We’ve just complete the 4^th Annual Sustainable Packaging Expo (see link to article on www.walmartstores.com).  What a success!  Over 2,200 supplier representatives, buyers and exhibitors attended the Expo, making connections to drive more sustainable packaging.  I know that the time spent talking with the exhibitors and learning in the breakout sessions will result in packaging improvements in the coming months…  I plan to discuss them in this blog, as the new packaging launches into the Stores and Clubs.

The quality of the packaging discussions seemed even better this year at the Expo.  Packaging suppliers came prepared to discuss innovation that was ready for commercialization and innovation that needs some additional support to move into the market.

A great example was shown in the Natureworks booth, highlighting the PLA resin being used in the new Sun Chips bag.  Right now, the bag is made from ~33% PLA…  but Frito Lay has committed to launching a 100% PLA bag by Earth Day 2010.  One of the key benefits of a 100% PLA bag is that the material is plant based and annually renewable.  I recommend that you check out the Natureworks website for additional details.  The FAQ section is very helpful to better understand the resin.

There was a story about the Sun Chips packaging change in USA Today last week as well.  You can read the article through this link.

It is critical that the packaging suppliers, product suppliers, and retail buyers work closely together to implement the more sustainable packaging that was displayed at the Expo.  The connections made at the Expo need to continue so that we can work through any challenges.  Together, we can do what’s right for our customers, the business, and the environment.

Here's some pictures from the Expo.  A birds eye view of the trade show floor, followed by a picture from one of our well attended breakout sessions.

To Netbook or not? That is the question. What do you call these "little computers?" Some feel they are mini laptops en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_laptop with 8.9" to 10.2" Screens. Some feel they are a netbook en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbook as they don't pack enough power and are missing a CD/DVD Drive to load software or record to blank discs, while only good for surfing the internet and email.

Over the last year we've seen these Netbook/Mini Laptops come to the masses. You've seen them at your local Walmart store since November'08 and we've had them online at Walmart.com www.walmart.com  since July '08.

They first were intended to be ran on Linux www.linux.org  Operating systems with minimal hard drive size (4GB or 8GB SSD en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive hard drives.  Intended  for Kids or the mobile professional with internet surfing and more with low cost or even free Linux software. However, the market has grown and now with more brands, color, styles, larger Hard Drives, Windows XP, Webcam and more some think they are more like a "mini laptop" then a "Netbook".

We want to know what you think they should be called. Vote below and give us some feedback.

You know, I live this "High definition" life every day at work.. having conversations and strategies around Blu-ray, HDTV's, HDMI cables, and surround sound take up much of our time here... but until I bought my own set up for my home, I really hadn't realized the options and confusion that lies around just wanting a good 'home theater' experience.  Picking the TV, home theater, Blu-ray player, and cables can take much more time to research and actually buy than setting it up in your home!  Then add to it the many ways you can get content! 

Personally, I have HD channels through my cable service and use a Blu-ray player for my movies.  It seems as though everyone is playing in the HD space these days... Did you know that you can now stream your Netflix through certain Blu-ray players?  A lot of Blu-ray players are adding this kind of content or widgets to their products.. Would you use it? You can also get your HD content through a satellite service.  Of course there's always the Blu-ray movies as well... don't worry, there's now extra content there too!  Many studio's are adding additional content to movies that can only be accessed if you have a Blu-ray player that is BD Live.  TV stations are offering to stream your favorite shows in HD now too! Everyone wants to play in the content space these days.... I access my content in many ways, how do you access yours?

The Easter bunny is by now nearly ready to hop into homes across the world! And, moms across the country are preparing menus for Easter Sunday. Bring out the hams!

Do you ever wonder why so many people eat ham on Easter Sunday? Well I did.

I found all kinds of things on the internet related to the tradition of serving Easter ham in the U.S. Most indicate that many years ago hogs were slaughtered in the fall and the curing process usually took until the spring so the first hams were ready to eat around the time Easter came around.

