Walmart and the Environment

In today's society individuals and corporations alike are practicing new techniques and ways of living to help the environment become more sustainable. Some of these practices and techniques have ranged from simple recycling at home to creating massive "green stores" that use renewable resources and less toxic chemicals to prevent the damage to the environment. Although individuals and corporations have changed their practices to help the environment some like Wal-Mart have been highly scrutinized and judged in their energy saving efforts.

Wal-Mart has set goals for itself and has even begun some of its energy efficiency projects. For example, Wal-Mart has already opened a few stores that are "green" in the United States. Stores like these are focused on using less energy, using renewable sources of energy, fewer pollutants and contaminants, all efforts have been focused to maintaining and improving the environment. However, environmental protection agencies have doubted and scrutinized Wal-Mart's sincerity in improving their reduced energy and cost efforts. Their comments to Wal-Mart's new practices state that the corporation is only practicing these environmentally friendly efforts to "clean-up" their image. There have also been times where Wal-Mart has actually caused damage to the environment by not focusing their efforts in determining suitable and safe areas in the environment to establish their centers.

Not only has Wal-Mart's focus been on improving their energy saving and efficiency practices here in the United States but they have also focused on their outside suppliers like China for example. They have placed requirements upon their suppliers overseas that make it mandatory for them to follow and abide by environmental standards. Along with these requirements, Wal-Mart has also cut down on shipping and packing costs by supporting local farmers and their products. This support has also cut down on the amount of fuel that is needed to transport these goods which in turn helps emit less hazardous carbon emissions. Another method that Wal-Mart has developed to eliminate pollutants to the air and water is the decrease in their plastic bag waste. Stores have already introduced alternative bags for their shoppers to help decrease plastic bag usage. Wal-Mart has also reached out to the general public in creating programs such as "Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge" which focus on teaching children the importance of recycling.

We may recognize Wal-Mart on their efforts to reduce toxic contamination towards the environment and award their "Green" store innovation to improve and sustain the environment. However, should we look into why they are improving their efforts? Are they just "green washing" the society in efforts to improve their image? Or are they truly converting into a "Green and Sustainable" world corporation?

Wal-Mart: Supply-chain

Introduction:

Wal-Mart turned from a regular company into the world's biggest retailer. Since they have such great power they put strains on suppliers and pressure them for lower prices so they could meet up with their punch line "always low prices". Before they became retailing giants, U.S. companies were still in business. The company Pillowtex being one of Wal-Mart's biggest suppliers went in a downward spiral firing all employees, closing its doors, and going out of business. Harris Raynor, vice president and southern regional director of Unite Here which was a labor union that represented Pillowtex employees stated, "America should not be giving industrial jobs away to other countries." 5 The high demand of production of lower prices was too much for U.S. companies to keep up and off shoring became the ideal of new suppliers. Another company that is lowering costs and chasing cheaper labor to going offshore is the famous Haynes underwear company. Hansbrands said that leaving the U.S. was a good thing to make progress in their global supply chain, but affected American Haynes workers who lost their jobs. 6

Issues:

China became the ideal for many U.S. retailers and so it has for Wal-Mart. Its food recall in 2007 has put Wal-Mart to tough up their suppliers and demand more quality. With its 60,000 suppliers worldwide and about $9million worth of goods coming directly from China. 1 With this incident in hand Wal-Mart will be creating a new supplier agreement that is mandatory for all factories to follow laws about their operation system to meet social and environmental standards, which will be discussed with Chinese suppliers in months and suppliers globally by 2011. 1

Progress:

Today Wal-Mart is taking steps to be environmental friendly by finding ways to save energy through gas emissions and using renewable energy. In February 2008 Wal-Mart announced that they will introduce four liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled Peterbilt 386 trucks into service at their distribution centre in Apple Valley, California which will show the efficiency of emissions reduction and is in part of their "Sustainability 360" which they announced in 2007 that promotes combining sustainability through its business. 7 Another step Wal-Mart is trying to reduce their gas emissions is by working with the "carbon disclosure project" which they announced in 2006 which is a non-profit group that focuses on climate change and carbon emissions. 4 With this project Wal-Mart will be calculating and measuring the amount of energy used to manufacture and distribute their products and look for new ways to cut their energy use with their suppliers. John Fleming, executive vice-president and chief merchandising officer at Wal-Mart stated "We are working together to measure our global supply chain footprint and to encourage our suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." 4

