GREENBUZZ :: May 12, 2008

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May 12, 2008 News, Tools & Resources from GreenBiz.com Hot Topics   |   News   |   Resources   |   Job Link   |   Our Sites   |   About GreenBiz.com   Taking Care of Business Green trucking is on a roll. Over the past several months, we've seen a growing focus on the environmental impacts of transport — planes, ships, trains, and trucks, each of which has its own energy and environmental impacts. Now, with diesel fuel averaging well over $4 per gallon and increased concern about climate change, air quality, and inner-city asthma, it's truckers' turn to be in the spotlight. Last week, the American Trucking Associations rolled out a sustainability program aimed at putting the brakes on fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Among other things, the group advised truckers to set speed governors on new trucks to 68 miles per hour or less, using 27 percent less fuel than when traveling at 75 miles per gallon, and avoiding some 31.5 million tons of carbon emissions. Meanwhile, several large trucking companies operating in West Coast ports announced they would switch older diesel trucks over to ones that run on cleaner liquefied natural gas to reduce air pollution. Some companies already have steered in the direction of cleaner freight. In March, for example, Con-way said it would slow down its 8,400 trucks to 62 mph to curb fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Wal-Mart, Pitney Bowes, and DTE Energy are among firms seeking to green up their fleets. UPS , DHL, and Fedex are vying to be the greenest package-delivery company, using a variety of cleaner-trucking technologies. And dozens of truckers and shippers have joined the U.S. EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership. (You can find more stories on the greening of trucks here.) It's a trend that's shifting into high gear, and none too soon: The act of moving materials and finished products around the globe can represent significant sources of emissions for companies. With encouragement from customers -- especially everyday business customers -- we'll no doubt see large-scale movement to big rigs with smaller impacts. -- Joel Makower, Executive Editor New on GreenBiz Radio: Co-Op America: Greening Businesses Large and Small By Matthew Wheeland The second annual Green Business Conference takes place in Chicago this month; in advance of the gathering GreenBiz Radio sat down with Denise Hamler, director of Co-Op America's green business programs, to learn how the world of green business has grown. 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 Nike Leads Pack of Companies Improving Climate Performance Companies such as Nike, Google, Anheuser-Busch and Levi Strauss have taken strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and communicating those efforts in ways that are transparent to consumers, according to the second Climate Counts Company Scorecard. Truckers Roll Out Sustainability Plan The "Trucks Deliver a Cleaner Tomorrow" program offers six recommendations that will help the industry shrink its carbon footprint and preserve its livelihood during a time of skyrocketing fuel prices. Wal-Mart Set to Measure Energy Use of 20 U.S. Capitols Through a partnership with the National Governors Association, the "Greening State Capitols" program will provide energy audits in 20 U.S. state capitols to identify ways in which they can reduce energy consumption. Dell Asks Customers for Packaging Advice Under criticism from bloggers during Earth Week over the use of oversized boxes to ship tiny products, Dell sought the advice of its customers this week to help the company improve its packaging. Calif. Ports Plan to Switch 8,000 Trucks to Liquefied Natural Gas As part of a multi-pronged approach to clean up the air at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, about half of the 16,000 diesel trucks that serve the waterfront will be replaced with ones that run on liquefied natural gas. CVS Adopts Cosmetics Safety Policy, Reduces Waste and Energy Use Pharmacy retailer CVS Caremark plans to phase out toxic chemicals from its house-branded products in favor of safer alternatives. The company detailed the new policy in its first Corporate Social Responsibility report that was released earlier this week. The policy was formally adopted earlier this year. Millipore Aims to Cut Carbon Footprint by 20 Percent Millipore Corp. unveiled a goal on Wednesday to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent during the next five years. The initiative will take aim at its consumption of non-renewable resources and production of waste, as well as introduce programs that will foster behavioral changes conducive to environmental sustainability. REI Releases Second Stewardship Report, Shows Progress, Obstacles The outdoor retailer's 2007 Stewardship Report finds a range of improvements in overall environmental performance and reporting, although it also highlights areas for improvement in reducing emissions and supply chain auditing. DTE Energy Taps into Biodiesel DTE Energy will convert its 800-strong service vehicles and trucks to biodiesel in a move it expects will save the company $600,000 a year. Unverferth Manufacturing Co. Develops Low-Impact Farming Tools with Autodesk Software Farm equipment maker Unverferth has been recognized for using Autodesk's design software to speed its creation of low-till tools. Survey Finds Widespread Adoption of Sustainable Seafood A report by the Seafood Choices Alliance finds that all sectors of the U.S. seafood industry have included sustainable seafood in their offerings and expect an increase in sales of all seafood as well as sustainable seafood. New PepsiCo Bottle Uses 20 Percent Less Plastic The new half-liter bottles also will sport a smaller label and need 5 percent less shrink wrap for multi-packs. > MORE NEWS HEADLINES Featured Resource A Wealth of Hands-On Help State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2008 Ecosystem Marketplace and New Carbon Finance look at where the voluntary carbon market is at, how it got there and what is in store for the future. > MORE RESOURCES Columns and Features Insight and Inspiration from the Experts Can Your Green Company Get Big and Stay Real? By Andrew Park, Inc. magazine Seth Goldman, the founder of Honest Tea, says his deal with Coke is not just part of being true to his mission, but the only way for socially responsible companies to have a real impact on society. On The Need for Green MBAs By Vanessa Crossgrove Fry Experts of all stripes are predicting that green innovations are the last best hope for us to solve our environmental crises. In order to make the innovations a reality, we will have to train our business leaders to think sustainably and act strategically, and business schools are rising to this challenge. Beyond Recycling: Responsible Paper Purchasing By Tensie Whelan, Rainforest Alliance Companies can make an enormous difference in the global environment and forest communities by adopting strict purchasing policies. GreenBiz Blogs Joel Makower's Two Steps Forward: Exxon, the Rockefellers, and the Future of Big Oil > More from Joel Makower Marc Gunther on Corporate America: Fiji Water, tacos and going “green” > More from Marc Gunther David Wigder's Green Marketing Strategies: Reframing Global Warming Across the Political Spectrum > More from David Wigder Andy Savitz's Triple Bottom Line Blog: Timberland And Stonyfield Farms--Two Little Guys Showing The Big Guys How It's Done > 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 FEATURED EVENT Greener By Design Hosts: Greener World Media & Global Executive Date: June 12-13, 2008 Location: Arlington, Va. This two-day conference by the staff of GreenBiz.com aims to teach companies the how-to of building sustainability into the product development process with a focus on greening mainstream products, both consumer and B-to-B. > SUBMIT YOUR EVENT FEATURED BOOK Minding Your Business: Profits that Restore The Planet By Horst M. Rechelbacher This treatise and business manual explains why businesses must add sustainability to their practices and what they can do to be more eco-friendly. > BUY IT! > READ MORE THE LATEST GREEN JOBS > Account Executive (Inside Sales) Kyoto Planet Group Vancouver, Canada > Environmental Engineer/Scientist CALIBRE Systems, Inc. Seattle, Wash. > Book-keeper Northeast Wilderness Trust Boston, Mass. > Ecommerce Communications Mgr – Writer / PR / Web ReusableBags.com Chicago, Ill. > Communications Coordinator, Media Outreach Rainforest Alliance New York, N.Y. 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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