Walmart has three easy and simple goals when it comes to the environment: to be supplied by 100 percent renewable enegry, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain people and the environment (walmartstores.com).
In 2005, Walmart began working towards a goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy by 2012. Well, 2012 is only just around the corner, and all Walmart has to say for themselves is that they "have installed a significant number of micro wind turbines at our Sam's Club in Palmdale, California, and store in Worchester,
Mass., we are using solar energy in California and Hawaii and purchasing wind energy in Texas and Mexico" (walmartstores.com). For a multi-billion dollar corporation, that seems like more than enough time to remove all of their dependencies on non-renewable energy. If they were dedicated enough to improving the environment, they would have.
Though Walmart has taken some crucial steps towards reducing their waste, they have not even come close to achieving their goal of creating zero waste. As of now, they have " worked with one of [their] toy suppliers to help them reduce packaging on 16 items. As a result, [they] were able to use 230 fewer shipping containers to distribute their products, saving about 356 barrels of oil and 1,300 trees. By broadening this initiative to 255 items, [they] expect to save 1,000 barrels of oil, 3,800 trees and millions of dollars in transportation costs"(walmartstores.com). Though this seems impressive, it's not! Walmart is one of the biggest and most influential corporations in America. If they were really concerned with the waste that they were creating, they would pull some strings and get more than 16 of their toy suppliers to help them reduce packaging.
As strong and popular a corporation as Walmart is, I feel that they could definitely take some longer strides in the race to making our environment a cleaner and safer place.
References: http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/9191.aspx
Dear Writer,
ReplyDeleteI thought this topic was very interesting because Walmart is something that almost any American knows about and can relate to. You made it very clear that Walmart is trying to say it's doing great and having good progress on becoming green when really they're just talking themselves up.
"Though Walmart has taken some crucial steps towards reducing their waste, they have not even come close to achieving their goal of creating zero waste." This really stood out for me because they said that they want to reduce all their waste completely but they're just taking baby steps when a corporation like them can take giant leaps towards success. It's unfortunate to me that all Walmarts aren't "green" and that they're taking so long to succeed in their goal, if they are trying to do it by 2012 they've got a lot of work to do!
I really agree with you when you mention 2012 is right around the corner. They stated this claim in 2005 and they've made very little progress. They mentioned progress in a few states but what about all of the rest?!
I loved that you wrote this because it really enlightened me. I've noticed some "green" progress but now I realize that that is very small compared to what they're trying to achieve and how much work they have left to do. I look forward to reading future posts as enlightening as this one!
Cardinal
Dear Writer,
ReplyDeleteI can see your point that Walmart is this huge corporation and if they truly wanted to make changes they would. This poses a few interesting thoughts about companies that say they're going to reduce their harm to the environment, but in reality do they actually follow through with it is something completely different. I mean you're right in that they definitely have the capabilties and resources to do what they've promised, but have chosen not to take drastic measures like they previously stated.
"If they were really concerned with the waste that they were creating, they would pull some strings and get more than 16 of their toy suppliers to help them reduce packaging." I really like this statement because it shows how little they have done to follow through on what they've said. They have taken tiny baby steps, even though it's supposed to be done next year. It really struck me and stuck with me after I read the blog.
"Though this seems impressive, it's not! Walmart is one of the biggest and most influential corporations in America." I completely agree with this because as big as they are they definitely should have made more progress than they have. People say they're going green and as a society we applaud them. but in actuality Walmart has done nothing compared to what they said they were going to do.
I really enjoyed reading this and it;'s definitely an eye-opener as far as realizing that corporations don't always follow through with what they pomise. Truth like this definitely wants to make me read more of your blogs in the future and as long as you keep up with this I will. Good blog though, thanks.
--Grackle
Dear Blogger,
ReplyDeleteOh yes, wal-mart is just crazy. I had a professor who actually doesn't shop at wal-mart anymore because they are always promising things and falling through. The only thing Wal-Mart corporations are "concerned" with is wasting their time to illuminate some of their waste. They just see dollar signs and not the effect they are having on the world or it's resources. They have the means "to improve the environment" but they never will. To improve the environment, they would have to spend more money on more earth friendly goods. We will probably not see an improvement. They would rather earn money, while destroying the world; than to lose money trying to help save it. I am glad you posted about this though. Wal-Mart is starving the world.
Sincerely,
Collard Dove