Wal-Mart's vision of going green includes its production in China, demanding that it's suppliers live up to environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and product safety guidelines. 9 Wal-Mart brought together 1,000 of their leading suppliers from Beijing, and other suppliers to this new process by announcing new changes for their company. Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott gave a message on the importance of not cheating customers on the quality's of goods and with that said the new supplier agreement that includes: manufacturing facilities to be in check with government regulations by environmental standards with China by Jan 2009 and for all other suppliers by 2011, the 20% improvement on energy efficiency by 2012 and plan to remove defective merchandising from Wal-Mart's supply chain, lists of factories direct suppliers used, and by 2012 all Wal-Mart suppliers must source 95% of their production from factories that have high ratings of environmental practices. 9 One product that Wal-Mart has used in all aspects of environmental friendliness is the new milk jug designed for carbon savings. This one gallon milk jug estimated that the shipping has cut labor by half and water use by 60-70 percent, all the while conserving space in trucks for more gallons of milk and reducing trips to stores giving big fuel savings. 8

Goals:

Wal-Mart implemented a new goal for its production suppliers to package materials with environmental friendly material and in return who can provide the most will be ranked at the top of the competition and be considered their preferred supplier. Out of its 60,000 suppliers around the world Wal-Mart is challenging them to reduce their amount of packing they use by five percent and use more renewable materials and slash energy use at the same time. 3 This cut of five percent packaging materials will stop millions of pounds of trash from reaching landfills and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere at 667,000 metric tons at Wal-Mart's calculations. 3

Issues:

The economy is dealing with the gas price issue itself and Wal-Mart should be the company to be concerned spending billions of dollars on fuel and pollution. Wal-Mart uses about 6.3 billion gallons of diesel fuel, and in its recent fiscal year their 7,200 semi-tractor trailers traveled up to 900 million miles. 2 Though new innovations have been made for Wal-Mart's fuel efficiency it is still hurting the pocket of this giant retailer and prices are higher. Since the economy is high in gas prices Wal-Mart's prices have gone up substantially. Last year a gallon of diesel cost $2.67 and has risen up to be $4 per gallon, and last year their fuel bill was up to $13.86 billion which would put it to $22.36 billion today. 2 Another way they are reducing their shipping costs is supporting local farmers, in which they will be able to incorporate fresh produce and keep prices down. "Offering local produce has been a Wal-Mart priority for years, and we're taking it to a new level with a pledge to grow our partnerships with local farmers. We're committed to purchasing locally grown produce whenever possible," said Pam Kohn, Wal-Mart's senior vice president and general merchandise manager for grocery. 10 With this new project Wal-Mart will make great economic impact working with 70% of U.S. suppliers of produce, supporting jobs in the U.S, and help reduce food miles with better planning of better packing of trucks and local sourcing Wal-Mart plans to save millions of food miles per year. 10 Wal-Mart has been improving their fuel efficiency of its trucking fleet, reduced the packaging on foods and has unveiled Sustainability 360 with its goal to use only renewable energy, and is supporting local farmers for fresh produce. With all its changes Wal-Mart has the chance to make an impact on the future through its supply chain.

Wal-Mart's Transition to Renewable Energy and Development of "Green Stores"

Introduction:

Wal-Mart's long-term goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy is highly dependent on the successful design of energy efficient stores that rely on alternative energy sources. In order to progress with this environmentally friendly goal, Wal-Mart has developed two experimental "green stores." The design of these buildings aids in reducing pollution and lessens water use, while focusing on energy efficiency and renewable sources. 22 However, some say that the company's efforts are nothing more than a "green-washing" attempt to burnish a tarnished public image. Yet, Wal-Mart representatives assure the public that the efforts are both honest and permanent, being in the best interests of the environment, its customers, as well as the business itself.

