Shopping ethically can be challenging, and if you’re trying to do it, you might be wondering whether Target is a more ethical store than Walmart, or if there’s any real difference between the two.
It’s challenging to say which of these two stores is the more ethical option, although Target certainly enjoys a better brand image. In terms of entry-level pay, Walmart can actually pay better than Target, which surprises many people. However, Target somewhat offsets that by offering better life-work balances, and possibly a better working atmosphere.
In this article, we’ll be comparing Target and Walmart to determine which of these two options is a more ethical one, and who you should be spending your money with. Of course, local businesses are almost always going to be a better shout, but if they aren’t an option, should you pick Target or Walmart?
Is Target A More Ethical Alternative To Walmart?
There’s no question that Target has always enjoyed a better reputation than Walmart, which is often slated for its poor working conditions, terrible wages, and overall negative working model. However, it seems that Target’s image may be more about smoke and mirrors than actual concrete policies.
Many of the criticisms of Walmart apply just as equally to Target. These include things like:
- They drive away small businesses
- They have poor customer service
- They underpay their employees
Let’s explore the wage one first, as one of the most pertinent and commonly cited reasons to dislike Walmart. There’s no doubt that Walmart underpays its employees and treats them poorly – but how does Target compare?
Target’s average wage is actually lower than Walmart’s average wage, according to IBIS World, and in 2012, the CEO was earning around $14,000 per hour.
This level of inequality is staggering and may come as a shock to some Target supporters. It’s only a bit more than Walmart’s CEO, but it’s still more – and with lower-paid workers at the bottom, it represents stark inequality.
Furthermore, Walmart’s benefits are generally better than Target’s. One thing that Target does seem to have mastered, though, is a good working culture. This probably feeds into the idea that it’s a better place to work. People don’t feel as under-compensated as they are, because they enjoy “work” more.
However, this doesn’t mean that Target is more ethical.
Which Store Is More Sustainable?
Sustainability is a particularly challenging thing to measure, and it’s made more difficult by the fact that Target has traditionally not published sustainability goals that make it possible to weigh it up against Walmart. This is changing now, as both retailers respond to consumer calls for sustainability, but it’s still challenging to weigh up the different commitments – and the stores often come out neck and neck.
Both brands are currently planning to run net-zero stores by 2040, and both currently get about half of their power from renewable resources, with a goal to make this 100 percent by 2030 for Target, and 2035 for Walmart. Target is slightly ahead in this area currently.
Both stores are also aiming to have 100 percent recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging for their own brands by 2025. Target’s ethics statements do contain more information about racial diversity and creating a better gender balance, which Walmart is currently lacking.
Overall, the two stores are similar when it comes to their ethical practices, with Target being slightly ahead.
Why Do People Think Target Is Better?
You might be wondering, why, then, do so many people think that Target is significantly more ethical than Walmart? The answer is likely twofold: Target started after Walmart already had a bad image, and it has consistently characterized itself as the opposite, the underdog fighting to provide the same services while improving workers’ rights.
Another potential explanation for the preference for Target is the quality of the merchandise. Although this is variable in both stores, Target is generally cited as having better goods – which draws in different people. These people don’t want to feel guilty about shopping at a big box store, so it is comfortable for them to feel that Target is more ethical than Walmart.
Unfortunately, if you do any digging into this, there’s very little substance behind the claim. Walmart has suffered from a lot more negative press than Target, while Target has managed to maintain a relatively clean image, but that’s not a measure of ethics.
If you check the two companies out on Indeed, you’ll see that Target gets slightly better reviews for its culture, while Walmart gets better ones for pay and benefits.
Conclusion
As you can see, Target is not significantly more ethical than Walmart, even though it enjoys a better reputation. The store is actually somewhat worse when it comes to its worker pay, and although it may offer a better culture, wages are a more significant issue in most cases. In terms of sustainability and green plans, both Walmart and Target are very similar options.
