The By-product of Wal-Mart Going Green

Yesterday’s class on sustainability seems to have stirred several of our interests.  Cathy Lee’s blog post focused on the motives behind Wal-Mart’s environmentally friendly transformation, but neglected to mention the enhanced image which Wal-Mart’s green initiatives have created for itself.  In addition to reducing its costs, legal liabilities and greenhouse emissions, Wal-Mart has managed to build competitive advantage by positioning itself as a leader in sustainability.

Customers are much more likely to buy from Wal-Mart now that they are perceived as environmentally friendly.  This green image will also encourage other companies and suppliers to do business with Wal-Mart and even encourage powerful people to invest in it.  All of this increased interest in Wal-Mart will ultimately propel the company forward – and it is all due to its new image.

The by-product that is created when companies such as Wal-Mart take the necessary steps to operate in a sustainable way is a respectable corporate image.  This is, of course, in addition to the other advantages that come from going green, but perhaps the most significant because it impacts the business as a whole and makes it much stronger in the long run.