Background:

In McKinney, Texas and Aurora, Colorado, the retail giant, Wal-Mart, appears to have a new identity. These two cities are the hosts of Wal-Mart's experimental "green stores." Built in 2005, these facilities were developed by the collaboration of ideas and planning from engineers, architects, scientists, contractors, and owners. These stores implement over 50 experiments that support sustainability by saving energy, conserving natural resources, and reducing pollution. Wal-Mart's hope is to use the successful features of the experimental stores throughout new stores and eventually in existing ones. 22

The experiments extend from the parking lots to the interiors and roofs of the green buildings. The parking lots are made of porous concrete which lessens the impact of contaminant runoff into the neighboring environment by trapping rainwater. The landscape is irrigated by drip systems whose water supply is captured from air conditioning condensation. 19 The McKinney location rescued two dozen trees from a nearby car dealership that were destined for dumpsters. The trees add shade, reduce water runoff, and absorb CO2. 12 The exterior walls are covered with a reflective building coating and the roofs are painted a reflective white to reduce heat absorption. This not only reduces energy costs, but reduces the urban heat island effect, a major concern in many growing cities which increases nighttime temperatures. Inside, these stores have implemented sensor-activated, low-flow bathroom faucets and waterless urinals to conserve water. The faucets alone can reduce water flow by 80%. 23

The focus in developing these green stores; however, has been on energy efficiency and renewable sources. This is evident upon entering the store's parking lot in McKinney, Texas where a 120-foot wind turbine stands. Both stores have solar panels lining the roofs and use solar power to light traffic signs. The changes are evident inside the buildings as well. Low hanging cloth ductwork is used to cut energy costs by only heating and cooling the 11 feet below. Tubing around the frozen food section recycles the heat that the cases produce. Used motor oil from oil changes as well as used cooking oil from the deli section is used to heat the store in the form of bio-fuel. 12 Passive solar design elements, such as radiant heat flooring and skylights reduce the need for energy as well. Sunlight penetrates the skylights, lessening the need for traditional lighting during the day, while the flooring captures and saves any heat. Both stores are also equipped with LED, or light emitting diodes. These lights are estimated to last six years longer than conventional bulbs, while producing less heat and using less energy. They have proven to be especially effective in the refrigeration cases where they perform better in colder temperatures than traditional lighting. LED lighting is also used for the external signs. 22

Goals and Ambitions:

Wal-Mart has set a number of goals with regard to energy efficiency and dependence. The overall aim is to use 100% renewable energy (along with creating zero waste and selling sustainable products as stated in the 21^st Century Leadership Speech,) but the company admits that success is not feasible any time soon. However, more specific ambitions have been presented by the company. By 2009, Wal-Mart has said that designs for a 25-30% more energy efficient store prototype will be completed. By 2012, they also hope to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in existing stores. The company has already developed a number of "high-efficiency" stores which integrate the successful components of the green stores. The first three high-efficiency stores, called HE.1s, were opened in 2007 in Missouri, Illinois, and Texas. They use 20% less energy than a typical Wal-Mart Supercenter by implementing energy-saving lighting, white reflective roofs, and an advanced daylight harvesting system. In January of 2008, ultra high-efficiency stores were created, called HE.2s. These stores are 25% more energy efficient and reduce refrigerant use by 90%. 22 Wal-Mart has also developed a ten year contract with three separate solar power providers under the Solar Power Pilot Project. This project incorporates solar power in 22 locations in California and Hawaii. These locations will generate solar power on site and could potentially provide up to 30% of each individual store's needs. Greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be reduced by 6,500 - 10,000 metric tons per year. 21

Issues:

There is certainly evidence that Wal-Mart has put both time and money into developing cleaner operations. The development of green stores, high efficiency stores, as well as the implementation of LED lighting throughout new stores shows initiative. However, many groups, such as The Center for Community & Corporate Ethics, still feel that Wal-Mart is inherently unsustainable and that the long-term goals are unreachable. This belief is based on the idea that Wal-Mart's business model relies on market saturation and low costs. In addition, many feel these attempts are half-hearted and only an attempt to improve public image. After all, the green stores, HE.1s, and HE.2s account for less than .1% of Wal-Marts locations. One major environmental problem that is not addressed by Wal-Mart's new policies is urban sprawl. Locations often require longer driving distances for customers. Although the McKinney green store has made major improvements in energy efficiency, Stacy Mitchell argues that "the McKinney store, which is situated on the outer edges of town, continues this destructive land use pattern." (Mitchell: Response) According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, there has been a 40% increase in the driving distances for family errands. Pollution from customers' vehicles and their burning of fossil fuels is not computed into Wal-Mart's eco-friendly transition. 15

