Teacher Wins Environmentally-Oriented Vanity Plate Contest

On April 18th 2012, Brian Stuhlman, a teacher in Columbia, MO, won a national contest seeking the most creative environmentally-oriented vanity license plate with his entry EZ2BGRN.  The contest was created to observe this year's 75th anniversary of the vanity license plate and to call attention to Earth Day, Sunday, April 22.

Earth Day Marketing Mayhem ROI

Earth Day is now a marketing frenzy, but what is the return on the investment (ROI) for green marketing at this time of year? According to a recent GreenBiz article there is questionable value to environmental promotions at this time of year. Albe Zakes, the global vice president of media relations for TerraCycle, says Earth Day is not the best time for major initiatives. TerraCycle which helps companies with recycling programs, actively dissuades their customers from launching major initiatives on or around Earth Day.

Earth Day "Green" Shopping

There are a plethora of green promotions going on this Earth Day. A very wide range of products can be found with some sort of green marketing angle. A good illustration of the specials, discounts and other promotions are summarized in following two online sites:

Mobilize The Earth Video

Earth Day Everyday April 22, 2012 (Video)

Earth Day 2012 and Business

Earth Day is about sharing an awareness that results in lasting change and nowhere is this more important than in the business community. Everyone needs to be involved and invested to enact the scope of the changes required. But as a leading contributor of climate change causing emissions business has a unique responsibility. As part of efforts to raise awareness businesses are reaching out to employees, customers and their supply chains.

Earth Day 2012

Earth Day is on April 22, the event was established in the US in 1970 and continues to gain popularity every year with more and more people and organizations pledging to reduce, reuse, and recycle. In both our homes and our workplace, Earth Day is an opportunity to act in ways that represent a fundamental improvement in the way we treat the earth.

Earth Day Vanity License Plate Contest

A leading marketer of automotive appearance products is conducting a contest designed to call attention to Earth Day, April 22. Environmental causes receive funds from states that are derived from vanity license plate fees.

10 Business Pledges in Support of A Billion Acts of Green

A Billion Acts of Green® is the largest environmental service campaign in the world and this year it included an increasing number of commitments from businesses. A Billion Acts of Green® is an annual campaign that inspires and rewards both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that further the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainability.

The theme for the 2011 campaign was ‘A Billion Acts of Green: Personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably’.

Driven by the extraordinary reach of social media platforms like Facebook, the Earth Day message was propeled across cultural, national, and religious divides. The Earth Day Network mobilized one billion people in 192 countries with the help of 25,000 partners.

These Acts of Green, involved cleanups, restoration, pledges, proclamations, petitions, letters, festivals, reports, fairs, expositions, parades, concerts, contests, plantings, awards, runs, walks, hikes, writing, speaking, and other events.

Around the world, companies of all sizes also contributed millions of acts of green. Businesses ranging from international corporations to mom and pops got involved by pledging to be greener. They also leveraged the marketing appeal of this time of year through giveaways, and other promotions.

Increasingly companies are coming together to share their green experience and expertise. However, According to the Sustainability & Innovation Survey by MIT’s Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group, small business has been especially slow to adopt sustainability. Their survey revealed that only 9 percent of small companies have embraced sustainability, compared to 34 percent of large companies.

Despite these numbers, some businesses are showing sustainable leadership while reducing their costs and benefiting their reputation in the process. Here are 10 areas where companies are being more sustainable:

Energy

Companies are lowering their energy needs by encourageing employees and maintenance crews to turn off lights, computers, and other devices when they are not in use. Some are installing timers to cut the power automatically.

Many businesses are buying energy-saving appliances and taking advantage of the saving that come from increased lighting efficiency like LEDs. Some are installing ooccupancy sensors for frequently vacant rooms and reflectors for fluorescent fixtures.

Companies are also using solid-state drives, laptops with energy efficient chips, power stations, and Direct Current power instead of Alternating Current power.
An increasing number of businesses are contacting their local power providers to source electricity from renewable-energy sources such as solar and wind power, some are even generating their own power onsite.

