Comments on: Walmart Knows What’s Best for Us Green Moms. Right? http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:35:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Lynn http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-23897 Lynn Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:20:25 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-23897 Hi Karen, Thanks for your comment. Just to clarify, I don't shop at Walmart on a regular basis (I'm more of a Whole Foods shopper or My Organic Market, CSA shopper) but when I'm visiting family or friends, sometimes that's the only option....And I am glad that they are bringing safer, healthier products to the masses. Like it or not, Walmart is here to stay, and I prefer to encourage them and work with them to improve everyone's condition rather than just to ignore them...I don't think that will do anything to move improve our collective condition. They're a force that's staying with us...so let's figure out how to make them a better force... Hi Karen,

Thanks for your comment. Just to clarify, I don’t shop at Walmart on a regular basis (I’m more of a Whole Foods shopper or My Organic Market, CSA shopper) but when I’m visiting family or friends, sometimes that’s the only option….And I am glad that they are bringing safer, healthier products to the masses.

Like it or not, Walmart is here to stay, and I prefer to encourage them and work with them to improve everyone’s condition rather than just to ignore them…I don’t think that will do anything to move improve our collective condition. They’re a force that’s staying with us…so let’s figure out how to make them a better force…

]]> By: Karen Bannan http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-23623 Karen Bannan Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:17:49 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-23623 Wal-Mart is bad for the environment. It's bad for business. It's bad for the organic movement. They are going to push little organic farmers out of business. As you say above, that price for free trade coffee seems really out there, right? Way too low? Well, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check out the blog post I wrote about why Wal-Mart's entry into organics is actually a bad thing for all of us. Maybe you will change your mind about shopping in Wal-Mart all together. .-= Karen Bannan´s last blog ..<a href="http://naturalaspossiblemom.com/2009/swimming-in-plastic" rel="nofollow">Swimming in a Sea of Plastic</a> =-. Wal-Mart is bad for the environment. It’s bad for business. It’s bad for the organic movement. They are going to push little organic farmers out of business. As you say above, that price for free trade coffee seems really out there, right? Way too low? Well, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Check out the blog post I wrote about why Wal-Mart’s entry into organics is actually a bad thing for all of us. Maybe you will change your mind about shopping in Wal-Mart all together.
Karen Bannan´s last blog ..Swimming in a Sea of Plastic My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Lynn http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-22842 Lynn Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:17:12 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-22842 Yes, Sommer, you're right! I guess now there are at least three of us "Green Moms" who have shopped in Walmart....we have to count Jennae too! Honestly, though, I have family way out in the country where there are not too many other alternatives for shopping (and yes, I know that's another story!). I hadn't thought of the connection to One Climate Counts - that's a good point. Thanks for sharing! Yes, Sommer, you’re right! I guess now there are at least three of us “Green Moms” who have shopped in Walmart….we have to count Jennae too! Honestly, though, I have family way out in the country where there are not too many other alternatives for shopping (and yes, I know that’s another story!). I hadn’t thought of the connection to One Climate Counts – that’s a good point. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: sommer @greenmom http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21758 sommer @greenmom Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:22:53 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21758 Lyne, I believe I was the other Green Mom at that dinner that had stepped foot in Walmart and it's because I do save money there. I'm with Amber that the sheer size of Walmart will make this impact huge whether it is good or bad. I'm not confident that they really care about the consumer or the environment but rather that they care about the bottom line. Charging us is the perfect example of caring about the bottom line more than anything. It seems to me that they're taking a spin off One Climate Counts, charing and just trying to set "standards" when they don't really have a place. The word collaboration is something they should examime and if they collaborated with the consumer and other companies many the standards they're trying to set would have more clout. .-= sommer @greenmom´s last blog ..<a href="http://greenandcleanmom.org/no-itch-100-pure-outdoor-clothing/" rel="nofollow">No Itch, 100% Pure Outdoor Clothing</a> =-. Lyne, I believe I was the other Green Mom at that dinner that had stepped foot in Walmart and it’s because I do save money there. I’m with Amber that the sheer size of Walmart will make this impact huge whether it is good or bad. I’m not confident that they really care about the consumer or the environment but rather that they care about the bottom line. Charging us is the perfect example of caring about the bottom line more than anything.

It seems to me that they’re taking a spin off One Climate Counts, charing and just trying to set “standards” when they don’t really have a place. The word collaboration is something they should examime and if they collaborated with the consumer and other companies many the standards they’re trying to set would have more clout.
sommer @greenmom´s last blog ..No Itch, 100% Pure Outdoor Clothing My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Tracey Holinka http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21549 Tracey Holinka Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:31:40 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21549 No matter how green Walmart goes I won't shop there. Their low cost products, green or not, mean low wages for everyone along the production to sales chain. No matter how green Walmart goes I won’t shop there. Their low cost products, green or not, mean low wages for everyone along the production to sales chain.

