Walmart Joins CanopyStyle

Walmart US, Walmart Canada, and Sam’s Club US Join Canopy to Help Forests ‘Live Better’

Today, Walmart US, Walmart Canada, Sam’s Club US, and international environmental not-for-profit Canopy are making a truly unbe-leaf-able announcement. To help protect forests all around the world, the three industry heavyweights have joined Canopy's CanopyStyle initiative and announced a 2025 goal to ensure none of the man-made cellulosic fabrics for their Private Brand apparel and soft home textile products come at the expense of the world’s Ancient and Endangered Forests. 

Most people don’t know that every year, more than 200 million trees are cut down to make fashion fabrics like viscose and rayon. Many of these trees come from the world’s most vital forest ecosystems – forests essential for sequestering carbon, preserving biodiversity, and protecting us against possible pandemics. By joining the CanopyStyle initiative, Walmart US, Walmart Canada, and Sam’s Club US are requiring their suppliers to end sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests for all of their Private Brand apparel and soft home textile products, and encouraging suppliers to spur the use of lower impact alternative fiber sources, such as fabrics made from recycled textiles or agricultural residues instead of climate-critical endangered forests. 

“Walmart is thrilled to be adding CanopyStyle to our Private Brand textiles sustainability work,” said Denise Incandela, Executive Vice President, Apparel and Private Brands, Walmart US. “We are focused on making product supply chains more regenerative, working in harmony with nature to protect, restore and sustainably use our natural resources. We know our work with Canopy is a step in the right direction as we aim to effectively leverage our sourcing as a force to protect forests, and we look forward to bringing more sustainably sourced textiles to our customers.”

“Walmart joining CanopyStyle is a game-changer. Their global reach and influence on supply chains is second to none,” said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy’s Executive Director. “Their commitment will turbocharge the transformation of the viscose supply chain to protect forests and draw Next Generation Solutions to the market at scale.”

“Canada is home to some of the most vital forests on the planet, which we are committed to protecting and restoring. Everyday decisions like choosing clothing and textiles made from more-sustainably-sourced fibers are an important step in the journey to a more sustainable future,” said Kieran Shanahan, Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart Canada. “As part of our commitment to becoming a regenerative company, we’re proud to join Canopy on this initiative to protect the forests that stretch across our country and bring more sustainable choices to our customers.”

“At Sam’s Club we’re looking forward to working with Canopy and our colleagues at Walmart US and Walmart Canada to put our collective scale behind this work and help drive greater impact,” said Stephanie Reibling, Senior Vice President of Home, Apparel, Tires & Seasonal at  Sam’s Club US. “We are confident that with Canopy’s viscose supply chain expertise and our purchasing influence, we will be able to delight our Members with access to more forest-friendly clothing and home textiles.” 

Walmart US, Walmart Canada, and Sam’s Club US have a joint CanopyStyle goal, which will require suppliers to ensure that by 2025, none of  the man-made cellulosic fibers used in Private Brand apparel and soft home textile products – including rayon/viscose, modal, lyocell, acetate, and trademarked versions – are sourced from Ancient or Endangered Forests, or from endangered species’ habitats or other controversial sources, as defined by Canopy’s tools and reports.

In addition to the above requirements, all Walmart US, Sam’s Club US, and Walmart Canada Private Brand apparel and soft home suppliers of products that contain man-made cellulosic fibers will be strongly encouraged to:

• Support recycled and alternative Next Generation fibers (such as recycled textiles or agricultural residues) where cost, quality, and availability allow; and
• Show a preference for sourcing FSC-certified materials if virgin wood fiber continues to be used, where  available with quantities, performance characteristics and prices that meet our suppliers’ needs.

The CanopyStyle initiative now represents 455 brands, worth $791 billion USD in annual revenue. All are united in transforming unsustainable supply chains, catalyzing circular alternatives at scale, and conserving vital forest ecosystems all over the world.

A link to the goal statement of Walmart US, Walmart Canada and Sam’s Club US can be found at: https://www.walmartsustainabilityhub.com/sustainable-textiles

Media Inquiries:
Canopy
Laura Repas
+1 416-729-7484
communications@canopyplanet.org

About Canopy
Canopy is a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting forests, species, and climate. Canopy has collaborated with more than 750 companies to develop cutting-edge environmental policies that transform unsustainable supply chains, spark innovative solutions, and protect our world’s remaining Ancient and Endangered Forests. www.canopyplanet.org

About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 220 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and clubs under 48 banners in 24 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2021 revenue of $559 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.

About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by more than 900,000 customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada was recently recognized as a LinkedIn Top Company of 2021 and was also named one of Canada's most popular brands (based on Google searches). Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $500 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada's social media pages – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club®, a division of Walmart, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings and services to millions of members in nearly 600 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Now in its 38th year, Sam’s Club continues to redefine warehouse shopping with its highly curated assortment of high-quality fresh food and Member’s Mark items, in addition to market leading technologies and services like Scan & Go, Curbside Pickup and home delivery service in select markets. To learn more about Sam's Club, visit the Sam's Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam's Club on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.