Archive for the ‘Corporate Change’ Category

Apple goes green with new aluminium MacBooks

Apple unveiled it’s new campaign to promote it’s new line of laptop computers. They call it the greenest notebook Apple has ever created. They have also released their Environmental Report for 2008 which outlines and gives environmental information about their products and facilities.

Some highlights about the new line of MacBooks and MacBook Pro laptops (information provided by Apple).

  • Arsenic-free glass
  • Mercury-free LED-backlit display
  • Brominated flame retardant-free internal components
  • PVC-free internal cables
  • Highly recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
  • Up to 41 percent smaller packaging

Apple has taken a lot of heat over it’s environmental practices in the past. A couple of years ago they pledged to remove PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from all of their products by the end of 2008. CEO Steve Jobs says that they are on track to meet their goals.

It’s pretty cool when a company that has as much attention and mindshare as Apple makes these claims and then meets the goals they’ve laid out. This, along with many other reasons, is why our household is committed to buying Apple products.

The Seattle Mariners go carbon neutral for Earth Day

I’m happy to say that our hometown Seattle Mariners are doing their part in efforts to take responsibility for the carbon emissions related to their operations. This takes into account travel (for teams, umpires, fans and all people involved), electrical and natural gas resources used in operating the stadium, and all waste produced from the game.

To celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday the Mariners are going to partner with Cedar Grove Composting to stage the first ever carbon neutral Major League Baseball game. To accomplish this, the Mariners are going to purchase carbon offsets from NativeEnergy to account for the 230 short tons of carbon-dioxide produced at a Major League Baseball game.

As we all know carbon offsets are not the answer. Well, the Mariners agree with that too. Mariners chairman and CEO Howard Lincoln says., “we know that just buying carbon offsets isn’t enough”. The Mariners lead the charge in sustainability and conservation in Major League Baseball. They’re one of two teams who composts their food waste. They compost about 100 tons of food waste per season. Last year alone the Mariners recycled “342 tons of plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, cans and glass”. They have also made steps to reduce their consumption of electricity and natural gas (18 and 36 percent respectively).

Apparently there are also going to be many local and national organizations on hand to provide information about conservation and environmental responsibility. We won’t be able to make it to the game on Tuesday, but would love to hear about it from anyone who does make it out to the ball game.

Dove ads: Campaign for Real Beauty

I have always struggled to like, let alone love, the way I look. This is not something that is unusual for women in our culture, but it never makes it any less sad. I actually only think that the wide spread problem of this only makes it more sad. One of the sad things for me is that when I am in my core and not surrounded by negative thoughts I like the way I look a lot. I am proud of the curves on my frame and happy with the face I have. I am able to embrace the wrinkle that runs across my forehead and realize that it is a physical expression of my personal history. There is a strong pull inside of me to have my nieces, sisters, moms, girlfriends and all women in general appreciate, care-for, and love their bodies. It makes me really angry that these women get told all the time that their bodies are not good enough and that they need to make unnatural changes to their bodies to make them beautiful.

I don’t buy Dove products (they are not environmentally friendly and largely unnecessary) and I hate being marketed to. However, marketing is not going anywhere anytime soon and I feel that Dove is doing something positive with their marketing. They are reminding women of all ages that it is OK to love your body and that is something to be celebrated. Take a look at some of their videos below. Women it is time to stand up and embrace your bodies whatever their shape.

Nike and Steve Nash make steps towards sustainabilty

Nike Trash Talk sneaker
image courtesy of kixandthecity.com

Last night Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash debuted his new shoes. This time his Nike’s were a little different. They were made from scraps from other basketball shoes. I know that Nike has long been the bad guy in the world of footwear due to labor and environmental practices, but let’s give credit where credit is due. Nike has recently made a move towards more global responsibility and is now making the Nike Trash Talk which is the shoe model made from scrap material that is based off of their already popular Nike Zoom BB II model.

Nike footwear designer, Kasey Jarvis said: ‘I was really looking for a ‘here and now’ solution to footwear waste, and creating a performance product using waste materials felt like a very innovative solution. Using Nike’s Considered design ethos I was able to create a shoe that stands up to the stringent on-court performance requirements but is also more environmentally friendly.’

Steve Nash has been involved with environmental issues for a long time. It’s really great to see that he is taking that concern to his shoe company and that they are utilizing the waste that they create, and are making it usable. Nash said, “Any opportunity to promote the environment and preserve our planet is a step in the right direction.” If you’d like to get your hands on these, they will go on sale on April 22nd.

