A green giant warms up to Wal-Mart

[MrCoffee]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/16/news/companies/walmart_nemesis.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007111910

(Fortune) -- The outspoken head of eco-friendly consumer product maker Seventh Generation is changing his tune when it comes to the world's biggest retailer, Fortune has learned.

Seventh Generation CEO Jeffrey Hollender, who in the past has equated working with Wal-Mart to selling his company's soul, said yesterday in a meeting at Fortune's New York offices that he would now consider selling products to Wal-Mart, although he was quick to add that no decision has been reached. Wal-Mart, for its part, did not provide any comment.

Privately-held Seventh Generation's non-toxic products -- which range from laundry detergent to floor cleaners and diapers -- will generate about $100 million in sales this year and are currently found everywhere from Target to Walgreens to Amazon.com.

The article has some interesting (and surprisingly positive) comments from Seventh Generation CEO Jeffrey Hollender about his meetings with Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott.

[madrchsod]

1. npr had an interview with scott yesterday

"green" to him means money and good pr. if green was`t good for the bottom line then he would`t do it. what was really interesting in his interview is that he hinted walmart is going to expand into manufacturing of green products from the diapers today to automobiles and other large green systems..

walmart has to expand or end up like the a&p grocery store chain and manufacturing of green products just maybe the market that keeps walmart in business this century

[charlie]

2. He's better be careful

If he enlarges his staff and infrastructure to accomodate expanded sales through Walmart, he'll be in a position where he's dependent on Walmart as his main distributor. When they start making demands for larger sizes and lower prices, he'll have to accede or downsize, or even face bankruptcy. It's happened to others, like Rubbermaid. Those 3-gallon jugs of Vlasic pickles aren't a Vlasic idea, they lose money on them. They're something Walmart wanted.

[Maat]

4. I do agree with you.

A company should very carefully study the situation before making a deal with Wal-Mart.

[Maat]

3. I love Seventh Generation products.

I don't hate Wal-Mart just to hate Wal-mart; if they'd change their policies and begin to act responsibly, providing decent products (earth-friendly), I might consider going back (along with vital changes to their labor and trade policies).

[devilgrrl]

5. That article gleens nothing and Wal-Mart is still full of shit.

"Three years ago, I would have never imagined even considering doing business with them," Hollender said. " the progress they have made is beyond what I imagined or hoped for three years ago."


Here's the progress:

This news comes as Wal-Mart has finally released its long-awaited, first-ever sustainability report, a 59-page study that details the goals and progress of the company's much-publicized environmental efforts since 2005. Wal-Mart has pledged to spend $500 million a year on initiatives like opening eco-friendly stores, increasing the fuel efficiency of its trucks, and reducing cardboard packaging.

So fucking what?


Cueing the "It's better than nothing" excuses.

[MrCoffee]

8. the 7th Gen CEO sat down with Lee Scott on several occasions...

his comments are illuminating in that Hollender had private meetings with Scott and Hollender appears to have come away impressed.

i wasn't attempting to post Wal-Mart press release BS, i was posting the comments of a CEO that i believe to be both environmentally responsible and profitable. CNN got in the way, lol.

[Maine-ah]

9. I'd like to stop seeing their plastic bags hanging from trees.

[LeftyMom]

6. They sold out back when they started making "disposable" diapers.

Good to know they've made it official, I guess. :shrug:

[snappyturtle]

7. It's all about money. When Wal-Mart has gobbled up more market

share of Seventh Generation products and SG has to quit supplying others or go off shore to meet Wal-Marts needs, the price WM is willing to pay will drop. Wal-Mart does not play nice.