Wal-Mart is often the target of criticism by environmental and labor groups. However, in the past few years, Wal-Mart has made progress toward three defined goals of 100% renewable energy, zero waste, and to sell products that are 100% sustainable.
This corporate commitment to social and environmental responsibility was recently and dramatically emphasized to Chinese manufacturers at a conference in Beijing, hosted by Wal-Mart, and attended by more than one thousand Chinese suppliers.
Wal-Mart CEO, Lee Scott, who defined Wal-Mart's sustainability goals in Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2005, was emphatic: "I want to be direct: My intention here is to send a strong message about how serious we are. Meeting social and environmental standards is not optional."
In his recent, best-selling book, Hot, Flat and Crowded, Thomas Friedman, writes that the Chinese government is also committed to environmental sustainability, but is often not powerful enough to enforce environmental laws and regulations in provinces. He notes that the Chinese government is often quick to act, but slow to enforce - the opposite of our democratic government, which he says is slow to act, but quick to enforce.
In that context, Wal-Mart's declaration of environmental and social responsibility can be seen as consistent with the wishes of the Chinese government - perhaps, even a mechanism of enforcement.
At any rate, Mr. Scott's comments can be viewed here. The presentation is about 20 minutes.
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