]]> By: Katy at Non-Toxic Kids http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21537 Katy at Non-Toxic Kids Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:20:38 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21537 Love that last comment, Lynn, you said it. That is right where we need to be. It may not save them money, but it will save lives, quality of lives and ultimately health care dollars-- Katy .-= Katy at Non-Toxic Kids´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.non-toxickids.net/2009/10/new-post-on-mightynest-fight-flu-with.html" rel="nofollow">New Post on MightyNest: Fight Flu with Clean Well All Natural Hand Sanitizer</a> =-. Love that last comment, Lynn, you said it. That is right where we need to be. It may not save them money, but it will save lives, quality of lives and ultimately health care dollars–

Katy
Katy at Non-Toxic Kids´s last blog ..New Post on MightyNest: Fight Flu with Clean Well All Natural Hand Sanitizer My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Condo Blues http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21443 Condo Blues Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:08:31 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21443 I wonder if Wal Mart isn't inviting consumers to the table, as if a typical Wal Mart customer could pay such fees, because they don't want to hear from their detractors? .-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CondoBlues/~3/9Hm2x2wDWjE/how-much-attic-insulation-is-enough.html" rel="nofollow">How Much Attic Insulation is Enough?</a> =-. I wonder if Wal Mart isn’t inviting consumers to the table, as if a typical Wal Mart customer could pay such fees, because they don’t want to hear from their detractors?
Condo Blues´s last blog ..How Much Attic Insulation is Enough? My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Lynn http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21422 Lynn Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:30:15 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21422 Karen, Diane and Beth, Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I think it is important that we speak up because as Karen said, business will take care of business (that is their role, after all), but who is taking care of Mother Earth? The government clearly has let this one go. I was shocked to learn yesterday that there were NO enforcement actions for greenwashing during the Bush Administration. Clearly this will change under Obama, but there is only so much the government can do, and especially during this recessionary time, the trade-off btw. environmental protection and jobs creation is tougher than ever. That said, I applaud what Walmart is doing - they are continuing to push their suppliers to "go green" because they know it usually saves money. But what about those initiatives where going green DOES NOT save money? I'm thinking specifically of the issue of replacing known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors in personal care products with safer, greener, alternatives. Right now, using organic and green ingredients are typically more expensive for the manufacturer - but in the long run, protects human health and saves our society enormous health care costs. That is where I would really love to see consumer pressure brought to bear. Let's get rid of the formaldehyde, phthlates, BPA, and other nasty stuff we're exposing our INFANTS, small children, expectant mothers and others to and make the investment in human health. That would really mean something to the fight against breast cancer, reproductive abnormalities and more. -- Lynn Karen, Diane and Beth,

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I think it is important that we speak up because as Karen said, business will take care of business (that is their role, after all), but who is taking care of Mother Earth? The government clearly has let this one go. I was shocked to learn yesterday that there were NO enforcement actions for greenwashing during the Bush Administration. Clearly this will change under Obama, but there is only so much the government can do, and especially during this recessionary time, the trade-off btw. environmental protection and jobs creation is tougher than ever. That said, I applaud what Walmart is doing – they are continuing to push their suppliers to “go green” because they know it usually saves money. But what about those initiatives where going green DOES NOT save money? I’m thinking specifically of the issue of replacing known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors in personal care products with safer, greener, alternatives. Right now, using organic and green ingredients are typically more expensive for the manufacturer – but in the long run, protects human health and saves our society enormous health care costs. That is where I would really love to see consumer pressure brought to bear. Let’s get rid of the formaldehyde, phthlates, BPA, and other nasty stuff we’re exposing our INFANTS, small children, expectant mothers and others to and make the investment in human health. That would really mean something to the fight against breast cancer, reproductive abnormalities and more. — Lynn

]]> By: Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21417 Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:45:31 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21417 It is important. Is wish I had confidence that they care what their customers think. Maybe they will surprise us. I have actually been in a Wal-Mart. Twice in my life. Once for antacid tablets while visiting my family (because I was visiting my family) and once for a pillow, also while visiting family. And the pillow happened to be organic in a biodegradable package. So there you go. But I have no idea where it was made or by whose labor. These are things I want them to address. .-= Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish´s last blog ..<a href="http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/10/hey-wal-mart-i-see-glaring-omissions-in-your-new-sustainability-index/" rel="nofollow">Hey Wal-Mart! I See Glaring Omissions in Your New Sustainability Index</a> =-. It is important. Is wish I had confidence that they care what their customers think. Maybe they will surprise us. I have actually been in a Wal-Mart. Twice in my life. Once for antacid tablets while visiting my family (because I was visiting my family) and once for a pillow, also while visiting family. And the pillow happened to be organic in a biodegradable package. So there you go. But I have no idea where it was made or by whose labor. These are things I want them to address.
Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish´s last blog ..Hey Wal-Mart! I See Glaring Omissions in Your New Sustainability Index My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Diane MacEachern http://organicmania.com/2009/10/14/walmart-knows-what%e2%80%99s-best-for-us-green-moms-right/comment-page-1/#comment-21395 Diane MacEachern Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:32:48 +0000 http://organicmania.com/?p=1935#comment-21395 Lynn, This is a terrific call to action. Consumers have been passive bystanders for too long, which is why we have so much "catching up" to do now. We need to jump into this process of standard setting right away, and stay involved until we're happy that the standards do the best possible job to protect our health and the health of the environment. .-= Diane MacEachern´s last blog ..<a href="http://blog.biggreenpurse.com/biggreenpurse/2009/10/we-need-meaningful-standards-to-protect-the-planet-and-us-too.html" rel="nofollow">We Need Meaningful Standards to Protect the Planet -- and Us, too.</a> =-. Lynn, This is a terrific call to action. Consumers have been passive bystanders for too long, which is why we have so much “catching up” to do now. We need to jump into this process of standard setting right away, and stay involved until we’re happy that the standards do the best possible job to protect our health and the health of the environment.
Diane MacEachern´s last blog ..We Need Meaningful Standards to Protect the Planet — and Us, too. My ComLuv Profile

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