Wal-Mart Chairman Lee Scott is used to the criticism the world’s largest retailer gets for its impact on the environment, wage and benefit policies and other practices.

But at the company’s annual meeting he also faced criticism from shareholders who thought the company is spending too much time and money trying to appease its critics.

“People shop at Wal-Mart for low prices, not because the company is politically correct,” one shareholder said.

Scott was criticized for appearing on stage with Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, in a call for universal health-care coverage for Americans and for the companies push on environmental issues like pushing to suppliers to reduce packaging.

One proponent of a pro-capitalism shareholder proposal even suggested that the company should use the marketing muscle it has employed to sell millions of energy efficient light bulbs to instead sell “Atlas Shrugged,” the 1957 Ayn Rand book that attempted to lay out a moral foundation for capitalism.

In a meeting with reporters, Scott said he was baffled by some of the criticism and said that the actions the company was taking that were seen as appeasing its critics or burnishing its image actually made good business sense.

For example, on sustainability, the company is cutting the cost of packaging, reducing its costs for dumping waste and for shipping products.

“Even if you are against the idea that climate change is important, why in God’s name would you be against saving money?” Scott said.

Scott also pointed out that many Wal-Mart customers are among those who do not have health insurance, meaning that money they have to spend on health care is money they don’t spend at Wal-Mart.

Scott also said that being concerned about diversity also was good business.

“I think the more diverse you are … the more likely you are to be able to understand that customer and meet that customers needs,” Scott said. Although he did give nod to the executive team gathered with him — almost all white males wearing grey suits.

“This group can’t even buy a different suit,” he said.

Overall, Scott said business goals and social responsibility can co-exist.

“I just don’t have much patience for anybody that thinks that creating a better business while simultaneously contributing to society is somehow a bad deal,” he said.