Comments alisonrae has made

"sustainability" contradiction

Its great to see big box stores trying to do the right thing...its hard not to argue the potential in mainstreaming 'green.'  However, I'm afraid to say that they'll have to refrain from using the term 'sustainability' to mask their efforts.  Unfortunately becoming 'green' and 'carbon neutral' does NOT imply a whole-systems approach to running a business.  They fail in the areas of labor issues, fair trade, social welfare, globalisation, sprawl, etc.  

Wallmarts, Tescos, and the like, thrive in suburban settings, and we all know that suburban sprawl is an oxymoron for the word green, and especially for the word sustainability.  ..Becoming green may even give leeway for wallmarts to diversify their big box growth, and spread into city-centres, given the dense population of 'green urban professionals'.  So, will the world become one big homogenous Wallmart zoo?  

All in all, I'm supporting a big box extinction.  Its the only way for them to become 'sustainable'. If they become green, yes, it will slow down the rate of planetary destruction and make green consumption more convenient. But its just not the answer. We're better off teaching our kids about sustainability, rather than hypothesize how the greening of Wallmart will make us better off.  

I have the feeling we'll just be witnessing green-washing at its best. Given their mass-consumption ethic, they are bound to give the word green a bad name--

AlisonOn But why? posted 2 years, 10 months ago 8 Responses