Walking loudly and carrying a big stick by Wendy Jedlicka, CPP
SO — did my last note about Wal-Mart’s points system (score card) announcement from the Sustainable Packaging Forum make you take-notice? If it didn’t — you weren’t paying attention. When the elephant in the room decides to get up and move, everyone needs to pay attention. The new points system means both buyers and vendors alike will be judged on how they measure-up to goals Wal-Mart is establishing or itself for both near and long term change. Like the elephant, Wal-Mart’s moves are not always going to be pretty, and some will be crushed by them. Is it nice? No. Is it needed? Oh. my yes. In the ever more rapid drive to the bottom, to meet the “Lowest Price Guarantee”, vendors cut corners and leverage every advantage possible. Though all perfectly legal (in the country they are
leveraged in) many of these advantages offer short-term profits but create greater long-term costs — usually for the environment and health/well-being of workers and their communities.
To get the rest of Wendy’s report email me at PackagingDiva@aol.com.
