GREENBUZZ :: March 10, 2008

 

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March 10, 2008 News, Tools & Resources from GreenBiz.com Hot Topics   |   News   |   Resources   |   Job Link   |   Our Sites   |   About GreenBiz.com   Taking Care of Business Much of what we cover every day on GreenBiz.com and its sister sites has to do with the world of big business -- the major chemical, automobile, retail, forestry, and other behemoths that are seeking to improve, whether incrementally or radically, their environmental footprint. That makes sense on two levels. First and foremost, big companies doing even smallish things can have a huge impact; witness this week's story about how Kodak and Wal-Mart are partnering to recycle used materials from in-store photo kiosks, saving two millions pounds of waste a year. Second, big companies typically have big public relations budgets, and are more able and likely to spread the word about their good, green efforts. We receive a daily deluge of press releases, tips, and other missives from the world's largest companies -- and the world's largest PR firms -- alerting us to their, or their client's, initiatives. But all of this is a bit of a disservice to the millions of smaller firms that are similarly reducing their impacts. For many of these firms -- local print shops, dry cleaners, travel agents, auto mechanics, butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers -- making even incremental changes can be grueling, given their financial and human resource constraints. In some ways, their heroic green efforts are even more worthy of celebration. We aspire to cover small business better, and are making plans to do so. In the meantime, we're happy to share a couple of related stories -- one about a group of companies in our neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area that have managed some impressive energy savings, and Jonathan Bardelline's GreenBiz Radio interview with the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a national organization working to catalyze and connect local businesses to promote sustainable communities. There's more to come. At GreenBiz, we firmly believe that when it comes to being green, small businesses are the next big thing. -- Joel Makower, Executive Editor New on GreenBiz Radio: Using the Power of Community to Green Small Business Many of the 26.8 million small businesses in the United States are turning green, and groups like the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies are working to spread the word of sustainability. GreenBiz Radio spoke with BALLE Program Director Mary Rick about how the six-year-old BALLE is bringing businesses and networks across the U.S. and Canada together. You can listen to GreenBiz Radio online, download programs to your desktop, or subscribe to the GreenBiz Radio RSS feed. THIS ISSUE'S SPONSOR Want to be a GreenBuzz sponsor? Click here. Subscribe to GreenBiz.com RSS Headlines The Latest News on Business and the Environment Hayward SMEs Save Energy and $700K More than 2,500 businesses in this suburb southeast of San Francisco participated in an energy efficiency program that will save one megawatt of energy annually. That translates to roughly $700,000 a year in energy savings. Investors Want Companies to Disclose Climate Change-Related Impacts U.S. investors filed nearly twice as many shareholder resolutions with companies that will likely encounter business impacts from climate change. Kodak, Wal-Mart to Recycle Materials From Photo Kiosks The two companies plan to recycle 2 million pounds of plastic a year from photo kiosks nationwide. PG&E Turns Cow Manure Into Energy Pacific Gas & Electric has diversified its renewable energy interests with a project using methane from cow manure to provide power. Nestle Reduces GHG Emissions, Packaging and Energy Use: Report During the last 10 years, Nestle slashed its direct greenhouse gas emissions 16 percent and cut energy use 3 percent while at the same time, its production volume increase 76 percent. The company's bottled water products now use nearly a quarter less packaging, according to a new company report. Pitney Bowes Examines How to Make Mailings Greener Pitney Bowes offers best practices on reducing the amount of waste, energy and materials related to mailings. European Union Joins Methane-to-Energy Partnership The European Union has formalized its commitment to participate in a global group to convert methane released by animal waste, landfills and coal, gas and oil fields to energy. DuPont's Energy Reductions Save $100M Since 2001, DuPont Titanium Technologies has saved more than $100 million through cuts in energy consumption achieved through innovation and operational changes. Socially Responsible Investment Assets Top $2.71T Socially responsible investment assets grew more