Wal-Mart Watch Report Examines Wal-Mart’s Attempted Environmental Makeover
For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 30, 2007
P.R. Goals Won’t Offset Environmental Damage
Washington, D.C. - Wal-Mart Watch today released a new report challenging the integrity of Wal-Mart’s environmental makeover. The report, titled “It’s Not Easy Being Green: The Truth About Wal-Mart’s Environmental Makeover,” examines Wal-Mart’s efforts to become more “green.” The report applauds select steps Wal-Mart has taken, but reveals that the company’s actions aren’t nearly enough to offset the environmental damage it causes.
The report details ways Wal-Mart stores inflict environmental damage on local communities by paving massive areas of green space and increasing traffic and air pollution with its tractor trailers and customer’s cars. Chemical runoff from the stores’ enormous parking lots contribute to land and water pollution, while 24-hour electricity use not only consumes huge amounts of energy, but also disrupts local plant and animal life.
In 2004, McKinsey & Company advised Wal-Mart to “shape the external debate by becoming a role model on a significant societal issue;” it appears the company heeded the advice. But, as Wal-Mart throws millions of dollars at public relations campaigns to address its negative environmental image and distract from more than 40 years of its environmental degradation, the retailer continues to treat the symptoms of its environmental problems, and ignore the root causes, just as it does with its other problems such as low wages and lack of health care for its employees.
“It’s Not Easy Being Green” examines the action Wal-Mart has taken in pursuing its environmental initiatives, as well as the truth behind the company’s claims. The report also examines the issues brought forth by environmental impact studies and how these studies can help cities and communities make informed decisions about proposed big box development.
Click here (PDF) to download the full report or here (PDF) to download the fact sheet.
