Is Wal-Mart Really Going Green?

I was shocked. Could Wal-Mart actually be going Green? It is not that I don't think big business should embrace sustainable living, but rather I held the assumption that Wal-Mart, currently the world's largest corporation according to the 2007 Fortune 500, would have no interest in the greening of America.

It turns out not only has Wal-Mart embraced the Green movement, but they have also generated quite a bit of press on the issue. The Sustainability page of Wal-Mart will proudly link you to an article that ran in the August 7th, 2006 issue of Fortune Magazine.

The Wal-Mart site is proud to let you know that, "Fortune magazine published an article about Wal-Mart, highlighting our environmental and business sustainability efforts. The August 7, 2006 issue outlines the initiative from early concept to our current goals and visions for our company and the impact we have on the environment. The article takes a very balanced look at what our critics are saying about us, and what we're doing in response. It also contains information about the many areas within the company where we are working toward a more sustainable future. "

Interestingly enough this article is not all rose colored glasses. It sites some of Wal-Marts well known faux-pas. They site the fact that the nations largest employer pays so little that a family of four would fall well below the poverty line at a mere $9.68 an hour average rate. Their is also the issue of health care for it's employees and the 2001 class action lawsuit over gender discrimination.

Wal-Mart's CEO Lee Scott Recently unveiled "Sustainability 360." This program introduces an "emphasis on sustainability extending beyond Wal-Mart's direct environmental footprint to engage associates, suppliers, communities and customers." Wal-Mart is trying to move beyond just the greening of their stores to the Greening of America.

With Wal-Mart and "Sustainability 360" there is an emphasis on long term goals. they are not just looking at getting green today and filling up the landfills tomorrow. One example of a long term project is their commitment to working with their suppliers to reduce packaging by 5% by 2013. This is a long term goal that will have a profound effect on America. A mere 5% might not seem like that much, but as I stated earlier Wal-Mart is America's largest retailer. That being said they are basically taking out 5% of the package waste in your average American household.

Wal-Mart is also looking at it's suppliers to get more green or else. According to the PRNewswire, "Starting in 2008, Wal-Mart will ask
suppliers to fill out the scorecard and buyers will have the option to use the scorecard results to influence purchasing decisions. The announcement
reflects the larger company strategy to sell products that sustain natural resources and minimize impact on the environment." Essentially if the suppliers aren't making an effort they won't be on the store shelves.

Wal-Mart is making strides to rise above the competition. Hopefully we will see other retailers following suit. Do I hear a sustainable Target Website on the horizon? Let's hope so.