Like News Corp, Wal-Mart realizes that the biggest impact they can have is by influencing others–vendors in particular–to become more environmentally responsible. That's the driving force behind many of Wal-Mart's sustainability initiatives.

A story in yesterday's Washington Post introduced another Wal-Mart sustainability initiative, this one is funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation and is intended to help the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville establish the Applied Sustainability Center, which will work to develop green business practices for the retail and consumer goods industries.

Over the next year, the center plans to study ways to reduce carbon in products and identify key sustainability issues in agriculture. The center will also hold a speakers series, help train buyers for Wal-Mart and fund student research…

By working with the university, Wal-Mart hopes it can help foster creation of the technology needed to accomplish its environmental goals. It has said it will invest $500 million annually to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its stores and improve the efficiency of its fleet. Though progress has been made — Wal-Mart is working on the first hybrid heavy-duty truck — it has delayed release of a much-anticipated report on the progress of its efforts. The sustainability report was expected this summer, but the company now hopes to release it in the fall.

Kudos to Wal-Mart for using their bully pulpit to effect change!

Carbon Neutral Journal's kudos are brought to you by Grand Targhee Resort.

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