Legal Blog: Wal-Mart Sued For Dumping Hazardous Waste In Oklahoma
Wal-Mart has, unsurprisingly, been the target of more lawsuits than one can count over the years. The company’s treatment of its workers and “save money at all costs” mentality has resulted in a flood of legal challenges ranging from single plaintiff suits to multi-million dollar class actions. Dukes v. Wal-Mart is of course one large example (the largest class action in American history, actually), as are the myriad wage/hour/overtime class actions the company faces.
At Wal-Mart Watch will be focusing on one of these stories each week, highlighting those cases that warrant further attention because of the light each sheds in its own way on how Wal-Mart does business.
It looks like Wal-Mart’s been dumping dumping hazardous waste again. This time in Oklahoma.
The United States government and the State of Oklahoma filed a complaint in Federal Court on June 20, 2008, claiming that Wal-Mart, amongst other notorious companies (including “Worst Company in America 2008 nominees” Sears, American Airlines, and former nominee Halliburton), contributed hazardous waste to the Double Eagle Superfund site in Oklahoma City, OK.
“The United States and the State of Oklahoma bring this civil action under Sections 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (”CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. 85 9607, and Title 27A O.S. 661-2-101, 1-3-101, and 2-3- 101 for recovery of response costs they have incurred, damages to natural resources, and declaratory relief as a result of releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances.”
Do you have a Wal-Mart near you? Wal-Mart has been charged with dumping the following chemicals into the Superfund site:
“Some of the contaminants of concern analyzed in the risk assessment included lead, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ("’PAHs") and chlorinated hydrocarbons, heptachlor and chlordane, 1.2-dichloroethane, trichloroethylene ("TCE"), 1 ,l,l-Tetrachloroethane, 2-butanone, vinyl chloride, polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs"), and alkyl benzenes.”
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Posted by Christina Clark on Friday, July 18 | 22 comments | Permalink
Activists Slam Wal-Mart’s PR firm for Greenwashing
Climate activists protested yesterday outside the global headquarters of Wal-Mart’s public relations firm Edelman, slamming the PR agency for greenwashing the environmental policies of companies like Wal-Mart.
Holding a banner that read “EDELMAN PR: SPINNING THE CLIMATE OUT OF CONTROL,” the activists climbed on the roof of Edelman’s headquarters to draw attention not only to the environmentally-damaging practices of companies like Wal-Mart, but to also put an end to the PR firm’s deliberately misleading greenwashing campaigns.
One protester was quoted at the scene saying, “We are here to reclaim the PR machine for normal people who want to see real action on climate change, not another dose of corporate greenwash.” Wal-Mart has been adhering to this philosophy for years, consistently choosing press conferences and TV commericals over actual action or changes to the company’s business model.
Help reclaim the PR machine: spread the word about this protest and Wal-Mart’s history of environmental inaction by linking to this post on your MySpace page, Facebook profile, personal blog or by sending it to your friends and family. Wal-Mart has gotten away with greenwashing for too long, and it’s time activists everywhere demand real action - not words - from the world’s largest corporation.
Activists target Edelman in climate change protest [PR Week (UK)]
Oxford Climate Action Spin The Spinners! [UK Indymedia]
Posted by Enviro. Team on Thursday, July 17 | 35 comments | Permalink
Wal-Mart Agrees to Stop Breaking Environmental Laws, Expects Praise
Great news! Wal-Mart has agreed to stop breaking international environmental laws. Imagine what the U.S. economy would be like if every company Wal-Mart’s size agreed to follow the law too! Golly gee, that’d just be swell.
But wait! Sustainably produced wood isn’t going to be as cheap as the Clearcut Special Wal-Mart’s been using up till now. What ever is a multi-billion dollar corporation to do? Simple! Set distant deadlines and indefinite goals filled with feel-good catchphrases like “responsible” and “sustainability networks.” That way, no one can ever actually hold the company to its promises, and it gets all the PR benefits of the announcement with none of the accountability! Way to go, Wal-Mart! Another corporate promise deftly avoided!
Wal-Mart joins logging initiative [Financial Times]
Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, has joined a global programme aimed at eliminating illegal and unsustainable logging in the latest step in a drive to improve its environmental and social record.
The retailer said it would work with the Global Forest and Trade Network, an initiative backed by the World Wildlife Fund.
It will launch an assessment of where the wood used in its own-brand furniture comes from and will eliminate wood from illegal or unknown sources within five years. The retailer also pledged to stop the use of wood from any forests judged to be of “critical importance” that are not well managed.
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Posted by Enviro. Team on Tuesday, July 15 | 30 comments | Permalink
Wal-Mart Inducted in to the Corporate Hall of Shame
Wal-Mart has been inducted to Corporate Accountability’s Corporate Hall of Shame for the second year in a row, just a day after being recognized as the largest company in the world by Forbes. Also being inducted today are Blackwater and Archer Daniels Midland, companies that share Wal-Mart’s love of stellar profits and government subsidies. Congratulations, Wal-Mart. We’re sure Sam Walton would be proud.
Today Corporate Accountability International announced the 2008 inductees into the annual Corporate Hall of Shame: military contractor Blackwater, agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and big box retailer Wal-Mart. More than 30,000 votes were cast online and through the mail.
Inductees have been responsible for the murder of innocent civilians in Iraq, gross labor law violations, and accelerating climate change.
