Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott made a big ol' speech yesterday spelling out ambitious social, health, and environmental goals for the retail behemoth. Wal-Mart will work with other retailers to boost industry-wide green standards, said Scott, and, within five years, Wal-Mart suppliers will be required to meet stringent environmental standards -- and may even be paid more to do so. The company wants to double its sales of merchandise that help consumers improve home energy efficiency, is in talks with automakers about selling electric or hybrid cars, and could even set up windmills or solar panels in its parking lots to allow customers to recharge with renewable energy. "It's a good vision," says Gwen Ruta of green group Environmental Defense. "Now we need to make it a reality." To an extent, Wal-Mart already has: It's been aggressively pushing green goals since 2005, has strived to open energy-efficient stores, and has to date sold 145 million compact fluorescent light bulbs.
source: The Washington Post, The New York Times, BusinessWeek
see also, in Gristmill: Wal-Mart CEO lays out ambitious social and environmental goals for his company
Cautious optimism for Copenhagen deal as Barcelona climate talks end
Another coal plant bites the dust
Barcelona outcome: White House strategy is plea for more time
Comments
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javaearth Posted 8:17 am
24 Jan 2008
Erm,, sorry i don't think Wal-Mart ceo's really care about the environment. - If they did there would have been a lot more done a lot sooner. versus now.
They are only doing this to increase their profit.
I know I should not be so cynical, but I really do not see enough positive actions.
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Pathos Posted 7:03 pm
24 Jan 2008
Right now, the first two groups are winning. We need to give them as much encouragement as we can, to make sure they keep winning. Wal-Mart has the power to do a lot of good with this--and yes, by "good," I mean "reducing the harm that they do." Doesn't matter; reduced emissions are reduced emissions.
And for the ones who do just think helping the environment will increase their profits? For the sake of the world we live in, you'd damn well better hope they're right.
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christophersj Posted 2:02 am
25 Jan 2008
There isn't time to get religion to all of business and society. Most will become green because of free market competition influences, especially after CO2 regulation comes down the pipe.
Its a GIFT that profits can be made during the great energy transition. It brings huge and fast movers into the effort that wouldnt otherwise be there.
Wal-Mart can move mountains in society. Grist.org cannot.
Imagine solar panels in the bargin bins at the check-out line and people who are only concerned about saving on their electric bill encountering them in every town in America.
PLEASE let the profit seekers do there thing, because this time, many are headed in our direction.
I promise the slow altruistic train you and I are on will continue to move forward as well.
-Christopher
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Matt Posted 2:13 am
25 Jan 2008
Why on earth would we want to be negative about Wal-Mart's attempts to take advantage of a "green" market? I think it's great that they can make money off of more responsible products! This will encourage more average joe's to consider buying them and continue to strengthen the market for these kinds of things!
Personally I think that looking for the govt. to change the minds of people for them is (and has always been) impossible. It doesn't work that way. People always have to change their minds and habits first and then the pols codify what everyone already thinks.
Further, politicians and the businesses that fund them have always followed the money. If businesses can make a killing being "green" then they will and they'll support politicians that promise to help them make more "green" money.
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christophersj Posted 2:33 am
25 Jan 2008
"Personally I think that looking for the govt. to change the minds of people for them is (and has always been) impossible. It doesn't work that way"
Right, but they can create a new playing field for businesses to compete within. CO2 caps and carbon taxes create competition to be greener without the government telling people or businesses exactly how to do it.
-Christopher
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usandthem Posted 6:11 am
25 Jan 2008
Where as it is true that more people going and demanding greener products and ways of doing business can have an influence business only keeps going forward if pushed.If they can find a way around,over,or through a difficult time they will use any of those means.Lieing and subtrafuge are tools that they use.Big business is bad and that has been and always will be the bottom line.
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