Seeking to make its Member’s Mark private label line more responsible, Sam’s Club is planning to bring additional environmental, ethical and social concerns to bear in manufacturing these products. Following the lead of parent company Walmart, which in 2020 outlined plans to become a regenerative company, Sam’s Club began taking steps that year to develop Member’s Mark under the principle of being “Made with Our Members and Planet in Mind” as it launched, redesigned and reformulated more than 1,200 products.
The updated mission includes removing certain ingredients from Member’s Mark food and consumable products in addition to introducing goods made through responsible practices, including: production and sourcing linked to incorporating renewable sources; promoting animal welfare; supporting land and ocean health; reducing deforestation; and using more sustainable textiles. Through incorporating more recyclable, reusable and industrially compostable components, Sam’s Club aims to reduce its environmental footprint.
By 2025, Sam’s Club aims to create all Member’s Mark products according to a member- and planet-focused approach by working toward goals that promote:
- Animal welfare;
- Antibiotic-free poultry;
- Sustainably sourced seafood;
- Dairy sourcing that aligns with animal welfare guidelines;
- Cage-free eggs;
- Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea and cocoa;
- Pollinator advocacy for produce, floral and live plants;
- Responsibly sourced palm oil;
- Responsible pulp, paper and timber use;
- Better textiles from better practices;
- Planet-centered packaging; and
- Products free of ingredients from the company’s “Made Without” list.
Additionally, Sam’s Club will encourage suppliers of Member’s Mark items to join Walmart’s private sector consortium in order to reduce or avoid one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through Project Gigaton. The company also is promoting inclusive economic opportunities through the diversification of its supplier base for Member’s Mark.
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Aligning with its new more responsible focus, Member’s Mark will feature a new logo and design. A simple checkmark, to be rolled out over the next 18 months, will be used to identify Member’s Mark items made with a focus on people and planet.
“The Sam’s Club member is at the center of everything we do, so as we continue to evolve the Member’s Mark brand, we intend to develop items that are reflective of the ingredients, processes and materials they want — and don’t want — in their products,” said Prathibha Rajashekhar, SVP of Private Brands and Sourcing at Sam’s Club in a statement. “Now, as we introduce new Member’s Mark items and renovate existing ones, we are making decisions that not only focus on quality, innovation and value, but on the impact we are making on the world around us.”
