Last week, Lia posted a link to a New York Times article about Walmart’s far-reaching sustainability efforts, including sourcing more local produce and developing a “sustainability index” to help the company evaluate suppliers and guide consumers’ purchases.
Today, this commentary from The Hartman Group, a Bellevue, Wash.-based market research firm, highlights a subtle but powerful indicator of Walmart’s commitment to sustainability: the world’s largest retailer now carries products by Seventh Generation, the company that produces green home- and baby-care products.
“For some, Seventh Generation’s entry into Walmart, after several years of gradual debunking-of-Walmart’s-intentions-toward-green by the company’s co-founder and Executive Chairperson Jeffrey Hollender, is a watershed event, though of the sort that might short-circuit not just a few well-meaning, green-oriented minds,” notes The Hartman Group. “From various circles that have condemned Walmart for its effects on community economics, worker’s rights and a host of other perceived impacts, the several-year evolution in thinking from aversion to acknowledgment described by Mr. Hollender in his blog, has been a bit like watching a company formerly portrayed as Darth Vader having a well-meaning Jedi Knight over for tea on a regular basis–and then signing up the well-meaning Knight to work among the ranks of imperial storm troopers.”
Of course, as the commentary notes, Walmart has had green cleaners and other products, such as Clorox GreenWorks on its shelves for some time now. But the entry of Seventh Generation, a company with a strong commitment to sustainability, is a particularly sought-after stamp of approval for Walmart’s green efforts.