Sustainable Spin

Many of you probably know that Wal-Mart, after taking years of abuse for its exploitative practices, is in the middle of a major sustainability-washing PR campaign called "Sustainability 360" Perhaps the greatest truth in this whole movement is in the numbers: 360 degrees, one full rotation of spin before continuing to move along the original trajectory.

After examining the report it looks like Wal-Mart is fully aware of the improved medium- to long-term benfits of sustainable business practices, and even more aware of immediate warm-fuzzy consumer response to talking about these practices.

Despite my skepticism of said corporation, Wal-Mart does have the resources to blow through the cost barrier involved in initial investment in green building. I only doubt they have the wear-with-all to actually doing something positive enough to counteract the pain and suffering they have caused to small business owners.

Check this our for a story on the challenges of retail sector development in developing markets.

Thanks to the Private Sector Development blog for pointing out the Wal-Mart link.