Wal Mart and sustainability

May 27, 10:27 PMDC Green Building ExaminerChris Moline, LEED AP

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   I love Wal Mart... now, even more so. Consider this exerpt from "Fatigue of Nations" published by Grist.

"The much-hammered $300 billion-a-year behemoth has begun pledging itself to sell everything from organic cotton baby clothes to sustainable fish. While its supply chain initiatives still lag way behind the likes of Nike and Gap, the potential for allying Wal-Mart's cost-reduction power with the green agenda should tempt us to at least think the unthinkable. What if Hurricane Katrina really did turn out to be CEO Lee Scott's Road to Damascus, and Wal-Mart really were to embrace sustainability? If Scott stuck with this long and effectively enough, would we put his name up in lights alongside the likes of BP's Lord John Browne and GE's Jeff Immelt? We shouldn't count on it, but stranger things have happened."

Add to this news Wal Mart's newest effort - a sustainability index for every product in their stores. Here is a link to TreeHugger.com's reporting on that effort.

As one of the world's largest employers, the green "trickle down effect" will certainly have some impact over time as Wal Mart staff are exposed to different types of sustainability initiatives.  In the DC area, I've run across employees in both the public and private sector who have learned more than they would have about the positive impact of a greener workplace on its occupants. Sam Walton was a smart man.Even if capitalism is the impetus behind Wal Mart's green efforts, that's ok with me.

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Wal Mart & sustainability

Wal Mart sustainability webcast archives