Nov 18 2008
Story of Stuff
This is a great video giving a non-technical and entertaining explanation on how our “materials economy” is incomplete and based on unsustainable principles:
Archive for the 'Environment' Category
Nov 15 2008
GreenBiz Feed
How Companies That Aggressively Pursue Sustainability Reap Rewards
A report from the MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group finds that while the majority of companies view sustainability as a response to external pressures, some are finding profitability in its practice.
Fuel, Vitamins, Soap Help Solazyme Algae Stand out from Pond Scum
With a wide range of green products on the market or in development, huge output of green fuels, and deep pockets, Solazyme stands out among the hundreds of companies trying to capitalize on the power of algae.
Organic Textile Certifications Grow 40 Percent
More than 2,800 facilities run by 1,500 companies were certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard last year, increasing the amount of certified facilities by 40 percent.
Tapping the Untapped
The startup Aquacue offers a look at the innovations that landed it among the 10 enterprises showcased at NASA's LAUNCH: Water, the first in a series of forums on proposed solutions to sustainability challenges.
Las Vegas Sands Raises the Stakes for Green Development
In a town where green building is latest rage among mega resorts and gaming palaces, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation has upped the ante on eco-friendly development and business operations with the launch of a sustainability program for its properties in Vegas and beyond.
Walmart's Emerging Role in Sustainability Consulting
Three years before Walmart announced it would squeeze 20 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain, the retailer rolled out its Supplier Energy Efficiency Program with the goal of helping its suppliers save electricity and money, in turn bringing down the price of products.
Fending Off the 'New Barbarians' with a Culture of Innovation
There is a critical parallel between a national-level need for innovation and new technology and what is needed inside U.S. organizations. This is especially true of incumbent companies in the energy industry (oil and gas and electric power) that want to be competitive in a changing marketplace.
Simple Tools for Effective Climate Reporting
Until now, companies have lacked direction on how to report on climate policy engagement. This primer covers what companies are reporting today, what we recommend companies focus on going forward, and how companies can approach reporting on climate policy engagement.
OfficeMax Reusable Shipping Bins Deliver Less Waste
OfficeMax is offering a new reusable shipping bin program to help businesses that make frequent orders reduce packaging waste.
Anheuser-Busch InBev Wants to be World's Greenest Brewer
Anheuser-Busch InBev's new environmental goals include a 30 percent reduction in water use, 10 percent drop in energy and greenhouse gas emissions, and a 99 percent waste recycling and reuse rate.
Sainsbury's to Enhance Eco-Store Experience with Swarms of Bees
The supermarket chain is claiming a U.K. first by announcing plans to boost local bee population by housing several hundred bees in land around its new eco-store.
Tropicana Shrinks Juice Boxes Due to Orange Crop Failure
Tropicana is shrinking its most popular size of orange juice by five ounces due to freezes in January that put the squeeze on orange crops.
Clean Energy Trends 2010
This eighth annual Clean Energy Trends report takes stock of the sector against the backdrop of one of the worst years in economic history, in addition to five key trends that promise to shape the face of the industry in the years to come.
China Still Holds Commanding Lead in Global Clean Tech Race
While China is leading the global clean tech race, the competition isn't over, according to research firm Clean Edge, whose latest report pegged global revenue for solar PV, wind and biofuels at $139.1 billion last year, an 11.4 percent increase over 2009.
Microsoft Puts Its Weight Behind IT's Energy-Saving Potential
In the race to apply green IT to big environmental problems, Microsoft is rolling out a number of services that help individuals and businesses harness the power of data to save energy and the environment.
Green Chemistry Becomes a Core Element of Industry
NewScientist looks at the many ways green chemistry is being used in the pharmaceutical, food and drink, packaging, cosmetics, clothing, electronics, and house and home sectors.
The Greenest Butcher and Seafood Champions Highlight Sustainability in Food Services
Two awards recently bestowed on companies and organizations around the globe highlight new levels of sustainability for fish and fowl alike.
Walmart, Marks & Spencer, Nike: Harbingers of Change?
Despite the economy, and despite the slow progress on environmental issues from many businesses, real change is beginning to take hold among a few exceptional companies.
