1.

Give your thoughts on innovative "sustainable" measures Walmart has taken

which has brought about a paradigm shift. Please specify the measures in brief
(don't repeat what is already given: please give your interpretations).

In 2005 the environmental concern drove Walmart to change its business model and look out
for the ways to sustain its future. It was mainly drove by the government regulation on
emission norms, consumers growing awareness about eco-friendly products & technology
advancement leading to more sustainable products. Due to this Walmart primary focus was
on Minimizing energy by using renewable sources of energy, zero waste and sustainable
products. These initiatives were necessary for the sustainable development. In fulfilling
these goals Walmart outlined eight key practices for its supply chain.
Being one of the largest in the industry Walmart can exert a larger influence on its suppliers.
It collaborated with NGO like Environmental Defence Fund and others so as to improve its
supply chain. It invested million in developing a system to system to check the whole supply
system. By doing this it was able to know and rate their supplier according to the green
parameters laid by Walmart. Thus Walmart was able to provide assistance to its supplier in
transition to sustainable development. By doing this two objectives were fulfilled. Firstly it
was able to highlight it as the environmental friendly organization thereby winning the trust
of the customer. Secondly it realized that in order to survive the change it needs to encourage
the sustainable products in its shelf otherwise its competitor might gain from this. It invested
heavily in training in helping the supplier in the transition and assuring them to buy large
volumes of those sustainable products from them. These practices were not taken by
Walmart due to the pressure exerted by the NGO to address its carbon footprint. By adopting
this it was able to bring down its Greenhouse house emission to a significant level. Walmart
was able to make money through this by eliminating the middle men and also licensing its
environmental innovation which helped its to maintain its everyday low prices scheme.
2. How would you relate similar measure(s) in the Indian context? If you would have
any examples then please give.

The rapid economic growth is the only realistic means of lifting out poverty and the fact most
economic growth depends upon development of product and services in that ecosystem. India
being in on the verge of this growth needs to fulfil its obligation towards the environment and
society to as to sustain in long run. Many Indian companies realizing it and started doing
their own practices in order to highlight as the saver of environment rather than destroyer.
ITC has been the leading player when it comes to sustainable practices in India. Being one of
the large conglomerates it has come out with its own initiatives to reduce its carbon
footprint. One of the practices are using low-hanging fruits such as changing to energy
conserving lighting systems and reusing paper, ITCs sustainability practices have also
resulted in access to newer markets.

ITCs raw materials are significantly agri-based. It also uses substantial quantities of waste
paper in its paper business and this is sourced locally as well as internationally. The
initiatives in large-scale development of social and farm forestry plantations, watershed
projects and empowerment of marginal farmers through e-choupals provide ITC with
significant advantage in raw material sustainability. By greening 80,000 hectares of land
through total farm and social forestry plantations, ITC has sequestered more CO2 than its
emissions. the company believes that shareholders and other stakeholders would greatly
benefit over the long term as a result of these investments, by creating a more sustainable
organisation capable of creating sustainable value.
3. If not, then please mention a few challenges. Reasons why this is not possible or is
taking more time or there are other hurdles. Please be creative in your answer and don't
limit yourself in lateral thoughts.
India being a vibrant democracy and the fastest growing economy is facing an uphill task of
maintaing the and sustaining the tag of fastest growing economy in the world. Yet Many
organizations in India do not adhere to sustainable practices due to following reasons:-

The money involves in transition is huge which has impacted the companys growth.
Already stressed with global slowdown transition will need them to invest in
technology upgradation.
Ownership being considered as major concern as in a country likes India which is
itself diverse. This has been the major stumbling block in implementing such
practices due to corrupt bureaucracy .
Lastly but most importantly is the question of measuring progress or achievement.
This means the resources has been properly utilized or not . By the Companys
own admission, non-availability of data (particularly in respect to sub-national
levels), periodicity issues and incomplete coverage of administrative data, made
accurate measuring progress of these measures virtually impossible