Wal-Mart Canada cuts environmental footprint by reducing store lighting for Earth Day

    Retailer celebrates environment by reducing energy use and with local
    sustainability events nationwide

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 21 /CNW/ - Wal-Mart Canada has announced that it
will reduce its sales floor lighting by one-third in celebration of Earth Day
tomorrow, in nearly all stores nationwide. Wal-Mart Canada stores across the
country will also hold local sustainability events ranging from community
garbage clean-ups to children's gardening seminars.
    "Earth Day is a tremendous opportunity for Wal-Mart to promote
sustainability to the more than one million customers we serve every day in
our stores," said Jim Thompson, Wal-Mart Canada's senior vice president of
operations. "We're leading by example by reducing our lighting and hope to
encourage not only our customers but the business world at-large to adopt more
sustainable practices and products."
    This is not the first time that Wal-Mart Canada has reduced its sales
floor lighting. On March 29, the company reduced its lighting day-long to
celebrate Earth Hour. Since 2005, the company has also reduced its sales floor
lighting during the summer season, in all but a few stores nationwide, and
will initiate its reduced summer lighting program again this year.
    "We're looking at every area of our business with sustainability in mind,
not only from the energy we use but to the products we carry," added Thompson.
"While Earth Day provides a particularly great platform to promote
environmental action to our customers and stakeholders, we're committed to
sustainability action and advocacy every day."
    Wal-Mart Canada has adopted numerous initiatives to minimize its energy
footprint. It is in the process of changing its 1.75 million light bulbs
chainwide to lower wattage bulbs, as replacements are needed, and switching
exterior signage to lower wattage LED lights. The company has added additional
insulation to the roof of new and converted stores and reduced energy loss by
25 per cent last year. Wal-Mart Canada is also the nation's largest purchaser
of green power and currently operates the equivalent of 15 stores
emissions-free.
    These initiatives are part of a wider sustainability strategy and focus.
Since 2005, Wal-Mart has been actively working towards three long-term
sustainability goals globally and in Canada:

    1.  To produce zero waste;
    2.  To be powered 100 per cent by renewable energy; and,
    3.  To make more environmentally preferable products available to
        customers.

    For more information on how Wal-Mart Canada is contributing to the
greener good, please visit: www.forthegreenergood.ca.

    About Wal-Mart Canada

    Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Wal-Mart Canada Corp. operates 299
retail outlets nationwide. The company's vision is to demonstrate
environmental leadership by reducing the ecological impact of its operations
through company-wide programs focused on waste, energy and products, as well
as outreach programs that preserve and enhance local environments.

For further information: Karin Campbell, corporate affairs, Wal-Mart
Canada, (905) 821-2111 x 4042