Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) seems keen on the green scene. No, that's not a limerick, but apparently a state of mind at the world's largest retailer. Not only does it control the temperatures of its stores from its Bentonville headquarters; it's becoming fanatic about eco-sustainability and green products. Now that its well into being able to procure and supply ecologically-sound products to its customers, it has a mandate to its Chinese suppliers.
It wants them to cut energy use and become more green themselves -- outside the products it supplies to the retailing behemoth. Can a company push its suppliers to themselves become more eco-friendly? That's what Wal-Mart is intending to do here. It has pushed for the absolute lowest prices from its huge Chinese suppliers before, and now it wants to tell them how to eco-manage a business. Will these Chinese suppliers scoff at being told what to do? Doubtful. You see, many of them completely rely on Wal-Mart's business to survive and thrive.
Eco-sustainability is apparently not a buzzword, but an action strategy at Wal-Mart. The reason: it services Wal-Mart's low-price focus (of course there is a business reason!). If Wal-Mart's suppliers can themselves save costs using energy cuts and other actions, those savings can then be priced into the product and passed on to consumers. After all, Wal-Mart's "Save Money. Live Better" may not just be a marketing pitch. Right now, in this recession, it's a way of life for millions of Americans.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-16-2009 @ 10:47PM
Kerry said...
Just more china junk at Chinamart.
5-18-2009 @ 2:12PM
roudy11z said...
Hey, Don't all these brilliant people understand that any store they go in will have most items that say "made in China".
With even my kids knowing this how much longer will it take?? RoudMan