The development of new stores is another major concern of environmental groups. The average Wal-Mart Supercenter is 200,000 sq. feet and is situated on 20-30 acres of land. Currently, there are 2,256 Supercenters in the U.S. and they continue to grow. 18 The greenhouse gas emissions from these new stores can actually counter the savings from energy efficient ones. A 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2013 equates to approximately two and a half million metric tons. However, new stores built in 2008 alone consume enough electricity to add one million metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Opponents also say that Wal-Mart's vow to invest $500 million a year in energy saving techniques is not as impressive as it may seem. 14 Compared with the record-breaking $374.5 billion in sales in the 2008 fiscal year paired with the fact that Wal-Mart is the largest private electricity user in the U.S., it is argued that the company's obligation to decrease greenhouse gas emissions has not been met. 11&17

The company admits that the motivation behind becoming more eco-friendly is not purely the environment. Becoming more sustainable by reducing input can save money. Wal-Mart's environmental track record can cause concern. When money is the real motivation, non- profitable aspects are ignored. Sometimes, paying for mistakes is cheaper than transforming operations. In 2001, Wal-Mart agreed to pay a $1 million fine and was obligated to develop a $4.5 million environmental management program as ordered by the federal government. Wal-Mart had been charged with violating the Clean Water Act at 17 locations. 19 However, Lee Scott, the president and CEO of Wal-Mart, Inc. happily confesses, "we set out to do [sustainability] as an obligation... But we discovered the real truth: The real reason to do this is for the business itself." 17 From Wal-Mart's perspective it is simple: What's good for the environment is good for business.

Progress:

Since their opening, Wal-Mart has implemented some of the successful energy-saving methods that were developed in the green stores into new ones. As of January 2007, more than 95% of new Supercenters use forms of daylight harvesting. The systems utilize dimmable lamps and skylighting in order to lessen energy consumption by 15-20% compared to conventional lighting systems. This can equate to 800,000 kWh per year on average. New stores also now use non-ozone depleting refrigerant and utilize one of the most efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units available. The required energy efficiency ratio, or EER, for HVAC units is a 10.3, while Wal-Mart's units score a 12.7. However, other projects such as the wind turbine engineered to reduce 5% of energy consumption, have showed less than satisfactory results. 17 The turbine never operated consistently or effectively due to mechanical problems. 16

Wal-Mart has also boasted of its willingness to educate and share its new eco-friendly technologies with other companies. Tours of stores are available to competitors, universities, and government officials, during which Wal-Mart says it even reveals engineering specifications. 22 Brian Levitt, project developer for "green" town center project, has said, "Wal-Mart is leading the way to LEED in retail. They did everything you can do and made it an educational experience, putting up signs to tell people about the technology." 13

The company has also been a supporter of "regulatory and policy changes that will create incentives for utilities to invest in energy efficiency, to use low or no greenhouse gas sources of electricity, and to reduce barriers to integrating these sources into the power grid," as mentioned in its Fact Sheet on greenhouse gas emissions. 20 However, these incentives, which are most commonly renewable energy credits, offer Wal-Mart the opportunity to accumulate and then sell the credits. This encourages the problem with cap and trade incentives: Companies can buy their way out instead of cleaning up operations. Environmental groups are also quick to point out that Wal-Mart's "support" of renewable energy credits is lacking since the company recently lobbied against defining and standardizing carbon offsets. This reform would result in standardized caps that are set for sellers across the board. Companies would have to comply within a specified timeframe or be penalized. Wal-Mart argues that flexibility in carbon offsets is necessary and individual companies should decide how to reduce greenhouse emissions without standardization. 16

Suggestions:

