Sustainable Supply Chains and Products
We are committed to the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems. We work closely with our private brand and national brand suppliers to ensure that the products we offer to our customers are sourced sustainably and responsibly.
Some of the areas that we engage our suppliers on are:
Seafood
In line with the WWF and South Africa’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) recommendations, we are committed to ensuring that we do not source any threatened, red- listed or endangered seafood species from both our national and private brands.
In order to promote transparency within our seafood supply chains, we conduct annual genetic identity testing of our seafood species.
Timber, pulp and paper
We believe that sustainable forest management plays an integral role in reducing the environmental and societal risks associated with climate change.
As a responsible retailer, we engage with our timber, pulp and paper suppliers annually to monitor traceability and sustainable certification to ensure that the products we offer our customers do not contain any red- listed or threatened wood species.
Palm oil
While our use of palm oil is modest, we continue to track and monitor the volumes of palm oil used in our private label products, as well as ensure that we offset 100% of our palm oil usage through the purchase of PalmTrace credits.
Packaging
As part of the global Walmart commitment to achieving 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable private label packaging by 2025, we conduct a private label packaging review with our top private label suppliers annually.
To aid our transition towards a circular economy, we regularly engage our merchant teams and private label suppliers on re- designing key product lines using sustainable and recyclable packaging.
Energy and Water Saving products
Our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment extend beyond our own operations and supply chains. We also help our customers reduce their own environmental footprint through the sale of water and energy saving products such as solar lights, LEDs, water storage tanks and low flow fixtures.
Massmart and Wits University Partner to improve Tinned Seafood Genetic Identity Testing Process
Retail group Massmart has extended its long-standing partnership with the University of Witwatersrand’s Department of Molecular and Cell Biology by sponsoring Honours level postgraduate research that seeks to improve the technique used to extract genetic material from tinned seafood products.
Massmart and Bird Life SA partnering to save the African Penguin
The population of African Penguins has declined by 99% in the past 120 years, leaving less than 10,000 breeding pairs currently in existence across South Africa.