Recycling

Companies are notifying employees to recycle through emails. They are also placing recycling bins in convenient locations like near trash bins, copiers, mail boxes and in break rooms and cafeterias. Some companies are upgrading their office equipment and listing it on freecycle or donating it to a charity. Others are using Recycling for Charities to recycle e-waste like cell phones, cameras, and palm pilots. Businesses are also taking advantage of computer manufacturers take-back programs for old computers.

Paper

Many companies have committed to use less paper. As paper constitutes more than a third of our waste, businesses around the world are pledging to use less paper by using digital technology. Simple things like e-mailing documents and using an external drive rather than a filing cabinet. Apps are also being used to help businesses go paperless. When paper is being used it is 100 percent recycled paper Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and set your printer or copier to print on both sides of the page.

Companies are sending proposals, contracts, and invoices entirely through e-mail as PDF attachments. Companies are also reducing paper use with electronic signatures like Adobe Acrobat Professional or software like DocuSign or e-signature. Using digital pay portals like PayPal to send invoices, is also being used to reduce paper usage.

Water

Businesses are getting involved with reducing their consumption of water with low-flow appliances like aerators for faucets, and "dams" or other devices for toilets. They are diligent about fixing sources of leaking water and they employ efficient landscaping techniques.

Transportation

Some businesses have made an alternative transportation pledge for Earth Day that reduces fuel use and the resulting emissions. These businesses are encouraging their employees to commute to work by carpooling, walking, biking, or taking Metro bus or rail. Some employers are providing incentives to take mass transit such as transit subsidies, supporting preferred parking for carpoolers, and racks or lockers for bicyclists' gear. Companies are also greening the vehicles that compose their fleets. One of the best things owners can do to save money and increase efficiency is to implement mobile workforce management software that lowers fuel expenditures, improves productivity and reduces paper usage.

Packaging

Companies are using less packaging and better materials including replacements for plastics that are biodegradable.

Supply Chain

More and more companies are greening their supply chain by sourcing green vendors for their business needs.

Toxics

Businesses are removing toxic substances from the workplace. They are sourcing alternatives to toxic products like cleaning supplies, glues, solvents, paints and other products.

Offsetting

Very few companies are carbon neutral, but many businesses are offsetting their environmental impacts by calculating their carbon emissions and working to offset them through tree planting, forest protection efforts, and energy-efficiency projects.

Building

Some companies are building (or redesigning) offices using a growing number of eco-friendly options. Offices are being designed with minimal amounts of square footage, natural lighting, green ventilation, desk-sharing for employees who workshift and smart systems including heat and motion detection lighting systems.

Earth Day activities are of increasing importance to the business community and finding solutions to the issue of climate change is clearly a matter that must include business.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
The Green Market's Earth Day Activity
Green Your Business on Earth Day
The Revolutionary Power of Social Media Driving Corporate Environmental Sustainability
Two Examples of Business at Work on Earth Day 2011
Social Media Marketing and Environmental Sustainability
Earth Day Tool Kit
WWF-UK's Green Game-Changers Initiative for Business
WWF's Long History of Helping Businesses to be ...
The Commericialization of Earth Day
Silencing Earth Day Critics
The Business of Earth Day
Earth Day 2010: Life and Death Decisions for Business
Greenpeace Campaign is Asking Facebook to Unfriend Coal and Befriend Renewable Energy

Green Your Business on Earth Day 2011

Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970, as an environmental teach-in and to raise awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. It started in the US but through the Earth Day Network it is now a world wide event that includes the business community.

For businesses, Earth Day is a good time to make the pledge to implement sustainability initiatives. This is the time of year when employees and customers are most likely to be receptive to a green message.

Even for those businesses that cannot afford new capital expenditures, there are many ways of increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste and conserving water that actually save money.

Being green can reduce costs while boosting a company's image. By engaging eco-friendly policies and practices businesses can be part of a growing movement and be more competitive in the process.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
The Green Market's Earth Day Activity
The Revolutionary Power of Social Media Driving Corporate Environmental Sustainability
Two Examples of Business at Work on Earth Day 2011
10 Business Pledges in Support of A Billion Acts of Green
Social Media Marketing and Environmental Sustainability
Earth Day Tool Kit
WWF-UK's Green Game-Changers Initiative for Business
WWF's Long History of Helping Businesses to be ...
The Commericialization of Earth Day
Silencing Earth Day Critics
The Business of Earth Day
Earth Day 2010: Life and Death Decisions for Business
Greenpeace Campaign is Asking Facebook to Unfriend Coal and Befriend Renewable Energy
Earth Day Special: Green Blueprint

The Green Market's Earth Day Activity

Happy Earth Day! The Green Market is celebrating Earth Day with ten days of posts devoted to providing green resources and examples of sustainable businesses. The Green Market is also working to support sustainable business and to share best practices that ensure an ecologically and economically balanced future.

