When you're the biggest retailer in America, naturally scrutiny will be cast upon you. It has been well documented that Wal-Mart, the subject of endless scrutiny from myraid of watchdog groups, has not been immune from this scenario.

A feature story in this Sunday's NYTimes, sheds light on some of the sustainablity practices at Wal-Mart that actually do seem to be making a difference, even if not everyone is completely satisfied.

The noteworthy quote from chief executive H. Lee Scott Jr., "It wasn't a matter of telling our story better, we had to create a better story," is in reference to the company's reaction to intense outside pressure to change key environmental and labor related business practices.

The company has seen sales of energy saving fluorescent light bulbs more than double over two years. It's sales of only concentrated liquid laundry detergent will allow customers to save "more than 400 million gallons of water, 95 million pounds of plastic resin, 125 million pounds of cardboard and 520,000 gallons of diesel fuel over three years."

So, PRNewser readers, we ask you: Have your perceptions of Wal-Mart changed?