Nike still has a lot work to do to clean up it’s international labor and environmental practices.

Evan Almighty and The Conservation Fund

Get on Board

Lights, camera, take action! Ha.

Tom Shadyac, director of the film Evan Almighty, wanted to make the first major motion picture that was a zero emission (carbon neutral) production. He describes Evan Almighty as a film that speaks of our need to be good stewards of the Earth and he didn’t want to contribute to the destruction of the Earth while trying to get this message across. So, they worked with Habitat for Humanity, Conservation Fund, and Hope to Others to create a movie that left no trace (similar idea to “leave no trace” camping or hiking).

“Green” activities/efforts during production included:

  • The film’s production was carbon offset through a donation to the Conservation Fund.
  • All the landscaping, lumber, windows and other reusable materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity.
  • All crew members were given bicycles by director Tom Shadyac to reduce car usage.
  • Recycled paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass were used on set.
  • After production was completed, trees were planted near the site of the ark in Crozet,VA as a thank you to the community.
  • HtoO water was used -(Hope to Others, a company founded by Tom Shadyac, donates 100% of the profits after taxes to charity).

Go to their site to find out ways in which you can Go Zero (as individuals and businesses).

Yahoo goes carbon neutral

Yahoo announced yesterday in a Yodel Anecdotal blog post, authored by David Filo, that it has just made a commitment to go carbon neutral this year….yahoooooooo!!!!!

Essentially, that means we’re going to invest in greenhouse gas reduction projects around the world to neutralize Yahoo!’s impact on the environment.

. . .

We know carbon neutrality isn’t without controversy. And it’s honestly deserved if companies and individuals don’t first make an effort to find direct ways to reduce their impact. We’ll continue to be vigilant about cutting ours, looking for creative ways to power our facilities, encourage even more employees to seek alternative commutes, and generally inspire Yahoos around the world to think differently about their energy use. (For example, in honor of Earth Day, we’re challenging Yahoos to decrease their consumption by 20% this week to help build lasting habits.) We’ll also be deliberate about investing in offset projects that can verifiably deliver their expected environmental benefits.

We think our offset program counts, but since this is a new and emerging market, we expect to learn as we go, and we’ll be transparent with you along the way. In fact, we’d like your help in all this we want your inventive and creative ideas for potential offset projects. Please weigh in over at Yahoo! Answers. And read more about our overall approach here.

So, if you folks have ideas for Yahoo on changes that they can make, click on the link above and of course, let me know what you come up with!

A few online articles

Follow your folly

New Belgium Brewing Company is starting a national ad campaign and getting attention for their sustainable company practices. As part of the ad campaign New Belgium has created FollowYourFolly.com and “is devoted to the whimsical side of sustainable living”. Before entering each of the company’s sites there is a message saying that like their beer, their sites are also only to be legally enjoyed by those 21 and over.

Yahoo green advertising

Yahoo has launched at Cannes Advertising Festival.

Make an online ad that inspires people to get off their butts and improve the planet. Create an ad for the cause that’s close to your heart. Maybe it’s about hybrid cars, energy-efficient light bulbs, or recycling.

Tell all your friends about it and invite them to give your work a “love it” rating. Our panel of creative judges will take into consideration entries with high “love it” votes when selecting the final winners. Magnifique!

Buy Less Crap

Gap’s RED campaign has received a negative backlash and it has taken a cohesive form in BuyLessCrap.org.

Created by words pictures ideas (WPI) and Romantic Static, Buy (LESS) provides a more meaningful option for would-be donors to causes; instead of buying products like Gap clothing and iPods, since just a small percentage goes to causes, GIVE MORE – as in, donate directly – Buy (LESS) urges.

Read more.

New Shoes

New Balance Environmentally friendly shoesI am a runner that needed new shoes. I put off searching for a new pair of shoes for as long as possible because (1) I didn’t want to do the research to find sweatshop free shoes and (2) I wanted to buy quality running shoes and not some crappy pair of sweatshop free shoes. However, it got to the point where my feet were killing me with each step I took and I decided that it was finally time to begin looking. I did a little research and found that some of New Balance’s shoes are sweatshop free (the ones made in the U.S.A.). I called my local New Balance store and talked to the owner, who was super helpful, and he directed me to New Balance Chicago Online. I clicked on the link for Women’s and then Made in USA. I found the shoes I wanted, W766NC (Runner’s World Magazine Editor’s Choice award), ordered them, and voila….a good pair of sweatshop free running shoes.