This video appeared about a month ago, and in it, Patagonia Yvon Chouinard makes an interesting point: he believes Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiative will make the company more money.
The Chouinard endorsement is notable, if only because Patagonia has been at the forefront of socially responsible business.
If there is a criticism, it’s that the company’s overall carbon footprint is rising — regardless of what it does. As Marc Gunther points out on his blog:
…the problem is that all the good things that Wal-Mart is doing–increasing its use of renewable energy, driving efficiency in individual stores, improving its fleet operations and pushing up its recycling rate–are offset by the fact that the company is adding more stores and selling more stuff.
Wal-Mart Emissions
As Gunther says:
The trouble is, Wal-Mart hasn’t figured out how to get bigger and smaller at the same time. Bigger: more revenues and profits. Smaller: a reduced environmental footprint.
This a fundamental problem facing not just Wal-Mart, but all of corporate America. Until we solve it, we’re in trouble.
Image source: Marc Gunther blog