Shopping green and sustainable – at WallyWorld?

First, per the story, if any company can start a national retailer trend in documenting the carbon footprint of manufacture, etc. it is indeed Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart plans to begin by asking its more than 100,000 suppliers around the world to answer 15 simple questions about the sustainable practices of their companies. Questions include “Have you set publicly available greenhouse gas reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?”

But, at the same time, even thought WallyWorld has invited other discount retailers to participate, I am sure there’s a financial angle somewhere.

Beyond that, will the sustainability focus on the carbon footprint of shipping all the made in China schlock here? If not, it is still a pretty hollow idea, regardless of any financial angle.

That said, I don’t know how all these American suppliers would deal with the double-whipsaw of WallyWorld pushing for low prices and carbon cleanliness at the same time.

Finally, if this is real — Wal-Mart, will you extend it to human rights and labor rights, too? And, with real certification inspections?

Locavores shouldn’t be so smug

Contrary to previous pronouncements, government studies claim eating locally reduces your food-portion greenhouse gas effect only 4 percent. The bigger problems are the “intensity” of today’s agriculture, and the amount of it that goes to beef and dairy. If you really want to reduce your carbon footprint, cut back on meat, especially beef. (And keep pushing Congress to raise federal grazing fees to fair-market levels.)

Those Chick-fil-A cows are right in a way they don’t even know

Cutting down on red meat can do even more than eating all-local foods to reduce your carbon footprint.

Why?

Well, the story doesn’t go into details, but I’ll tell you why. I don’t know about fish, but I know a chicken can convert about 4 pounds of feed into 1 pound of animal weight gain.

A cow? It takes 8 pounds of feed to do that.

Hogs, while not as good as chickens, are still better than beef, needing about 5-6 pounds of feed to put on a pound of weight gain.

Eggs, of course, come from chickens, not cows, so the same principal applies.

Eating less of all meat, if not at least occasionally going full vegetarian, as I try to do every Saturday, is much better yet.

But, if or when you must eat meat, do chicken (or other poultry) and fish first. Then, if you must have red meat, put pork ahead of beef.

Finally, if you must have been, look for grass-fed beef. It’s healthier for you as well as less environmentally destructive. Or, try bison. (Warning: More and more bison is being grain-fed, at least for its “finishing off.” Look for grass-fed if you can.)