tells Environmental Leader that the company will add 3 billion pounds of recycled plastics to its packaging between 2013 and 2020. The company expects this initiative to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by about 3 million metric tons. It says it will also create about 15,000 more jobs than if it sent products and packaging to the landfill.

Walmart is one of the world’s 50 highest emitting companies, according to the CDP’s Global 500 Climate Change Report 2013, published this week. These 50 are responsible for nearly three quarters of the 500 largest listed companies’ 3.6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the report says.