Wal-Mart has demonstrated initiative in reducing its energy consumption and lessening its ecological footprint (which currently measures at 15.4 million metric tons per year in the U.S. alone.) The company's experimental stores have offered insights, by both successes and disappointments, in reaching its aspiration of 100% renewable energy use. However, the conversion to sustainable business practices requires not only aggressive goals, but concrete timelines and thorough follow-up. The largest retailer in the world cannot depend solely on internal "clean-up" for combating its overwhelming negative contributions to the environment over its lifetime. A commitment to the external environment and communities is necessary as well. While continuing with current research and investments is a large step in the right direction, investing outside of the motivation of capital gain should be considered. Such charity could include funding community solar power projects, preserving and donating trees and other plant life to the community (which absorb CO2 while promoting soil retention and health), or donating supplies such as reflective white paint for business rooftops or CFL bulbs. These actions support community-based reductions in energy consumption that can also support Wal-Mart's loftier, long-term goals.

Wal-Mart's Mission to Reduce Pollution

Introduction:

Pollution is seen all around the world, especially in heavily populated areas. It reaches all of our space including air, land and water. We contribute to the air pollution by burning fossil fuels which produce electricity and power vehicles and other machines. We can measure the amount of pollution emitted into our air by measuring the amount of CO2 or carbon dioxide. On average, each family in the United States emits 85 tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year. Sixty percent of those 85 tons are emitted through goods and services each family purchases.24 The most common sources of air pollution come from automobiles and construction equipment which must burn diesel fuel in order to run.

Background:

Land pollution plays a major role in our environment today. Just like air pollution, land pollution comes from a variety of sources. These sources range anywhere from toxic chemicals used by industrial businesses to waste that is dumped on our lands because of overuse by humans and failure to initiate a recycling regime.

Water pollution also is a huge factor in the managing of our fragile environment. Sources of water pollution can range anywhere from acid rain to chemical waste being dumped into our water to mismanagement of construction sites where toxins are being used to build. Another source of water pollution comes from oil spills from oil tankers.

These three types of pollution are mainly emitted into our environment because of human activities. Some are emitted by individual persons and some are emitted by huge corporations and businesses which cater to our individual lives. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is just one super corporation which has undergone immense scrutiny for its environmental practices which have led to air, water and land pollution around the world. Many of these accusations have led to investigations that have proved Wal-Mart's guilt in emitting large amounts of pollution. Aside from this, Wal-Mart is now on a mission to contribute to the conservation of our environments.

Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world and has definitely made its own footprints in it. Wal-Mart opens new "big box" stores around the world every year and currently has more than 4,100 stores in the United States alone. Not only are there Wal-Mart stores in the United States, but there are an additional 3,100 stores in thirteen international markets including China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.25 Imagine the amount of air pollution released into our environments as a result of the construction and operation of these supercenters.

Issues:

One major issue Wal-Mart is facing from environmentalists right now is the amount of CO2 that is being released by its huge supercenters. The CO2 emissions that are generated by Wal-Mart and the customers who drive to the superstore is close to 30 million metric tons.26 Wal-Mart recently was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to the Environmental Protection Agency in order to settle violations of the Clear Air Act, which prohibits the sale or distribution of nonessential products containing ozone-depleting substances.27 These fines were the result of Wal-Mart selling more than 400,000 cans of party string which contained the banned propellant R22. Some of the compounds found in party string contain substances that can deplete the earth's stratospheric ozone layer, which protects humans and animals from the sun's harmful radiation.28

Progress:

Although environmentalists have been hard on the super corporation, they have lighted a fire under Wal-Mart executives and even joined the corporation to initiate a plan to reduce CO2 emissions. In 2006, Wal-Mart announced its participation in the SmartWay Transport Partnership and Blue Skyways Collaborative to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing energy efficiency by helping trucking companies become more fuel efficient and improve their environmental performance.29 The results of these initiatives could save 125 million gallons of fuel per year, cut 505,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year, and also reduce 40,000 tons per year in air pollutants.

