Wal-Mart to evaluate energy used by certain suppliers

Wal-Mart Stores has announced a plan to measure energy used by its suppliers in seven product categories: vacuum cleaners, soap, DVDs, toothpaste, milk, soda and beer.

The company is partnering with the non-profit group Carbon Disclosure Project to help evaluate the amount of energy used to make products and move them through the supply chain.

The goal is to, following the evaluation, launch a pilot project to make the supply process more energy efficient.

The products were chosen because they are ordinary products that customers commonly use, Wal-Mart said. Wal-Mart has been involved in several “green” initiatives in recent years, including plans to make stores more energy efficient and promotions on compact fluorescent light bulbs.