Walmart to Enforce Manufacturer Responsibility

Announced at the meeting were new guidelines for manufacturers who want to do business with the retail giant. Some of the measures include compliance with environmental laws and regulations, use of fewer natural resources and a plan to improve energy efficiency, as well as higher standards of product safety and quality.

"I firmly believe that a company that cheats on overtime and on the age of its labor, that dumps its scraps and chemicals in our rivers, that does not pay its taxes or honor its contracts—will ultimately cheat on the quality of its products," says Lee Scott, president and chief executive officer of Walmart. "And cheating on the quality of products is the same as cheating on customers. We will not tolerate that at Walmart."

Walmart also plans to put more environmentally sustainable products on its shelves.