Dear Friends--I know that many of us are not fans of Wal-Mart (I've only been the Ithaca store once and I'd never go back again) but they are trying to do the right thing, even if it's to make a buck. Wearing a Green Hat is better that wearing a Black Hat. Now if they could use their political influence to lean on the Chinese regarding human rights issues...... Tom
At 08:30 AM 5/12/2007 -0500, Stephan Pollard wrote: >All, > >A month-and-a-half or so ago I mentioned having attended Wal-Mart's >quarterly Business Sustainability Milestone Meeting here in Arkansas. I >also mentioned that Lee Scott pretty much guaranteed that something was >going to be done about the mercury - CLF problem. Well, these guys are >game changers and they're changing the game. Have a look. > >Stephan > > >Wal-Mart plans mercury reductions in CFLs > >May 11 -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is working with manufacturers to >lower the mercury content in compact fluorescent light bulbs by 33 percent. > >General Electric, Royal Philips, Osram Sylvania and Lights of America all >agreed to reduce mercury levels more than the 5 milligram standard set by >the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. They also agreed to use >clean production techniques. Lights of America even plans to have no more >than 2 milligrams of mercury in its bulbs by the end of 2007. > >"The reductions will ensure that consumers can take advantage of the >financial and environmental benefits of CFLs now," said Andy Ruben, vice >president of strategy and sustainability for Wal-Mart. "Today´s action is >a great win for the environment and our customers." > >Compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than >traditional light bulbs, and they can last up to 10 times longer. >Coal-fired plants emit less mercury into the atmosphere to power a CFL >compared with a traditional incandescent bulb, according to the U.S. >Environmental Protection Agency. Suppliers and retailers are working on >making CFLs more affordable for the public in order to please shoppers. > >Wal-Mart plans to sell at least 100 million of the bulbs by 2008. > >-- >Stephan Pollard, Ph.D.-Environmental Dynamics >555 W. Maple St., Apt. C >Fayetteville, AR 72701 >(479) 444-7445 >(479) 799-9190 cell Tom Shelley 118 E. Court St. Ithaca, NY 14850 607 342-0864 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.myspace.com/99319958 _______________________________________________ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