The business community is essential if we are to reverse the environmental crisis we are facing which is why The Green Market is celebrating Earth Day with a series of posts focusing on green and sustainable business. These posts offer important resources and information to help make every day Earth Day. The Green Market's homage to Earth Day includes a total of 26 posts, it started on April 12 and runs until April 23.

Two Examples of Business at Work on Earth Day 2011
10 Business Pledges in Support of A Billion Acts of Green
Green Your Business on Earth Day
Small Businesses Can Benefit from the Growing Green Market Too
Businesses are Combating Climate Change and Turning a Profit
The Rise of the Green Consumer
U.S. Consumer Attitudes on Green
Cost Benefit Analysis of Sustainable Business Practices
New Types of Insurance Reduce Risk and Accelerate the Adoption of Green Energy
A Greener Insurance Company
HP's Sustainable Innovation Serves the Planet and Profits
PUMA's Sustainable Packaging Innovation
PUMA's Comprehensive Sustainable Strategy Now Includes Environmental Accounting
Xerox's Green Innovation
Bschool.com's "10 Great Companies Who Were Green Before It Was Cool"
Power Shift Rally at the US Chamber of Commerce in DC
Surveys of America's Greenest Brands Suggest that Redemption is Possible
Greener Japanese Companies
Dan Miller on the Psychology of Climate Change and the Business of Change
WWF's Long History of Helping Businesses to be More Sustainable
WWF-UK's Green Game-Changers Initiative for Business
Deal Between Carbon Trust and Siemens Good for UK`s Green Economy
Green Guide for SMEs from the Carbon Trust
Cooperation Between Environmental Organizations and Businesses
Zotos Earns a Place on the EPA’s Top 20 On-Site Power Generation List
EPA’s Top 20 On-Site Power Generation List

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Related Posts
The Revolutionary Power of Social Media Driving Corporate Environmental Sustainability
Social Media Marketing and Environmental Sustainability
Earth Day Tool Kit
The Commericialization of Earth Day
Silencing Earth Day Critics
The Business of Earth Day
Earth Day 2010: Life and Death Decisions for Business
Greenpeace Campaign is Asking Facebook to Unfriend Coal and Befriend Renewable Energy
Earth Day Special: Green Blueprint

Earth Day 2010: The Business of Green

The first Earth Day was in 1970, it was a grass roots movement by people seeking to protect our environment. Now many leading environmental advocacy organizations accept sponsorships from corporations and these partnerships are helping to change social behavior.

On Earth Day, businesses large and small play varying roles supporting the transition to more sustainable commerce.

Many companies are using Earth Day day as a premier marketing platform for selling a variety of goods and services. Businesses are using Earth day as an opportunity to inform their customers about their environmentally friendly initiatives but the business community is also increasingly leading the way in environmental innovation.

The Earth Day Network and Proctor & Gamble are collaborating on social networks. With the launch of the Billion Acts of GreenTM Facebook and iPhone applications, friends, family and followers are being asked to issue pledges of at least one "act of green" and share it with their Facebook network.

Greenpeace is working with technology giants like Cisco and Google to disseminate information on technologies like videoconferencing and "cloud" computing that can reduce a company's carbon footprint.

With the help of PepsiCo. NYC is reducing its impact on the environment in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit organization, that is introducing "dream machines," recycling kiosks. These machines are meant to increase the recycling rates for beverage containers, which is estimated at only about 36 percent nationwide.

Other smaller enterprises are also taking part. Fore example, across the US gardening businesses went into schools to encourage children to grow vegetables or plants as part of the Earth Day celebrations.

Most businesses are keeping an eye on the demand for environmental offerings. Smart businesses are responding to those seeking greener poducts and practices.

