Wal-Mart Events

As I mentioned in a previous post, NC DPPEA is working with a few regional Wal-Mart managers in the state to promote recycling. A goal was set for each store in the Triad area and south to hold a recycling event between now and September. A lofty goal that I think we can achieve with the help of local solid waste and recycling professionals throughout NC.

In the meeting we had with Wal-Mart, their presentation discussed their Personal Sustainability Projects which were created in 2007 to engage associates on how to make a difference by practicing sustainability. PSP’s have so far accomplished: 3,200,000 lbs. of plastics were recycled, 19,900 associates quick smoking and 1,100,000 miles were walked, biked or swam. They understand that 200 million people shop at Wal-Mart every week and they have the ability to affect change.

NC DPPEA is excited to be working with these associates to hopefully be part of that change. Check out this Wal-Mart/New Hanover County/Keep Onslow Beautiful electronics recycling event that is planned for this month.

In the meeting they also mentioned the Wal-Mart Volunteerism Always Pays program and their Foundation provides funding to 501(c)3 organizations for recycling initiatives.

Recycled content products and other environmental items

The New York Times has a great slide show with lots of information about various eco-fashions including a patchwork dress from unused remnants of couture textiles, Patagonia’s jackets filled with recycled soda bottles and organic cotton jeans.

- EcoEnvelopes that are resealable, approved by the USPS and are made with 100 percent post consumer content.

- New environmental products at Wal-Mart including PET T-shirts, organic cotton T-shirts, rubber mulch, air filters, cleaning products and detergent.

- Nike’s “Trash Talk” shoe made with used scrap ground foam and environmentally-preferred rubber that reduces toxins.

- LivePaths.com commented on my blog. They sell recycled content products via Amazon.com. Check out its store here.

Wal-Mart Partnership

Tomorrow, NC DPPEA and local recycling coordinators will be meeting with a number of the state’s Wal-Mart store managers. Say what you want about Wal-Mart and their new environmental ads Wal-Mart’s reach is great. From their employees to their costumers - a partnership with Wal-Mart in NC could mean improved recycling participation via a number of educational methods.

-I hope Can Guy (one of the Recycle Guys mascots) will one day be a Wal-Mart Greeter.
-I hope more Wal-Mart employees make recycling one of their personal sustainability projects.
-I hope you will see more recycled content products displayed in Wal-Mart stores on America Recycles Day.

Check back for progress on this project.

Wal-Mart Making Strides

Last fall I gave a presentation to 300 Wal-Mart employees about “what they can do for the environment.” If anyone would like to borrow the presentation, let me know.

However, while doing research for the presentation I found a great Web site created by Wal-Mart called the “Live Better Index.” One of the categories is Sustainability and lots of great consumer attitudes and shopping behaviors were researched. The site has some fantastic information that we can use in our campaigns.

For example –
- Consumers have begun purchasing environmentally friendly products and want to purchase more. Eighty percent of consumers claim to be spending at least $1.00 a week on environmentally friendly products.
- Waste reduction issues – There is a gap between concern and knowledge of waste reduction issues. While 40 percent of Americans are very concerned, only 18 percent are well informed. Females are significantly more likely than males to be concerned about waste reduction issues (29 percent vs. 18 percent). Adults, 65+, are most likely to be concerned about waste reduction issues (32 percent).

Wal-Mart is focusing on five environmentally friendly products and uses them as trend indicators. The trend update can be found here - and it seems positive. Wal-Mart has a site specifically for environmentally friendly products. Hopefully the list will continue to grow.

You have the power to make change

Last week I gave a presentation to 300 Wal-Mart employees about small changes they could make to be more environmentally conscious.

Here were my main points:
Outside your home you can:
-Create a backyard wildlife habitat
-Compost food and yard waste
-Purchase recycled content products such as soaker hoses, fencing, chairs
-Make sure not to over fertilize
-Wash your car on the lawn, not in the driveway
-Install weather stripping

Inside your home you can:
-Purchase recycled content products such as office supplies, paper products, carpet
-Try not to run the water when you shave, brush your teeth or wash the dishes
-Use Energy Star appliances
-Turn the temperature of your water heater down and install a water heater cover
-Use plants and HVAC filters to clean the air
-Use non-toxic cleaning products

Thanks to the EcoSmart Consumer blog for lots of these ideas.

Marketing Mishaps Reported by CNN

These are marketing SNAFUs we don't want to emulate.

1. General Motors
As part of a cross promotion with the NBC TV show The Apprentice, GM launches a contest to promote its Chevy Tahoe SUV. At www.Chevyapprentice.com, viewers are given video and music clips with which to create their own 30-second commercials. Among the new Tahoe ads that soon proliferate across the Web are ones with taglines like "Yesterday's technology today" and "Global warming isn't a pretty SUV ad - it's a frightening reality."

2. McDonald's
In August, McDonald's runs a promotional contest in Japan in which it gives away 10,000 Mickey D's-branded MP3 players. The gadgets come preloaded with 10 songs - and, in some cases, a version of the QQPass family of Trojan horse viruses, which, when uploaded to a PC, seeks to capture passwords, user names, and other data and then forward them to hackers.

3. Wal-Mart
In September a folksy new blog called Wal-Marting Across America pops up on the Internet. The blog documents the purportedly spontaneous discoveries of RV-traveling megastore megafans Jim and Laura as they pull over to chat with happy Wal-Mart employees, like the guy whose company health insurance saved his son's life, or the woman who worked her way up from cashier to corporate manager.

Unfortunately, it neglects to mention that Wal-Mart arranged Jim and Laura's itinerary, paid for the RV, and compensated them for the blog entries. Exposed by BusinessWeek.com, the stunt is especially bad news for Wal-Mart, since it violates ethical guidelines it helped to write for the nascent Word of Mouth Marketing Association.

4. AOL
In June, AOL customer Vincent Ferrari calls to cancel his membership. The call lasts 21 minutes, highlighted by a conversation with a "retention consultant" named John who doggedly tries to retain Ferrari's business even though he specifically asks to cancel 18 times. "You're going to let me speak," John says. "If not, we can just argue all day. I really don't care."

Ferrari posts a recording of the call on his blog; it soon spreads across the Web. AOL then announces a "streamlined" protocol that nonetheless calls for pitching would-be cancelers at least two offers.