Can Kathleen McLaughlin Make Walmart —The World’s Largest Company — More Sustainable?

NewCo Shift Forum — Speaker Spotlight

Kathleen McLaughlin is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Walmart, and also serves as President of the Walmart Foundation. Kathleen joined Walmart in 2013 after spending over 20 years at McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm.

In 2005, Walmart set three ambitious, and at the time, unprecedented sustainability goals for the decade ahead: be fully supplied by renewable energy, create zero waste, and sell products that “sustain our resources and environment.” The company closely measured these goals, and reported annually openly on its progress. And while cynics might claim the company’s moves were just another PR ploy, Walmart’s commitment had significant impact. When a company with half a trillion dollars in revenues shifts its focus, entire economies of scale shift with it.

When a company with half a trillion dollars in revenues shifts its focus, entire economies of scale shift with it.

Just a few weeks ago, the company renewed their sustainability goals for 2025. The plan includes zero waste to landfill in four of its major markets, achieving science-based emission reduction targets by running on 50% renewable energy, and expanding sustainable sourcing to cover 20 of their key commodities. Spearheaded by McLaughlin, these goals take an expansive, multi-stakeholder view of sustainability — the company is holding itself accountable to customers, suppliers, employees, and independent third parties.

Walmart’s renewed sustainability goals take an expansive, multi-stakeholder view of sustainability — the company is holding itself accountable to customers, suppliers, employees, and independent third parties.

Kathleen will be joining us for a session at NewCo Shift Forum, NewCo’s new executive conference covering “Capitalism at a Crossroads.” She will discuss how Walmart, the world’s largest company, has not only become a sustainability leader, but also transformed its workforce and deepened its commitment to their Foundation — the company surpassed over $1.4 billion in global giving last year, including $1 billion of food donations. Kathleen will join over 400 of the best minds in business, technology, and government to explore a new compact between business and society. We’re now accepting applications for delegates, and we’d love for you to learn more and apply.

Join us for the NewCo Shift Forum, where 400 of the best minds in business, technology, and government will come together for two days of focused, action-oriented dialog.