Although we still have a far way to go, increasingly consumers and business are being drawn together by the kind of free market capitalism that will build a more sustainable world.
_________________________________

Related Posts

The Commericialization of Earth Day
At Target Everyday is Earth Day
Canon Reaffirms Green Procurement Program for Earth Day
The Business of Earth Day (2009)
Climate Counts: Businesses Combating Climate Change
Business for the Environment Global Summit
NYSE Green Summit
Earth Day Tool Kit
Earth Day Business Resources
Earth Day Special: Green Blueprint
Silencing Earth Day Critics
One Million Acts of Green: The Human Network Effect
What Business Can Do To Help Manage Climate Change

Social Media and the Green Message: WWF Global Online Event

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is using Twitter to stage a global online event today. Titled "What a Difference a Day Makes," the goal of the event is to encourage people to share the ways in which they help to make the world more sustainable.

The WWF is an international non-governmental organization that focuses on conservation, research and restoration of the environment. It is the world's largest independent conservation organization with over 5 million supporters in more than 90 countries, Their efforts contribute to approximately 1300 conservation and environmental projects around the world.

The group's mission is "to halt and reverse the destruction of our environment." With the "What a Difference a Day Makes" event, the organizers are seeking to draw attention to the fact that all around the world people are recycling, conserving, and making ethical purchasing decisions. The overarching message is that millions are engaged in efforts to create a sustainable world, and together we can make a difference.

This WWF campaign is similar to the annual Earth Day event celebrated on March 28. Earth Day organizers asked participants to report their green actions online. This year's event logged almost one billion acts of green. An April 22, Earth Hour is another annual global campaign. Event organizers asked people to show their support for the green economy by shutting off their lights for one hour at 8:30 PM local time. Although these events are often maligned by eco-purists, as reviewed in an article entitled "Silencing Earth Day Critics," such comments are unproductive and unwarranted.

Sustainable global events like the ones cited above illustrate that social media can be a humanizing force. Because hundreds of millions of people are easily accessible at any given moment, social media has extraordinary reach. The need for collective action on the environment makes social media ideal for the dissemination of the green message.

To participate in the WWF campaign post a message to Twitter with the tag #wwf24 about the sustainable things you do in your day, and the organizers will add you to the map.

____________________________

Related Articles:
The Business of Earth Day
Earth Day Business Resources
Earth Day Special: Green Blueprint
Silencing Earth Day Critics
Support Earth Hour
Businesses Observe Earth Hour as it Ripples Around the World
Earth Hour Makes History
Green Marketing and Recession
Digital Marketing Will Thrive in a Downturn
Interactive Digital Marketing
Print Newspapers and the Growth of Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing: Making the Most of Your Marketing in a Downturn
The Growth of Digital Marketing
The Greening of Cyberspace
Twitter for Small Business
Shortening Your Sales Cycle With Social Media
Small Business Guide to Social Media
The Power of Social Media and the Importance of Market Segmentation
Social Media and Sustainability
Digital Marketing for the Young and Not so Young

Silencing Earth Day Critics

Earth Day is an important day for business, collectively companies are spending tens of millions on Green marketing. But others have expressed their concerns that Earth Day constitutes little more than another over-commercialized marketing event. As Natalie Zmuda writes in an AdAge.com article, "It's Earth Day: Time to consume more to save the planet."

Others are even more cynical, "My concern is that some companies just view [Earth Day] as a marketing event, like Thanksgiving or Christmas," said Larry Light, chairman-CEO of Arcature, a management consulting firm. "Then they've fulfilled their obligation for the rest of the year. The whole issue of sustainability means that a commitment also has to be sustainable. If it's only for one day, then it's a marketing event."

Some are resolute in their dismissal of Earth Day. "Earth Day's usefulness has passed," said Alex Steffen, executive editor of World Changing, a sustainability blog. "The idea that we're going to direct our attention to the planet for a day or a week ... is not a sufficient response anymore. An awful lot of people view Earth Day as the time to express the idea that they are sympathetic to change. We need to move from being sympathetic to change to actually changing things."