than 18 percent between 2005 and 2007, compared to a 3 percent growth rate for all investment assets during the same period, according to a new report from Social Investment Forum. Global Effort Needed to Address Climate Change: Report Addressing environmental problems today is possible and affordable, says a new report, while inaction could jeopardize the natural resources needed to sustain future economic growth. U.K. Retailers Threatened With Plastic Bag Fee, Figures on Bag Use by Government, Stores Revealed Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned of government action to make stores charge for plastic bags in the same week as figures on the amount of bags used by retailers as well as government marketing were revealed. FTC to Revise Guidelines for Green Packaging Claims The Federal Trade Commission is updating its environmental marketing guides for the first time since 1998. The agency's second workshop will focus on packaging following its initial examination of carbon offsets in January. Put GreenBiz news on your site for free! Learn more... > MORE NEWS HEADLINES Featured Resource A Wealth of Hands-On Help Smarter Ways to Green: How to Make Sustainability Succeed in Your Business This white paper explores seven keys to successfully incorporate sustainability initiatives based on experience from Xerox Corp. Higher Education in a Warming World: The Business Case for Climate Leadership on Campus This richly detailed guide from the National Wildlife Federation to climate action at colleges and universities focuses on the numbers -- with examples from dozens of schools showing how they cut emissions, saved money and made a difference. For campuses just starting out, it gives how-to steps for conducting an inventory, creating a plan and leading toward a sustainable future. > MORE TOOLS     > MORE WEB SITES Columns and Features Insight and Inspiration from the Experts The Future as a Design Challenge By Chhaya Bhanti It is becoming increasingly clear that the challenges facing us as we work toward sustainability will not be completely overcome by managing what we have failed to manage thus far. Instead, we must design our way out, and there is no shortage of examples of how companies can do this. Sustainable Packaging: Cost Vs. Price By Dennis Salazar What does it cost for a manufacturer to deliver a more sustainable product or package to our retail store shelf and what should the resulting price be to us as consumers? GreenBiz Blogs David Wigder's Green Marketing Strategies: Shopping for Green Online > More from David Wigder Andy Savitz's Triple Bottom Line Blog: Getting Trumped On My First Speech On Sustainability > More from Andy Savitz Wanna write for GreenBiz? GreenBiz is looking for guest and regular columnists and feature writers. We're seeking contributions from business leaders as well as the journalists who write about them. If you're interested, send a brief query to managing editor Matthew Wheeland, at editor@greenbiz.com | Read our editorial guidelines > MORE COLUMNS     > MORE FEATURES Send This Newsletter to Colleagues Spread the Word! Amaze Your Friends! Win Our Gratitude! Your Name: Your E-mail: Colleague's E-mail:   Separate each address with a comma (,) View our Privacy Policy    FEATURED BOOK The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World by John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan Case studies from around the world form the backbone of this look at how unpredictable and unexpected ideas from entities including Whole Foods, Live Aid and the World Toilet Organization can improve the planet while boosting the bottom line. > BUY IT! | READ MORE FEATURED EVENT Corporate Climate Response -- Sustainable Manufacturing Summit Host: Green Power Conferences Date: April 8, 2008 Location: Chicago, Ill. With sessions focusing climate-friendly product development, operational response, sustainable supply chains, and waste management, this event covers carbon reduction at every stage of the manufacturing process. > SUBMIT YOUR EVENT News Releases from the World of Green Business > Alcoa Launches New Website on Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling - a Part of the Clean Air Solution > Next-Generation GM Hybrid System Announced in Geneva > LISC Launches Green Development Center > Next President Will Have Ample Authority to Act on Climate Change, New Study Finds > More from the Wire > Submit Your News Release > About this Service YOUR AD HERE! Become a GreenBuzz sponsor or advertiser, reaching tens of thousands of businesses every week. Click Here to receive more information. Please e-mail content queries to the GreenBiz Editor.   GREENBUZZ and GreenBiz.com are produced by Greener World Media, Inc. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. 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