“The voting tells us that people are frustrated with a broad range of corporate abuse,” said Leslie Samuelrich, deputy director of Corporate Accountability International. “They are tired of being lied to about corporate greed under the veil of environmentalism and they are tired of seeing their hard-earned dollars subsidizing human rights abuses abroad.”
In the weeks before the polls closed:
-- Blackwater was raided by federal agents in a firearms probe;
-- Wal-Mart was fined $2 billion by the State of Minnesota for cutting worker break time and forcing employees to work off the clock;
-- ADM has been called to task by Rainforest Action Network and Greenpeace for helping make Indonesia the third largest emitter of CO2.With 28 percent of the vote, Blackwater earned the dubious honor of the year’s most abusive corporation. More than 20 percent of the votes went to ADM and 15 percent to Wal-Mart for runner-up. Wal-Mart, the largest corporation in the world, is facing its second consecutive nomination.
Corporate Accountability International will now continue to monitor Blackwater, ADM, and Wal-Mart’s activities, exposing abusive practices throughout 2008. In previous years, corporations like Columbia HCA and Waste Management have earned their way out of the Hall by reforming their practices in response to this type of direct pressure.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Thursday, July 10 | 9 comments | Permalink
Wal-Mart Supplier P&G to Increase Prices
One of Wal-Mart’s largest suppliers - consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble - announced today that they will be raising prices as much as 16 percent. Despite Wal-Mart’s recent incentives forcing suppliers to cut back on packaging, P&G cited increasing costs for plastic and paper as one of the main reasons for the price increase. The big question here is: Will Wal-Mart accept the higher prices? The company is notorious for bullying suppliers in to lowering prices, but Procter & Gamble is so big it might just be able to stand up to the retailer. Who do you think will win this battle? Will Wal-Mart accept P&G’s higher expenses, and if so, what does this mean for Wal-Mart’s purchasing policy? Submit your thoughts in the comments.
Procter & Gamble to Increase Prices as Much as 16% [Bloomberg News]
Procter & Gamble Co., the maker of Tide laundry detergent and Head & Shoulders shampoo, will raise prices as much as 16 percent because of higher costs for plastic, energy and paper.
The increases are the Cincinnati-based company’s steepest in at least 18 months. Procter & Gamble is betting that customers will continue to buy its Gillette shaving cream and Ivory soap rather than switching to store brands with lower prices promoted by Kroger Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
“Consumers are conditioned to expect that price increases are here to stay, and they are going to see that across the board,’’ said Peter Sorrentino, who helps oversee assets of $16.7 billion at Huntington Asset Advisors. “They will try the store brands, but if the product performance isn’t there, they will switch back.’’ His Cincinnati-based firm owns P&G shares.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Tuesday, July 08 | 13 comments | Permalink
The End of Suburbia
A fascinating 52-minute documentary about the rise and fall of suburbia and the suburban way of life: car-bound, oil-dependent and ever-consuming. It’s a model that Wal-Mart depends on, but as this documentary explains, it’s a model that probably won’t last another 50 years. [Via]
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, July 07 | 0 comments | Permalink
Ask Wal-Mart Watch: Has Wal-Mart Changed?
Every so often, we get interesting questions and inquiries from you, our readers. We do our best to answer them promptly and thoroughly.
Hello Wal-Mart Watch people,
I would like to ask your feedback re: a certain topic....I am on the Board of Trustees at a church which is very politically and environmentally progressive. A few years back, a decision was made to discontinue the church’s membership to Sam’s Club, which, as you must know, is a branch of Wal-Mart that sells bulk items at a discount prices. Just recently, a couple of our members of our church requested that this decision be reconsidered in the interest of stretching precious church dollars, I am assuming. The request was based on the premise that Wal-Mart “has changed” their ethics and policies for the better.
My question to you is do you think Wal-Mart has changed “enough” to warrant a progressive church’s board to change our minds on this issue?
Maybe you have a policy about giving advice, but I really would like an educated opinion. I should mention that I am against changing our church’s policy and really want some evidence or facts to back up my vote when we have the discussion at next month’s Board Meeting.
Thanks,
Gloria
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Posted by Vasudha Desikan on Tuesday, July 01 | 46 comments | Permalink
More on Wal-Mart’s Declining Reputation
In a story out today about Wal-Mart’s declining reputation, the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas notes that admiration for the company is also falling sharply. Whereas Wal-Mart was once the most admired company in America according to Fortune magazine, the retailer is now barely in the top 20.
One expert called Wal-Mart’s poor reputation a “chronic” condition, as the retailer has repeatedly failed to take action on issues raised by activists and critics. Ignoring these complaints is not only inhumane, it’s a bad business strategy. Wal-Mart has years to go before it can even hope to begin regaining the trust of conscientious consumers.
Report: Wal-Mart Reputation Continues To Slide [NW Arkansas Morning News]
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in 2007 continued to slip down a list of corporate reputation rankings, according to a survey.
The Bentonville-based retailer ranked No. 44 on the Harris Interactive report, which ranks the reputations of the country’s 60 “most visible” companies based on consumer perception surveys.
It was the third consecutive year Wal-Mart’s score on the list declined.
Wal-Mart’s slipped score was the also the third largest rating change, trailing behind Bank of America and Halliburton Co., which saw more significant declines in reputation scores.
Wal-Mart has similarly dropped down Fortune Magazine’s list of America’s most admired companies.
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Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Tuesday, June 24 | 5 comments | Permalink
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