Feb. 27, 2008 - Got a great green product or process you think Wal-Mart might be interested in? Tell the company about it today: The retail giant has accelerated its process for soliciting requests for proposal by creating an online "suggestion box" for potential vendors, L.A. Times reports.

Wal-Mart has contracted with Michigan-based Cleantech Group to collect green ideas and business plans for everything from reusable fry oil to battery-powered forklifts. Cleantech will vet each submission and pass the most promising ones to Wal-Mart within six weeks.

The idea is to find the best, most innovative vendors and suppliers, according to Rand Waddoups, Wal-Mart's senior director of sustainability strategy. "If we were to look at lighting in our stores, there are five, six, seven vendors we deal with around lighting. But there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies in the lighting space," he told Cleantech.com. "We want to gain access to those that have the newest technologies that are the most innovative, and make sure we're not leaving some really good stones unturned."