#14 – Walmart: Rethinking About Convenience
Illustrated Purpose Statements From Around the World
“To save people’s money so they can live better”
by Walmart the world's largest company by revenue, according to the Fortune Global 500 list in October 2022, and the largest private employer in the world, with 2.1 million employees.
The purpose statement drips with sweetness, and it clashes starkly with reality.
Beneath the promise of low prices lie steep costs—to the environment, social justice, and a short-term vision of the future.
1️⃣ First, the environment pays a heavy toll. 🌱
Walmart’s operations churned out 14.2 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2022, with its sprawling supply chain driving over 90% of emissions. Missed climate targets for 2025 and 2030 reveal a grim truth: cheap goods often mean a dirtier planet.
2️⃣ Then there’s social justice—or the lack of it. ⚖️
Walmart’s entry slashes local retail wages by 0.5–1.5%, while many of its workers scrape by on less than $29,000 a year, below living wage standards. Supply chain labor abuses and shareholder calls for human rights audits paint a picture of exploitation, not better living—for workers, at least.
3️⃣ Short-termism reigns supreme. 📊
Low prices win today, but at what cost tomorrow? Reduced economic output in local communities and reliance on unsustainable practices show a focus on immediate gains over lasting well-being.
Do we live better when our savings make the planet and people suffer?
This sugary statement masks a bitter reality: saving money now might cost us everything later.