New Construction Code Aims to Unify Green Building Standards
The International Code Council has released the first public version of its International Green Construction Code, a comprehensive standard for improving the environmental performance of commercial buildings.
4 Keys to a Successful Sustainability Strategy
If you're of the mind that the global economy is an Energizer battery that will simply go, go, go -- without needing outside attention -- think again.
P&G Launches U.S. Campaign to Highlight 'Future Friendly' Products
Three years after its launch in the U.K. and Canada, next month will see the U.S. kickoff of a campaign aimed at educating consumers about buying and using environmentally friendly products from a number of P&G brands.
Climate Skepticism Grows as Emissions Fall
A Gallup poll published last week found that overall, more Americans feel the media exaggerates the seriousness of climate change today than they did two years ago. At the same time, the EPA estimates greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3 percent in 2008.
Why Consuming Smarter Means Consuming Less
The Natural Resources Defense Council is taking a more active role in talking about consumption by encouraging people to eat less red meat and dairy, fly less, and use paper smarter, all actions that could put a big dent in greenhouse gas emissions.
IBM, Stanford Breakthrough Promises New Life for Recycled Plastics
A new development by IBM Research and Stanford University could lead to plastics that can be recycled multiple times - and at lower temperatures - and a new form of biodegradable plastics.
A Tale of Two Countries: Japan, China, and the Low-Carbon Economy
Japan's business leaders are focused on cutting emissions, though they have about the same level of a roadmap as Americans; their neighbor to the southwest, however, has quickly moved into the spotlight as a challenger, and potentially an economic threat.
Office Depot Kicks Off Small Business 'Green Office Makeover' Contest
Companies in the greater Miami area can win a $4,000 greening package as part of an effort to raise awareness about green office practices among small and medium businesses.
P&G Reformulating Herbal Essences to Limit Toxins
Procter & Gamble is reformulating its Herbal Essences shampoos to reduce the amount of a carcinogenic chemical in them.
Water-Saving 'No-Mix Toilets' Get Rave Reviews in Europe
An innovative new toilet system that helps to reduce pollution and save water has gotten widespread support in seven European countries, according to a new study.
Nike's Sustainability Journey: 15 Years and Going Strong
When Nike first began incorporating sustainability into its business practices, the risks and opportunities we grappled with seemed distant indeed, even non-existent to most businesses. Fifteen years later, the risks and opportunities that businesses face from environmental and social challenges are more obvious than ever.
The Olympic Gold Rush Has Only Just Begun
In the days during and after the Vancouver Olympics, many are wondering whether the massive investment was money well spent, especially for the green endeavors at the Games. But the most promising metric is just how many green business opportunities the Olympics unleashed.
Getting a Green Brand on the Customer's Radar
New products aspiring to be labeled green should be preoccupied with passing muster with the arbiters of what's green, be they NGOs, consumers, or ratings agencies. The reality, though, is that many green brands wish they had the problem of being scrutinized, at least by consumers.
Richard Branson Aims to Rock the Boat for Green Shipping
The billionaire's new NGO, Carbon War Room, puts the global shipping industry's massive carbon footprint under the spotlight, and spread the word about simple ways to shrink its impact.
Unilever Cleans Up Soap With Algae Oil
After a year of testing algae-based oils in soaps and other products, Unilever has decided to expand its research on the petrochemical replacement.
Big Oil's Slow Road to Sustainability
Last week, we released the sustainability rankings of the world's largest oil and gas companies. Despite the skepticism of whether the industry can ever be green, there are plenty of reasons to rank their sustainability efforts.
How to Embed Sustainability Into Your Company's DNA
"The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability" makes the business case for why companies should be rethinking their corporate structures, processes and performance, while also offering advice and case studies of how companies are putting these practices to work.
NASA's Latest 'Launch' Focuses on Water Sustainability
NASA will conduct its first-ever water sustainability forum next week at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is singling out 10 firms from around the world to showcase innovative solutions to water management.
Zero Net Energy Live/Work Showcase Opens Doors to Public
A LEED-Platinum rated zero net energy live/work unit opens its doors to the public today before a deal closes to buy the unique property near the Oakland Estuary.
The Evolution of Innovative Green Brands
As consumers, we define ourselves by the brands we keep. We believe in them, yet they seldom give us new reasons to do so. But that's changing now as we find ourselves in the early stages of a new industrial revolution.
