Going for the green

Wal-Mart's environmental strategy met with praise, skepticism

Sunday, October 8, 2006

By JOHN R. PULLIAM

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Wal-Mart has announced a far-reaching "green" strategy, which it says is more friendly to the environment. Some environmentalists are applauding the move, other people believe the giant discounter is simply looking for good publicity.

Wal-Mart has announced plans, set to begin in 2008, to measure its 60,000 worldwide suppliers on their ability to develop packaging that will conserve natural resources, according to Walmartfacts.com. In addition to reducing landfill waste, "the initiative is projected to save 667,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere," according to the Web site. "This is equal to taking 213,000 trucks off the road annually, and saving 323,800 tons of coal and 66.7 million gallons of diesel fuel from being burned."

Wal-Mart worked in partnership with suppliers to improve packaging on its private label Kid Connection toy line last year.

"By reducing the packaging on fewer than 300 toys, Wal-Mart saved 3,425 tons of corrugated materials, 1,358 barrels of oil, 5,190 trees, 727 shipping containers and $3.5 million in shipping costs," according to Walmartfacts.com. The plan is to expand to the company's more than 160,000 products to reduce solid waste by 25 percent in the company's U.S. stores within three years.

"This year, we're looking to recycle 95 percent of our paper," Wal-Mart manager Travis Wilhite said of the Galesburg store. "All of our shrink wrap and plastic, we put in bale form and a company comes and picks it up."

Peter Schwartzman, an associate professor at Knox College who is the chairman of the environmental studies program, admitted he has "some hesitancy saying something positive about Wal-Mart," but he sees some good things about the company's environmental plans. However, he does not feel Wal-Mart is going far enough. He said Wal-Mart also should educate its customers.

He thinks the company's move to sell organic cotton clothes is an important, albeit overlooked, piece of the puzzle. He said cotton requires more pesticides than any crop grown in the U.S.

"So moving toward organic cotton, in my view, is a really responsible thing to do," Schwartzman said. He worries many may not realize that. "Wal-Mart has great potential to educate the public as to why organic is good. ... If they're really keen on doing this for social good, they should do this to educate the public."

He said the company also could discuss fair trade coffee vs. free trade coffee, why hybrid trucks are better than traditional tractor-trailers and other parts of the "green" strategy.

"I think one of the reasons they may be hesitant to try to enhance education is because one of the major criticisms of Wal-Mart in general has environmental impact, essentially because people are filling up their homes with 'stuff,' " Schwartzman said.

As a society we need to reduce consumer items "that are not necessary," he said. "One thing an educated public will begin to recognize is the hypocrisy of a store that is selling so many types of every little thing and saying 'Oh, yeah, we're going to be green about it.' "

He said only so many huge stores are sustainable because of pressures on natural resources.

Schwartzman also said a large number of products sold at Wal-Mart are plastic, which is petroleum based. He doesn't limit his criticism.

"Target or other similar stores, when I do shop there, I literally smell plastic," he said. "As an educated public, the problem becomes a lot of questions about things big business does."

Suzanne Apple of the World Wildlife Fund told Gannett newspapers, "When you hear your words coming out of their (Wal-Mart) mouths, it's amazing. These are issues we've been working on for years."

Schwartzman agreed.

"It's interesting that some traditional environmental groups are being called upon to assist them," he said. "I'm curious to see how the public will respond."

Fourteen "sustainable value networks," comprised of environmentalists, employees and suppliers will meet in person or have conference calls to brainstorm to develop better products for the environment.

Skeptics are taking a wait-and-see approach.

"While we are glad Wal-Mart is talking about environmental sustainability," said Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com. "We can only hope that Wal-Mart's latest talk of becoming a more environmentally friendly company is not just another public relations smoke screen in the company's desperate attempt to salvage its public image."

Wilhite was asked how he responds.

"I think what's important to note is there are a lot of things already being done without being publicized," he said. "Our customers are probably our biggest critics. ... Actions speak louder than words. For example, we had the paint recycling and it was appreciated by the customers and it was appreciated by the city. That's a small example."

"If this is a sign this company is becoming more responsible in total, it's a start," Schwartzman said. "I would hope to see them articulate goals in other areas," such as health care, wages and supporting other local businesses.