Sunday January 27, 2008, 8:37 pm
More copious pr hype from Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott’s “Company of the Future”.

Monday January 28, 2008, 2:16 pm
As someone who used to work for this company, this is nothing more than hot air, just like all the other 'warm fuzzies' that they spew and do not mean. This company loves to boost about what a great place it is and how they are reshaping the retail industry but the bottom line is they are about the most money-hungry company I've ever had the displeasure of working for.

Monday January 28, 2008, 4:57 pm
Jeff - nice post.

I guess I have a slightly different take than some others here regarding this. While I completely agree "the proof is in the action / results", I don't think Lee Scott is just blowing smoke. Historically, one of the challenges we've had in getting companies to "go green" is that most of them have been scared off by environmentalists calling their efforts "green washing". In fact, in the past at Care2, we've talked to some companies about becoming sponsors on Care2 to promote the good efforts they're doing and they decline because they don't think they're ready to get hit by the green washing charge.

The difference we see today is that many major companies now "get it". They get the fact that their customers expect them to be moving in a greener direction, and that if they don't follow through then they're going to start losing customers. Sure, call it "money hungry", but the point is they are truly doing things to move in the right direction, and they know that if they crow about their efforts and don't follow through, they're going to get nailed, look hypocritical, and it will be worse than doing nothing at all.

Sure, Wal-Mart has lots of opportunity for improvement, but I think they're smarter than just saying this for a short term win. They know they have an image problem, and they're truly making progress on the conservation front. As the largest retailer in the world, they have an absolutely incredible opportunity to move their supply chain in a better direction (and by doing so they'll move the entire economy in that direction.).

So, sure, we'll see what comes of all this talk, but I'm personally excited to see they're getting it and think this is something we should be pleased to see.

Tuesday January 29, 2008, 7:29 am
Randy -- We're on the same page. We need to remain vigilant, and ask the tough questions, but I'm not sure how we get these companies to change if we automatically assign the label "greenwash" to every effort made. As far as "money hungriness" -- we've got to remember that there is a business case to be made for more sustainable corporate practices (many of them, actually), and there's no shame in making those arguments... if a company can increase its profitability by going green, that's a good thing.

Tuesday January 29, 2008, 10:23 am
Hey everyone,

If you want to know what happens, just contact me in a year or 2... My company's largest customer is Walmart, and so far we have heard NOTHING... They might mention this idea to their overseas suppliers in 2008, but, there has been little change in their sourcing policy for many years...

Lets hope this is real, and they don't continue to force us to use factories that in no way would ever pass an enviornmental audit... (Its either give them their target price, or they will find somebody else who will)

Saturday March 29, 2008, 8:30 pm
Hillary Clinton and Wal-Mart: What About Debbie Shank? no story... better illustrates the tattered social contract between workers and corporations...than the story of Debbie Shank and Wal-Mart...Shank...a "Gold Star" mother whose 18-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed in Iraq.Hillary should visit Debbie Shank