My Sustainability Plan: Year two
Walmart Canada recognizes that sustainability begins at home. For a company of our scale, that means at the grassroots level in our stores. My Sustainability Plan (MSP) is a program designed to do just that – by providing our 87,000 associates with a way to bring environmental practices directly into their daily lives.
Now in its second year, MSP is a global, voluntary and associate-driven movement that encourages each individual to choose small daily actions that combine to make a difference.
“Environmental sustainability continues to be one of the top issues on the minds of our associates,” says Veronica Maschek, sustainability specialist and MSP program lead. “Our new MSP program empowers associates to engage sustainability on their own terms. It stands for helping our associates live healthier, greener and better.”
Built around the program’s three pillars of Planet, Health and Life, My Sustainability Plan asks associates to find something they are passionate about, develop a plan to make it part of their daily lives, then track their progress, and ultimately share their story to inspire fellow associates.
Putting the planet first
Canadian associates largely chose MSPs focused on protecting the environment. The program itself is run by a company-wide team of MSP captains who serve as individual program leaders in each store. They distribute MSP program materials, track participation, motivate fellow associates and share success stories.
This past year, associates have participated in a variety of MSP projects that have benefited everything from local neighbourhoods and schools to retirement homes.
Amer Shahzad, a former MSP Captain and now assistant manager, says, “MSP created a lot of excitement among associates and managers. I was able to engage and motivate everyone in the store to be involved.” MSP engages and empowers associates to make a change and it shifts the focus from issues to a productive and responsible outcome.
“MSP has changed associates’ lives,” says Jane Threlfall, store manager in Truro, Nova Scotia. “We have lost weight, become more active, recycle at work and at home, help in community clean-ups and promote healthy living. Associates have embraced the MSP concept and it has resulted in a significant improvement in team morale.”