Support for Green Building, LEED Slip Slightly But Remain Strong Despite Downturn
Support for green construction and LEED certification dipped slightly in 2009 but remains strong across the past three years despite the recession, according to the latest green building survey by Allen Matkins, Constructive Technologies Group and the Green Building Insider.
4th Annual Green Building Survey
This survey of more than 1,600 design and construction professionals in the U.S. charts their latest perceptions and practices regarding green building -- and compares them to attitudes and activities before and during the Great Recession.
SunChips Stacks First Compostable Bags on Canadian Shelves
For the launch of its fully-compostable snack bag, Frito Lay Canada is working with local composting programs to ensure that new SunChips bags are handled properly when disposed.
Inside Cisco's Sustainable Packaging Project
This slideshow from Cisco Systems outlines some of the steps the company has taken to save $24 million per year as part of its sustainable packaging pilot.
How Cisco's Packaging Diet Saves $24 Million a Year
The technology giant has implemented three best practices as part of a sustainability pilot project that are netting huge savings in materials and transportation costs as well as waste management.
Rwanda Turns to Trapped Methane For Electricity, Growth
A project that aims to harvest energy from a potentially disastrous situation in Rwanda's Lake Kivu aims to turn risk into reward, and bring much-needed power to a developing economy.
New Enviance Software Starts Counting GHGs in 60 Days or Less
Carbon management software firm Enviance unveiled a new product Tuesday to help companies comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas reporting rules.
Bovis Lend Lease Teams with 1e to Cut Energy Use by 90,000 kWh
The construction and project management firm has installed 1e's PC power management suite on 3,000 computers in Europe, allowing the firm to make quick progress on its corporate-wide energy efficiency goal.
Greening the Workhorses of American Fleets
Medium-duty trucks, a mainstay for American fleets, produce more than 80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Environmental Defense Fund and PHH Arval are now offering fleet managers a framework for reducing emissions from the vehicles.
eBay Sells 'Green' Used Goods with Rainforest Reward
eBay made a big push Monday to get consumers to commit to using products over new ones with the launch of a new green shopping website. The company will reward the first 250,000 people who make the reuse pledge with a donation toward the protection of an acre of rainforest.
'Outsourcing' Emissions Hides Countries' True Carbon Footprints
Around a third of industrialized countries carbon emissions are exported to developing nations.
Eco-Dentists Aim to Clean and Green
With 500 members in 42 states and 11 countries, the Eco-Dentistry Association has launched a certification program for green dental practices and named its two inaugural recipients.
Walmart, Tesco Vendors Get Supply Chain Help from Five Winds
Five Winds International has created a new website to help companies meet supplier sustainability requirements being imposed by retailers.
Three Simple Checkpoints on the Road to a Clean Energy Future
In the midst of a gold rush of clean technologies, some observers believe we're still years from making a dent in the national carbon footprint. But these three shovel-ready technologies show a low-carbon future is already within sight.
Greenhouse Gas Management for Medium-Duty Truck Fleets
This white paper from Environmental Defense Fund and fleet management company PHH Arval lays out strategies for reducing emissions from medium-duty trucks, which are responsible for more than 80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Businesses Want Clarity in Face of Climate-Law Uncertainty
With the chorus of business leaders calling for comprehensive climate rules appearing to grow louder, the face of potential legislation continues to shift as Congressional leaders work to build bipartisan support.
Amazing Gadgets for the Poor
A nonprofit called Kopernik hopes to connect the creators of the low-cost, innovative and life-saving inventions with the people who need them most.
Solar Systems for Cheap from Sungevity, TXU Energy
Two solar power system providers are expanding the availability of solar leases with no down payments.
What Your Employees Know About Green Innovation That You Don't
Engagement is the mot du jour today. It's being pitched as a new religion, buoyed by the social media wave; however, behind all the hype is a remarkably simple concept: If you need help, ask.
Peerless Coffee Brews More Efficient Waste Management
The Oakland-based company has spent the last 10 years finding ways to recycle its waste, use less packaging and testing reusable delivery crates.
The Truth About Millennials
We hear it all the time: “It’s the young people we need to target! They’ll buy anything green.” In fact, they do a lot of talking, but are only just starting to buy green products and change their behaviors
