Sustainability’s Biggest Hypocrites—or Heroes?

For those that know me, I’m all about fun facts. At HMK, we’re creating a sustainability quiz designed to help businesses gauge their sustainability scores—and yes, we’re also trying to capture some leads. But more importantly, the quiz is meant to be fun, informative, and packed with resources to kickstart anyone’s sustainability journey—whether they choose to work with us or not. To include in the quiz, I've accumulated my favorite fun facts about large companies leading the way in sustainability. I thoroughly enjoyed finding the right examples for the right sections of the quiz. For this week's Thursday Thoughts I'll give you a sneak peek of my fun facts—and share some additional thoughts afterward!

Environmental Stewardship

Did you know? Walmart has emerged as a surprising leader in sustainability. Their ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and current efforts—like powering 36% of their operations with renewable energy—are setting industry benchmarks.

We still have our own opinions about them, but love them or hate them, Walmart's sustainability initiatives and research have become a credible reference for professionals across the field. Check out their lists of policies and guidelines as resources to create your own.

Social Responsibility

Did you know? Dr. Bronner's, famous for its castile soap, is a pioneer in social responsibility, particularly with its 5:1 salary cap. This means the highest-paid employee earns no more than five times what the lowest-paid employee makes—a remarkable contrast to the 2023 average, where CEOs earned nearly 200 times the pay of their workers.

To put it bluntly, a standard worker would need to work 200 years to match a CEO's annual salary at that ratio. While Dr. Bronner's 5:1 cap is feasible for a small business, a 12:1 ratio is considered admirable for mid-sized companies, and anything beyond 50:1 becomes a stretch for larger organizations. Their approach sets an inspiring example for equitable pay. Read more about Dr. Bronner's values to get inspired for your own business—it's hopeful to see examples of conscious companies achieving success while staying true to their principles.

Governance

Did you know? The "Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's effect" has created a ripple of influence in the business world. In 2022 Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, made headlines with a bold move—making the planet (yes, our earth) the chief shareholder of the company. Meaning the business would no longer exist to generate profit for traditional owners or investors. Instead, all profits not reinvested back into the business are directed to fight climate change and protect the planet, essentially operating a for-profit as a nonprofit. This unprecedented step aligns every aspect of Patagonia's operations with environmental stewardship.

As for Ben & Jerry's, they put it perfectly: "We’re guessing most of you know by now that Ben & Jerry’s is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, but we’re betting you’ve never met our independent Board of Directors." In a groundbreaking and somewhat controversial move (still regularly debated), the 2000 acquisition agreement with Unilever established a unique governance structure that retained the company’s independent board. This board is solely focused on protecting the brand and pursuing ESG initiatives, proving that you can "sell out" without losing control of your values.

Regenerative Agriculture (Bonus! It didn’t make the cut for the quiz, but it’s def interesting.)

Did you know? General Mills is leading the charge in regenerative agriculture, aiming to implement these practices on over a million acres of farmland by 2030. Regenerative agriculture, an ancient farming practice that’s only recently gained traction in large-scale farming (and somewhat of a talking trend), actively restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, and sequesters carbon—creating a holistic approach to land management unlike modern farming, it actively rehabilitates the land, aiming for long-term ecological balance.

I have huge hopes for widely adopted efforts in regenerative agriculture and I am excited about the Generall Mills’ collaboration with partners like Walmart in accelerating the adoption of regenerative agriculture across 600,000 acres by 2030. This effort sets a benchmark for industry-wide initiatives. If you like rabbit holes, you can start here on the initiatives of General Mills (I took their self assessment just out of curiosity and it had great info for any one looking to understand RA standards). 

Now, for the Elephant in the Room: Greenwashing

It’s worth addressing here, as I highlight several large businesses, that there’s a clear dissonance: the same corporations contributing to some of the world’s biggest environmental and sustainability challenges are often the ones attempting to solve them. Many of their efforts face rightful criticism for greenwashing and placating. After all, how can a company genuinely champion sustainability while producing billions of pounds of plastic waste, depleting water resources, taking advantage of workers, or fueling fast fashion’s throwaway culture? These contradictions understandably breed skepticism.

Yet, the stark reality is rooted in supply and demand. As long as consumer habits drive the demand for these products, the problems will persist. Someone has to step up to address these issues—and, for better or worse, large corporations often have the resources, influence, and infrastructure to tackle them at scale. The real challenge lies in balancing accountability, encouraging meaningful action, and, ultimately, shifting both corporate and consumer behavior to align with sustainable practices (cue Netflix’s Buy Now doc that I finally watched).

When I think about this topic, I often reflect on our favorite childhood hero. As the late Steve Irwin once said:

“I want to save the world, and you know, money—money's great. I can't get enough money. And you know what I'm gonna do with it? I'm gonna buy wilderness areas with it. Every single cent I get goes straight into conservation. And guess what? I don't give a rip whose money it is, mate. I'll use it, and I'll spend it on buying land.” (Watch the full interview of our beloved animal wrangler here.) 

It’s a sentiment worth pondering. The highlight here is the source. We’re not celebrating the corporations at the center of these issues, but recognizing their potential role as a catalyst. Whether it’s funding, new technology, or innovative practices, when these resources eventually reach the right hands, they can create meaningful change. While these companies may not be the ultimate solution, their involvement can help accelerate progress in ways that might not otherwise be possible.

Critics argue that large corporations are merely using sustainability as a PR strategy to distract from their harmful practices. While this is often true, it doesn’t negate the positive impact of their initiatives. Walmart’s renewable energy investments and supply chain efficiency programs have reduced emissions at a scale few others could achieve. The question then becomes: would we rather have these efforts or none at all?

Ultimately, it’s not just about who’s making the mess (though let’s be honest, a lot of it is—and that's a conversation for another day, maybe several). But it’s also about who’s willing—and able—to clean it up. Companies like Walmart, Patagonia, and Unilever are far from perfect, but their sustainability initiatives have undeniably influenced industries and sparked essential conversations.

The reality is messy: the same companies contributing to global problems are also equipped to drive solutions. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also an opportunity. Change doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and the push toward sustainability often starts with imperfect steps.

It’s worth remaining critical but not cynical (at least for now). Let’s ask tough questions, hold companies accountable, and demand more transparency. But let’s also celebrate meaningful progress when we see it, because positive steps, no matter how imperfect, can lead to larger change. Remember, every dollar is a vote, and where we choose to spend it can push companies to do better. So while we keep up the pressure, let’s also recognize when progress is made—no matter how small. It all adds up (hopefully).