Change of Heart

Wal-Mart keeps you guessing. Sure, we’re talking about the same union-busting steamroller that still bends entire national economies to its will and dictates the agenda for thousands of suppliers the world over. Its low-price-no-matter-what business model hasn’t changed a bit. But over the last several years, everything has changed for Wal-Mart—at least when it comes to environmental issues. And the ramifications are enormous: The world’s largest retailer is looking toward the next generation of shoppers through green-tinted glasses, making sustainability a cornerstone of the company’s future.