Walmart's recent factory inspection requirements

Wal-Mart's new factory inspection requirements: Suppliers must ensure that each production facility complies with national and local environmental laws, including all laws related to waste disposal, air emissions, emissions, toxic substances and hazardous waste disposal. Suppliers must verify that all input materials and components come from international treaties, in addition to local laws and regulations that allow for harvesting. In addition to meeting specific laws and regulations, such as obtaining necessary licenses and approvals related to waste disposal, air emissions, wastewater discharge, water use, energy conservation, greenhouse gases, hazardous substances, environmental impact assessments, land use, noise pollution, Wal-Mart expects suppliers to implement measures to reduce air and water pollutants, energy and water use, and waste.

Specifically: Waste Management - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
Being able to off-site treat and dispose of hazardous wastes only through contractors licensed by the appropriate authorities to handle and store them in a safe and environmentally sound manner that controls any risk of environmental contamination by hazardous wastes;
Maintain waste containers in proper condition and label them;
Maintain inventory and waste tracking records;

Wastewater and Sewage Management - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
Obtain appropriate permits as required by local and state regulations for wastewater/sewage treatment and discharge;
Wastewater is regularly monitored (sampling and testing) as required by local and state regulations;
Strictly adhere to wastewater/sewage discharge limits as dictated by local and national regulations;
Take immediate corrective action when emission limits involved in the activity are exceeded;
Australia has a drainage system in place that conveys wastewater treatment plants and/or final discharge points.
Drainage layout must be provided as required. Drains must be cleaned and maintained regularly;
Maintain the wastewater treatment plant in safe working conditions to avoid any risks to the environment and/or human health.

Air Emissions Management - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
Obtain appropriate air pollutant emission permits required by local and state regulations;
Conduct regular air emissions monitoring (sampling and testing) as required by local and state regulations;
Strictly adhere to gas emission limits as stipulated by local and national regulations;
Take immediate corrective action when emission limits involved in the activity are exceeded;
Maintain regular exhaust emission control equipment;
Establish an inventory of point sources of air emissions; _
Expand the list of ozone depleting substances (ODS) control equipment;
Inspect and maintain ozone depleting substances (ODS) control equipment to prevent accidental releases of substances.

Water Stewardship - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
Obtain appropriate permits as required by local and state regulations for water use/extraction;
Maintaining data about water usage (e.g. water bills and meter readings consumption data).

Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
Meet applicable legal requirements with regard to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions;
Establishing energy use inventory devices (such as energy bills and meter readings, fuel costs, gas costs, consumption data);
Maintain an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (direct and indirect);

Land use and biodiversity, suppliers must ensure that factories:
Conduct environmental impact assessments and submit results to competent authorities for review and approval as required by local and national regulations;
Obtain appropriate permits, land use and facility construction permits, as required by local and state regulations;
Meet applicable local and state regulations regarding protected lands.

Environmental Management System - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
adopting an environmental policy;
Australia establishes a mechanism to monitor changes in environmental laws and regulations and achieve compliance;
Appoint a member of the management team to coordinate environmental management activities and ensure that he/she is appropriately trained;
Develop protocols for emergency response to environmental incidents. Emergency protocols should include emergency response plans, training for emergency response teams, and regular drills;
Provide regular employee training on environmental impacts;

Hazardous Substance Management/Soil and Groundwater Pollution Prevention - Suppliers must ensure that factories:
Do not use prohibited chemicals as specified by local and national regulations;
Obtain appropriate permits as required by local and state regulations for the handling and storage of hazardous materials;
Take appropriate measures to prevent and control any risk of environmental pollution caused by the release of hazardous substances;
Suppliers and factories should keep inventory records and production records to prove the origin of incoming materials;
The chain of custody (certification) of the raw material (cotton, wood, etc.) obtained through the factory must demonstrate documentation in accordance with the laws of the international treaties and agreements in addition to local laws and regulations, even if there are no national regulations regulating the harvest.