When then-Walmart-CEO Lee Scott gave his “21st Century Leadership” speech in 2005, he was making a major public statement: the world’s largest retailer was intent on becoming more sustainable.
Because 90% of the company’s environmental impact was in their supply chain, a major element of this aspiration goal was “to sell products that sustain people and the environment”. On this front, however, it didn’t take long for Scott to realize that stating a goal is one thing; actually accomplishing it is something else altogether.