Not only has Wal-Mart paved the way for reduced ground transportation emissions but it has also helped reduce energy use in the air as well. Wal-Mart Aviation has been able to use less fuel for its fleet of corporate jets, by focusing on flight efficiency. This has resulted in 112,365 fewer gallons of fuel used per fiscal year.30

The Environmental Protection Agency has not only had its issues with Wal-Mart regarding its contribution to air pollution in our environment but has also had issues regarding the corporation's contribution to water pollution. In some 24 construction sites in 9 states, Wal-Mart had violated the Clean Water Act by allowing runoff from its construction sites, which contained dirt, silt and other pollutants, into local streams. This runoff could contain hazardous pollutants which, if allowed to flow into waterways and water sources, could affect the population's drinking supply. The Clean Water Act requires contractors of large sites to have permits which require the site operators to not only create but also carry out pollution prevention plans to minimize the release of pollutants into storm water runoff. 35 In 2004, the EPA reached a Clean Water Act settlement with Wal-Mart. In this settlement, Wal-Mart agreed to pay civil penalties in the amount of $3.1 million and to reduce storm water runoff at its construction sites.31 In addition to the payment of the civil penalties, and to show good cause for the environment, Wal-Mart also agreed to spend $250,000 on an environmental project that will help protect sensitive wetlands or waterways in one of the affected states.

Land waste has also been a factor in Wal-Mart's history. Each year, Americans use more than 100 billion plastic shopping bags. These bags usually go straight to local landfills where it can take 500 or more years for them to break down or become litter that blocks storm drains and hurts marine life. 32

Goals and Ambitions:

Wal-Mart may be a huge factor in polluting the environment, but lately the corporation has shown valuable interest in cleaning up land waste. In September of 2008, Wal-Mart announced a major plan to reduce its plastic shopping bag waste by one-third by the year 2013. This plan would help to reduce global plastic shopping bag waste from its stores around the world by an average of 33 percent and eliminate more than 135 million pounds of plastic waste world-wide. In order to accomplish this major feat, Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. and Mexico have begun introducing new, more affordable reusable bags for its shoppers.33

Along with this plan to reduce land waste, Wal-Mart has also began an initiative for children to get involved in helping to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. In October 2008, Wal-Mart introduced a new program called Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge. These programs teach elementary school kids about the importance of recycling and, at the same time help earn money for their schools. For every 60-gallon collection bag which students fill, Wal-Mart will donate $5.00 to their participating school. 34

As issues of global warming and environmental meltdown are introduced into our societies, individuals and businesses are becoming more environmentally friendly and making the decision to go "green". It is essential to keep our environments clean and rid them of as much pollution as possible and Wal-Mart seems to be making the eco-friendly decisions that will help keep our environment clean.

Works Cited

1.Chein, Kirby, Maestri Nicole. "Wal-mart cracks down on China suppliers". News Daily;

Business News October 22, 2008:

2."Despite environmental initiatives, Wal-mart's fuel wage still high". Organic Consumers

Association. April 7, 2008 .

3.ElAmin, Ahmed. "Wal-mart unveils 'green' packaging rating system". Food Production Daily.

November 2, 2006 .

4.Gogoi, Pallavi, Herbst, Moira."Wal-mart's bold environmental move - maybe? Retailer

measuring it's energy use, but what will it do with the information?". MSNBC Business. September 26, 2007 .

5.Mainhart, Angele. "Unite Here Announces Pillowtex Settlement For Low Wages".

Independent Tribune Feb 15, 2006: 2-3.

6.Norman, Al. "Global underwear: Haynes & Wal-mart cover their rear". The Huffington Post

September 24, 2008: 1.

7. Seed, Darren. "Wal-mart, Wesport, and Mojave desert ait district partner to reduce emissions

with LNG trucks in Apple Valley, CA". Westport News Release. February 5, 2008 .

8.Stein, Adam. "Milk jug gets a makeover for carbon savings". The TerraPass Footprint July 1,

2008: 1.

9.Wailgum, Thomas. "Wal-mart aims to go green with global supply chain makeover". CIO;

Business Technology Leadership October 28, 2008: 1-4.

10."Wal-mart commits to America's farmers as produce aisles go local". Wal-martFacts. July 1,

2008 .

