Wal-Mart Canada's Customers Are Giving the Gift of Green

    Sales of sustainable stocking stuffers spike

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 12 /CNW/ - As the environment remains a top concern
for Wal-Mart Canada and Canadians from coast-to-coast, the company released
today its list of top-selling eco-friendly merchandise and helpful tips to
help Canadians celebrate a greener Christmas. The Christmas season is the
busiest shopping period of the year.
    "Our customers are telling us that they are looking to make greener
choices this Christmas when it comes to Christmas shopping, decorating and
gift giving," said Jim Thompson, senior vice-president of merchandise for
Wal-Mart Canada. "From LED lights to sustainable stocking stuffers, Wal-Mart
offers a broad range of merchandise to help customers reduce their ecological
footprint this holiday season."
    A recent online poll at www.walmart.ca revealed that many Canadians will
be celebrating a greener Christmas with LED lights to decorate the home (45%),
choosing gifts with less packaging like gift cards (23%), and using reusable
gift bags (22%). Purchasing bamboo shirts and organic cotton socks and buying
CFL bulbs for stocking stuffers round out the list.

    
    Green Tips
    ----------

    Green Shopping
    -   BYOB: Bring your own bag. Use a reusable Wal-Mart shopping bag for
        Christmas shopping
    -   At the end of the holiday, return your plastic bags to Wal-Mart to be
        recycled.

    Green Décor
    -   Decorate the house and home with LED lights and make sure these
        lights are put on timers.
    -   Consider natural décor like garland made from popcorn.

    Green Gifting
    -   Buy energy-saving small appliances, which are marked with the ENERGY
        STAR label.
    -   Purchase sustainable apparel like bamboo tops for ladies and bamboo
        polos for men.
    -   Choose items with less packaging like gift cards.
    -   Wrap gifts in reusable shopping bags.

    Sustainable Stocking Stuffers
    -   CFL bulbs with a call-to-action or challenge for everyone to give at
        least one CFL bulb this holiday.
    -   Bamboo socks, tights, or organic cotton apparel.
    -   Rechargeable batteries.
    -   Organic fruit, nuts, and chocolates.
    -   Seedlings.
    -   Organic toiletries such as shampoos and cotton balls.
    -   Eagles "Long Road out of Eden" CD in sustainable packaging. (This
        unique CD package contains 30% post-consumer recycled fiber, and
        virgin fiber from FSC Certified forests or other controlled sources.)
    

    Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Wal-Mart Canada operates 298
outlets nationwide. The company's environmental vision is to demonstrate
leadership by reducing the ecological impact of its operations through
company-wide programs focused on waste, energy and products, as well as
outreach programs that preserve and enhance local environments.

    /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
    the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
    Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
    website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
    members of the media/

For further information:

For further information: Felicia Fefer, Corporate Affairs, Wal-Mart
Canada, (905) 821-2111 x. 4466.