Comments on Adam W.'s review of Wal-Mart
No Love
I can see why people want Wal-Mart to go green. I understand the arguments. i understand that it means more people having the opportunity to buy organic food than ever before. I understand that Wal-Mart selling CFL light bulbs will mean less carbon for all of us.I understand it means an opportunity to make the largest change in the shortest amount of time. I agree with all of this.
What I don't agree with is that these benefits outweigh the negatives. The negatives are many. One at the top of the list is that Wal-Mart is now using it's mega lobbying power to try and water down the meaning of the word organic. That is a move that benefits only Wal-Mart. Additionally, by expending into this new market, Wal-Mart is trying to get people to ignore all of it's other problems, like the fact that it underpays workers and drives local businesses out of business. Plus, Wal-Mart by nature encourages mass consumption. That is exactly what we need to move away from in a more eco-friendly world. In my opinion, the very essence of what Wal-Mart is is not green, so no matter how many green initiatives it moves forward, we would be better of if it didn't exist at all.
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James E. says:
Hey Adam, I can appreciate your frustration. But consider this, EVERY MONTH 100 million shoppers go into Wal*Mart stores...a third of the population. The place isn't going away anytime soon. For better or worse, they are a considerable distribution force for not only products, but ideas and yes, movements. Wal*Mart is now the largest distributor of organic milk in the country. When you think about that mom who discovers that the reason the organic milk is priced significantly higher than the "conventional" milk, is that it doesn't contain growth hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics, Wal*Mart has just served a very important social, economic and environmental message. I'm not defending their employment practices, the third world sweatshops where some of their stuff comes from, all that plastic, and the general push towards consumerism...all that is public record and needs to be dealt with. The more we can get those 100 million Wal*Mart shoppers to try organic and "green" products and services, whether inside a Wal*Mart store, or at the local farmer's market, the better chance we have that those same shoppers will start to make better choices, as most of Wal*Mart SKUs are not of the green variety. As consumer demand shifts with greater public awareness, we'll see a move to more sustainable choices. Everyday I see more people thinking harder about the decisions they are making for themselves and their families. Things are changing, just a bit too slowly for most of us. Totally respect your opinions here, and I don't personally shop at Wal*Mart, but I've found that I'd rather spend my time spreading the news about alternatives for a better life, then shutting my eyes to the reality of the world we live in.
Ed G. says:
This is a case that calls for a review of the term "green". Adam's points are all completely valid, but "green" is not a religion, where you either buy into the entire program or you're tossed. It would be beyond stupid for anyone trying to influence U.S. consumers to ignore 100 million people walking into the same franchise every month.
Is the world a better place because Wal-Mart sells CFL light bulbs and organic milk? While hardly a path to collective Nirvana, yes, it's better than if it didn't. When enough of their shoppers start to demand organic apples, then Wal-Mart will sell those too - that's how it works. Organic tomatoes probably won't be far behind.
It's great when people become interested and educated enough to join the "movement", but everyone starts somewhere. Whole Foods isn't going to get the job done - not at those prices.