Is the notoriously environmentally and socially unconscious megastore Walmart turning over a new leaf? The company announced plans on Thursday for some hefty emissions cuts from their supply chain by 2015. But is Walmart making this move out of consideration for their impact on the environment, or are they simply getting ready for “a world in which energy will only get more expensive,” as Walmart president Michael Duke stated in a web cast?

I want to believe that Walmart is making these changes for the right reasons, but the company doesn't exactly have a track record of doing the right thing for any reason besides profits, or for doing the right thing in the first place. Walmart's “always low” prices are due in part to management practices that allow for unpaid overtime work and poor health insurance plans for employees. A recent report by the Huffington Post detailing Walmart's despicable sick day policy, which encourages employees to work while sick for fear of losing their jobs, shows Walmart's willingness to sacrifice the fair and respectable treatment of employees in exchange for profit. Walmart has also been accused of selling goods produced by underpaid sweat shop workers overseas. And in an issue closer to home, Walmart's powerful corporate identity and low, unmatchable prices have many small towns in America, including my hometown, blaming the superstore for wiping out local businesses and eliminating jobs.

So, when I hear that Walmart will be encouraging their suppliers to redesign product packaging to be more environmentally friendly, do I believe it's because Walmart cares about the impact its products have on the environment, or do I believe it's because more efficient packaging will allow Walmart to fit more boxes of products into one truck for the same price?

While I do hope that Walmart has the right intentions from a personal, moral standpoint, I'm a very strong supporter of doing the right thing no matter what the reason. A few small actions from an industry giant like Walmart towards the green initiative, whether Walmart gives a hoot about the planet or not, will help set the standard for smaller companies and help to change minds about the importance of protecting our planet. What does worry me is that if Walmart is only taking these actions to save some money or avoid being fined in the future for emissions regulations, I really foresee them doing just enough to make the difference in their profits, and not enough to make any real change for the environment. And if those measures ever stop being profitable for Walmart, I wouldn't be surprised to see them abandoned immediately.

I'm optimistic about Walmart's efforts, and glad they are at least doing something besides upholding their poor status quo, but we should remain critical of their actions and not let ourselves be greenwashed if their methods are not truly green. We should continue to hold industry leaders like Walmart accountable for their actions, and remind them that though they are beginning to reconcile their ecological problems, they still have a long way to go before they reach true sustainability and social responsibility.

-Natalie is a blogger for The Daily Vine. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.

Sources

Wal-Mart Unveils Plan to Make Supply Chain Greener, The New York Times.

Walmart's Sick Day Policy Hurts Workers, Families, and Customers, The Huffington Post.