Wal-Mart Is Very Responsible — and Irresponsible

If you read my recent Wal-Mart blog, you know how I feel about the company. That's why half of the 2009 BBMG Conscious Consumer Report results didn't necessarily surprise me, when Wal-Mart topped the list of the least socially or environmentally responsible companies. And which company was named the most socially and environmentally responsible? Wal-Mart. What?

I don't know how to explain this. I have my theories, sure, but they're biased. Oh, wait, this is a blog. I can be biased. OK, here goes.

I think Wal-Mart is at the top of the list it would rather not be on because a lot of people out there have a pretty good idea of what's been going on at Wal-Mart — or have seen documentaries such as Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price or Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town.

Why is Wal-Mart atop the good list? Two competing reasons. One, its PR people have probably been pretty good about getting the word out about the good things the company is doing (here's the website's sustainability section). Two, it's the most visited store in the country, and people tend to vote with what they know. Again, just my theory.

But the most interesting result of the report: 41 percent of the respondents couldn't name a socially responsible company. Are you serious? That means that of the 2,000 people surveyed, more than 800 couldn't come up with one socially responsible company? Mind-boggling.

What's the good news? Well, there's almost no way that result could get worse — and every company has the power to make sure of that. Companies need to not only do good things, but they need to publicize them. By publicizing good deeds, it motivates others to do good as well. And that's why Tonic is here: to spread the goodness and inspire others.

Photo courtesy of Brave New Films, via Flickr.