11. "Another Record Setting Year." Wal-Mart 2008 Annual Report. Retrieved on Nov 7, 2008

from http://walmartstores.com/sites/AnnualReport/2008/financial_highlights.html

12. Butler, Rhett A. "Wal-Mart Builds Environmentally Friendly Store." Mongabay.com. 26 July

2005 Retrieved on Oct 18, 2008 from http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0726-walmart.html

13. Kirk, Patricia L. "Designing the Way to Green." Urban Land. Nov/Dec 2006. Retrieved on

Oct 15, 2008 from http://home.earthlink.net/~captainkirk/environmentalgreen-ULI.pdf

14. Mitchell, Stacy. "Response to Wal-Mart's New 'Green' Store in McKinney, Texas." The

Hometown Advantage: Reviving Locally Owned Business. 21 July 2005. Retrieved on Oct 18, 2008 fromhttp://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=308

15. Mitchell, Stacy. "Keep Your Eyes on the Size: Impossibility of a Green Wal-Mart."

Grist.org. Retrieved on Oct 15, 2008 fromhttp://walmartwatch.com/img/blog/sustainability.pdf

16. Striano, Elizabeth. "Wal-Mart Facing Tough Green Questions." Environmental Leader. 13

Aug 2008. Retrieved on Nov 12, 2008 from ://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/08/13/wal-mart-facing-tough-green-questions/

17. Sustainable Buildings. Wal-Mart. Retrieved on Oct 15, 2008 from

http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/7776.aspx

18. "Sustaining Wal-Mart: How Wal-Mart's Sustainability Goes Far Beyond

Environmentalism." Wal-Mart Watch In Depth. Retrieved on Oct 20, 2008 from http://walmartwatch.com/img/blog/sustainability.pdf

19. Vincent, Roger. "Wal-Mart to Open 'Green' Store." Los Angeles Times. 20 July

2005.Retrieved on Oct 18, 2005 from http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jul/20/business/fi-walmart20

20. Wal-Mart Fact Sheets. Greenhouse Gas Fact Sheet. May 2008. Retrieved on Oct 15, 2005

from http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/

21. Wal-Mart Fact Sheets. Solar Power Pilot Fact Sheet. Oct 2008. Retrieved on Oct 15,

2008from http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/

22. Wal-Mart Fact Sheets. Sustainability Fact Sheet. 2008. Retrieved on Oct 15, 2008 from

http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/

23. Yoder, Jeff. "Wal-Mart Goes Green with Sustainable Store." All Business. 1 Aug 2005.

Retrieved on Oct 20, 2008 from http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/energy- utility-regulation-policy/6228986-1.html

24. "We All Cause Air Pollution." Cleaner and Greener, a program of Leonardo Academy. 16

August 2007. 19 October 2008 [http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/programs/schools/pollution.htm]

25. Wal-Mart Fact Sheets. 17 July 2008. Wal-Mart Corporate Fact Sheet. 19 October 2008

[http://Wal-Martstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/].

26. Peirce, Neal. "'Green' Wal-mart: An Oxymoron?"Washington Post Writers Group.

24 June 2007. 19 October 2008 [http://www.postwritersgroup.com/archives/peir070624.html]

27. "Wal-mart, EPA Reach Settlement on Violations." Progressive Grocer 10 October 2008.

28. Bravender, Robin. "Wal-Mart Fined for Selling Banned Party String Propellant." E & E

News 9 October 2008, PM ed.

29. Fanning, Cynthia. "Wal-Mart Encourages Freight Industry to Reduce Air Pollution." US Fed

News Dallas, 28 April 2006.

30. "Thinking Big By Going Small." S*MART. April/May 2007: 5.

31. Query, Shawn. "Paper or Plastic: The Best Answer May Be Neither." E Magazine.

November/December 2007: 22-24.

32. Kabler, Lauren. "Wal-Mart II Storm Water Settlement." EPA Civil Enforcement and

Compliance. 12 May 2004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 19 October 2008 [http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/cwa/Wal-Mart2.html]

33. PR Newswire, First Call. "Wal-Mart Sets Goal to Reduce Its Global Plastic Shopping Bag

Waste by One-Third." New York, 25 September 2008.

34.Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge. Wal-Mart Community & Giving. 10 October 2008

[http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8597.aspx]

35. "Clean Water Act Statute, Regulations & Enforcement." EPA Civil Enforcement and

Compliance. The Clean Water Act (CWA); 33 U.S.C. s/s 1251 et seq. (1977)

10 October 2008 [http://www.epa.gov/oecaerth/civil/cwa/cwaenfstatreq.html]