Makes sense to me, but imagine having to wait all those months for some ham!

I also found references that the pig was considered a symbol of luck in pre-Christian Europe, which could explain the popularity of the Easter ham tradition among Europeans and Americans. And popular it is – a spokesperson from the National Pork Board is quoted saying 70 percent of Americans serve ham for the Easter holiday.

And you have Easter eggs, the eating of and dying of. There is a lot of information related to this tradition online. All very interesting such as a reference to how in Medieval Europe eggs weren’t allowed to be eaten during Lent so the eggs laid during that time were preserved and, thus, a mainstay of Easter meals and a common gift for children and servants.

And, speaking of eggs, did you know … Walmart will sell enough eggs during this Easter season to travel around the world once if the eggs were laid end to end. That’s a lot of eggs!

And, goodness, don’t get me started on the incredible Easter candy. Not sure it’s an old school “tradition” but for me it is! It’s like Girl Scout cookie season for me because I stock up on Easter candy. Crazy I know, but I can only get Cadbury mini eggs, black licorice jelly beans, Robin’s eggs and Peeps this time of year. Although, I noticed for Christmas there were Cadbury ornament eggs or something at Walmart, so maybe a few times a year. Very yummy.

I need these things more than once a year, people … maybe I can start a movement to make black licorice jelly beans a Halloween tradition. Who’s with me??? Anybody?? Nobody? Okay, moving on …

Whether you’re having ham or turkey or you’re a fan of black licorice jelly beans or not (and I recommend you should be), celebrate this holiday weekend heartily. After all, coming together with family and friends for a great meal is one of the best investments around today.

Happy Easter!

 First off, I have to apologize for being quiet for so long.  It has been a wonderfully busy several months with work, and lets face it, I just got out of the habit of writing.  Much has happened at Walmart since my last blog.  Our CEO, Lee Scott retired, and was replaced by Mike Duke, a man whose integrity I greatly admire.  He and I spent several days learning about the effect of climate change on glaciers two years ago, and I was, and am very excited to have him leading our company.  He is a great business leader, and he is also a great advocate of sustainability.  In fact, at our most recent corporate sustainability meeting the last week in January he said of our sustainability goals: “We’ll learn from the past, and then accelerate and broaden our efforts for the future.”

Since then, we have been driving sustainability even faster than before.  We have been working on several of the goals that we set that had end dates of this year, and we were pleased to be able to announce that several came to pass including the goal to increase the fuel efficiency of our fleets by 25%.  Additionally, we’ve been preparing for more communication with our customers…you.  As of right now, we are beginning a program we call Earth Month in our stores and in our ads.  In honor of Earth Day, April 22, we decided to declare the entire month of April Earth Month, and take the opportunity to share with our customers some of the things we have learned. 

Wal-Mart stores from Brazil to China to Canada will be telling the stories of products that are better alternatives for the planet and for your family.  Products like Cold Water Tide that can save our customers up to $150/year in water heating costs, Bissell Vacuums that are made using the plastic that we recycled from Walmart’s own waste stream, and SC Johnson’s new Nature’s Source cleaners using amazing chemistry for the environment and effectiveness help tell the story of small changes that add up to a big difference.   We hope all of our customers will discover that the purchases they make are important, and that they can choose wisely for the environment and their wallets.

In the US, we are also doing some things to make this effort a little more engaging than you can get thru normal marketing.  One of the more interesting things we decided to try out is called the “Earth Day, Every Day” School Challenge.  It involves arguably some of the most creative and committed among us – our kids! This year, we want to give school administrators, teachers or parents the opportunity to tell us about what they are doing for the planet at your school. You might be interested, and if so, please enter the challenge here. Your school could win a $500 Walmart gift card and the chance to compete for a $20,000 grant, to be used toward activities and projects that will help make your school a little more sustainable.

If you aren’t interested in the school challenge, I’d still love to hear about what you are doing for Earth Month. Or better yet, visit our YouTube channel and tell the whole world!

Rand