The story notes that Philips manufactures CFL bulbs in Asia, and GE is
portrayed as worried that a big increase in CFL sales could take jobs
away from its US-produced incandescent bulbs.  The story says that in
meetings with suppliers, WMT buyers pushed for lower prices for CFLs.
Has Walmart, and have the big environmental groups advising it,
considered how suppliers will manage to enforce work place codes of
conduct and ensure fair compensation of workers as prices are cut to
induce US consumers to become more energy efficient?

Walmart also has to face a marketing situation counter to its
traditional business model--convincing customers to pay a little more
for efficient light bulbs now to save on energy costs in the long run.
That's a tough message to convey when the message for all of the other
goods you sell is "lowest price always."

A final concern is that the fluorescents contain mercury, raising the
question of whether Wal-Mart has taken measures to ensure that workers
in the supply chain are not improperly exposed to mercury during the
production process.

In short, companies should do a little more thinking on overall impacts
of their production before rushing to claim credit for environmental
activism.

Story - "Power-Sipping Bulbs Get Backing From Wal-Mart"

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