April starts the beginning of Earth Month and already there is a bru-ha-ha. Wal-Mart announced this morning in a Press Releasetheir new “Green” initiative and their serious intentions in bringing “green” to the mainstream.
“From milk to mulch and laundry detergent to light bulbs, more than 50 products spanning various aspects of sustainability including energy conservation, waste reduction, and organics will be featured on store shelves during the month of April. In addition, Walmart.com will offer more than 500 eco-friendly items, including apparel, baby products and home furnishings, at unbeatable prices online.”
Later this afternoon, the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) called “Wal-Mart’s Earth Month sustainability campaign, touting its new lines of alleged environmentally-friendly products, a waste of time and resources.” In it’s own Press Release it states:
“Wal-Mart got to where it is today by adhering to a business model that took into account the consumer’s priority to get quality products at the lowest possible price,” concludes Carlisle. “This foolish ‘Green’ campaign is completely contrary to that model. The more Wal-Mart emphasizes so-called sustainability factors in marketing products, the more it risks undermining its competitiveness.”
Tsk,Tsk, gentlemen aren’t we supposed to be promoting the “green” revolution? In all fairness, the NLPC states in their Press Release that they support “ethics in corporate life” and the Corporate Integrity Project. Maybe they feel that Wal-Mart isn’t being sincere? Or could it be that they still stand by the December 2006, special report titled “Wal-Mart Embraces Controversial Causes: Bid to Appease Liberal Interest Groups Will Likely Fail, Hurt Business”?
I thought I would give you a little of the behind-the-scenes cat fighting. It’s interesting for us to know as consumers what is really driving decisions.
In other eco-news, Barneys New York Co-Op will begin a national T-shirt recycling program. On April 13th, you can drop off your old Flashdance T-Shirt from the 80’s and Loomstate will “re-fashion” your sad old discards into limited edition brand new T-shirts set to be offered for Holiday 2008. I can’t wait to see what sort of message T-shirts make their way into the fray; “I’m with stupid”, “I (heart) nerds”? You know there will be much worse, but I am trying to stay clean.
The word is also those of us who participate, will receive a 20% discount on Loomstate for Barneys Green from April 13-17. All proceeds from the initiative will go to “Organic Exchange, a unique resource for companies interested in the cultivation and sourcing of certified organic cotton.”
If you want to learn more about this in green ambition click here for the press release.
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Fashion Sensei 