WAL-MART
WORKS TO BETTER
COMMUNITIES
At Wal-Mart, taking strides
to ensure corporate social
responsibility remains a
priority. Working hard to
support initiatives in the areas of education, economic
opportunity, health and hu-
man services and the environment, the retailer’s commitment to corporate social responsibility is reflected in
every decision that it makes.
From the beginning, Wal-Mart’s philosophy has revolved around the concept of “operating globally and
giving back locally.” Forty years later, this mindset is still
evident. Of the more than $270 million Wal-Mart gives
annually, the majority goes back to local communities,
making the nation’s largest retailer a great neighbor.
Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club locations are encouraged
to support the issues that are most important in their
communities. Whether working to assist local schools
and children’s hospitals, helping with disaster relief efforts, feeding the hungry or serving as a catalyst for
economic development, that support is timely, thoughtful and makes a difference.
Additionally, Wal-Mart understands that there is
more to being a great neighbor than providing monetary support. That’s why the company is committed to
environmental sustainability and working hard to find
ways to help our communities become more energy efficient and produce less waste. Currently, Wal-Mart is
driving initiatives aimed at reducing its carbon footprint,
teaching children the value of recycling and encouraging
its associates to embrace sustainability in their everyday
lives through Personal Sustainability Projects. Wal-Mart
is working hard every day to reach its goals to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy; to create zero
waste; and to sell products that sustain our resources
and the environment because being an efficient and
profitable business and being a good steward of the environment are goals that can work together.
In an era in which corporate social responsibility is
becoming an ever-important topic, Wal-Mart’s charitable contributions and commitment to sustainability
show that corporations can develop and implement responsible practices that are good for local communities,
the environment and business.
“CSR is about being responsive
to the demands of stakeholders
and to the things that affect
a company’s ability to perform,
now and into the future.”
—CHRISTINE ARENA,
AUTHOR AND CORPORATE STRATEGIST
credits” with consumers in times of crisis, such as a
product recall. “The common assertion is that CSR
activities can provide some inoculation [from future
crisis],” states one ethics professor.
But be aware: Today’s educated consumer is
becoming overexposed to marketing campaigns that
link brands to the social-cause-of-the-day. Consumers
“are savvy about the companies that merely use CSR
to promote their products,” says Cone. “As a result,
they expect even more from a company. Consumers
want to see companies align their support of social
issues with their business practices.”
Case in point: a restaurant chain that had long
contributed to and been involved in community-improvement initiatives in South Los Angeles. “At
the time of the L.A. riots following the Rodney King
verdict, that restaurant had 22 outlets in the area,”
says Cone. “Not one was damaged.”
There is also growing pressure on management
to demonstrate that their CSR efforts are not only
building a positive reputation with consumers, but
Factors Influencing Consumer Brand Loyalty
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Company Price Availability Sharingof Quality Product Don’t
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