Wal-Mart Discovers Multiple Benefits Of Going Green

Today plastic trash is among the biggest environmental concerns in front of all of us. Until serious measures are taken by governments, organizations and the general public, the situation is prone to worsen. After being painted as environmental bad guys for quite a while, quite a few sizeable organizations are learning that becoming environmentally friendly actually makes very good business sense. In recent years, retail giant Wal-Mart has recognized that its endeavours to go green have not only helped in increasing the company’s goodwill, but also has resulted in sizeable cost savings.

Environment Friendly Steps taken by Wal-Mart

The Los Angeles Times recently posted an article on Wal-Mart’s environmentally friendly efforts. These include installation of fuel cells, which have helped the company lessen electricity usage and cut costs. The company is also working to use better packaging materials minimizing waste. Scaling back on packaging has helped Wal-Mart save millions of dollars. The green efforts have also helped the company avoid potential legal liabilities. According to the company, in California, 80% of waste does not wind up in landfills and a part of this is recycled into new products. Wal-Mart stores now feature eco-friendly detergents and diapers along with photo frames, dog beds along with other goods made from recycled materials.

Green Efforts of Other Large Organizations

More examples of big organizations that have taken substantial actions to go green include PepsiCo and IBM. PepsiCo is about to test biodegradable containers made from raw materials like orange peels and oat hulls, that happen to be major waste products at the company’s facilities. A representative for IBM, which managed to reach the top of the Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of environmentally friendly companies, has clarified that environmentalism is really a growth strategy as opposed to corporate virtue for the company. Beer maker Anheuser-Busch Inbev aims to recycle 99% of its waste and cut its water usage by 30% by the end of next year.

While some critics state that marketing benefits and outside demand are the main reasons for these companies going green, provided that the efforts result in solid environmental benefits, there is no harm in appreciating them. Businesses like Wal-Mart are frank enough to admit that betterment in their bottom line along with public goodwill are the primary motivators behind their efforts. Since commencing its green movement in 2005, the company has been able to win over nearly all of its environmental critics. Wal-Mart corporate affairs executive vice president Leslie Dach confirms that as a significant organization, they have the responsibility and also the possibility to make choices that will bring about positive changes across the overall supply chain.

How You can Contribute to the Cause

While large organizations like Wal-Mart are contributing significantly to the green movement, individuals and small business owners should also do their bit. Like Wal-Mart, you too can discover the many advantages of going green by taking steps in the right direction. Simple things like opting for recycled bags rather than plastic can make a difference. Several organizations now offers numerous eco-friendly goods like reusable bottles, reusable grocery shopping bags etc, that can replace plastic products. Make the right choice and become an important part of the green movement today.