Muscatine

The retail chain intends to take on a 'leadership role' in reducing waste and energy consumption, and improve international standards.


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Wal-Mart Stores, which launched a broad environmental push in late 2005, wants to expand that focus to other issues including energy prices, international trade and U.S. health care costs.

Chief Executive Lee Scott outlined plans in a speech Wednesday to push for more energy-saving products for Wal-Mart shoppers, work with other retailers on social and environmental standards for the foreign companies they buy from, and trim prescription and health records costs at home.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/23/news/companies/walmart_goals.ap/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote


Peace

Writing

October 2005, from speech of Lee Scott that Davie posted here as old news months ago:

''The factories in China are going to end up having to be held up to the same standards as the factories in the U.S.,'' Scott said. ''There will be a day of reckoning for retailers.''

January 2008 speech of Lee Scott that Davie posted today:

''Second, Wal-Mart will launch an effort with other major retailers to improve social, ethical and environmental standards among its global suppliers.''

''Wal-Mart will work with the international retail body CIES to come up with those standards and find a way to share joint auditing of foreign factories, which now are visited by inspectors from many individual customers.''

''In China, Wal-Mart largest single supplier, Scott said the company will work with the government and NGOs to make sure suppliers comply with Chinese environmental laws.''
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Catch phrases: ''are going to end up; same standards as factories in the US; There will be; will launch; will work with; comply with Chinese environmental laws''.

In 2005 Scott said what they were gonna do. In 2008, he says what they are gonna do....only its the same thing he said in 2005. What happened?

How come in 2005, China factories were to be held to US factory standards by Walmart. Nothing happened. But now, they will only be held to Chinese environmental laws and standards...which are the worst in the world!

Why the false promises in 2005 that nothing happened from? Why are they announcing implementaion 3 years late?

Why has Walmart now lowered the standards that they previously promised?

The writing is on the...ahem...Wal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001973.html

Look who's talking



Wal-Mart seems rightly sincere in their efforts to be the best company they can be.

The Sierra Club, for its part, welcomed the news but added a caveat.

?“Wal-Mart's new commitments to increase efficiency and reduce pollution and waste are important first steps for a company that has such a profound impact on our environment,?” Director Carl Pope said in a statement.

This announcement shows that Wal-Mart can be leader.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9815727/

Peace