For years Grist has derided Earth Day, two years ago David Roberts was complaining about it, noting that it wasn't enough, saying “The time for "small steps" is long past. It's time for people to wake the hell up.” This year Grist unveiled an appropriately titled Screw Earth Day campaign. The purists behind Screw the Earth think that we do not do enough to get the message across. They feel we need to do more to protect the environment. As they expain, “It’s not about a single day, dude, it’s about living green every day.”

Grist's David Roberts points out, "Green is all the hype everywhere. So you might think that the public would be engaged in this push....polls find public interest as low as ever, and opinion about climate and energy policy is as inchoate and incoherent as ever. There are no rallies. There are no emails and letters and phone calls streaming into Congressional offices. There is no real social movement behind energy/climate action. There’s nothing to push a recalcitrant member of Congress in the right direction."

Although Mr Roberts may be correct about the hype surrounding Earth Day, he is wrong on just about every other count. Earlier this year, one Billion people around the world turned out their lights to vote for climate change action during Earth Hour and today another billion are expected to get involved with Earth Day events. The social momentum of environmental interest is obvious and irrefutable. This is an important period of transition, and although the mediums by which this interest will express itself are not yet fully formed, the mechanisms of change are coalescing.

Contrary to Mr Robert's assertions, public interest in the environment is not low, studies are finding that despite the recession the interest in Green continues. Earlier this month Joel Makower pointed this out as the one constant from the polling data on consumer environmental attitudes, "Vast majorities of consumers say they have adopted greener habits in their daily lives, and shop for at least some products with a keen eye on their environmental provenance and energy and climate impacts. In other words: the marketplace is getting greener -- way greener."

At least one criticism is well founded. As more companies and marketers jump on the Earth Day bandwagon it is evident that some are guilty of masking environmentally destructive practices under the guise of environmental sensitivity. This practice, commonly referred to as greenwashing, dilutes the integrity of Green branding efforts. And this prompts concerns that consumers will stop paying attention to Green altogether.

Earth Day is not only an opportunity to move product, such events also exert pressure on companies to improve their environmental record. All companies who promote sales in conjunction with Earth Day open themselves to scrutiny. Unsubstantiated Green claims or associations will be exposed and this could prove detrimental to a company's reputation. Although some companies are guilty of greenwashing they will be punished by consumers and legislators.

The business community is an important contributor to the environmental crises we are confronting and they are an equally important part of the solution. Forward looking companies understand that greenwashing is simply counterproductive, these companies know that the best and most enduring way to position themselves is through earnest environmental initiatives that have integrity. That is why many companies are already looking well beyond events like Earth Day and emboldening their commitment to sustainable business practices.

For business, Earth Day is a marketing opportunity, and as such an opportunity to grow profits and increase market share, but businesses are also using Earth Day to fund environmental projects and raise awareness about the environment. If the world is to change, people's attitudes must change and public events like Earth Day are an important part of the transition to a Greener world. Earth Day engages people and helps to transform the wider culture.

Although it is easy to respect the dedication of many Green activists, it is sometimes difficult to understand the approach of certain eco-purists. The anger they vent as they rail against popular movements like Earth-day seems at times incomprehensible. It is easy to appreciate the purists' roles as watchdogs and stalwart activists, even their impatience has its place, but at times their comments detract from the urgency of the Green message.

As a force within the broader efforts eco-purists serve a valuable purpose, but when they hijack the mainstream discussion, they foster anger, apathy and cynicism. Environmental extremists may attract a core of misanthropes, but they alienate the general public and send businesses looking for loopholes instead of contributing to the discussion. Thankfully many corporate leaders are participating in finding solutions, and many more appear ready to follow.

Are eco-purists trying to help the planet or as it sometimes appears, do they prefer distancing people with unproductive vitriol? Some purists go so far as to call for a revolution that does away with capitalism and the whole free market system. However, it is clear to almost everyone that these nihilistic reveries do not serve people or the planet.

More reasonable approaches envision ways of bringing about change without bloodying our streets. It seems obvious that the most expedient change will occur by working within our system. For example, proposed climate change legislation in the US would put a price on carbon emissions and unleash the power of free markets expediting an efficient transition to a carbon restricted world. Perhaps the most reasonable approach involves sending a loud message to our elected representatives.

As purists rue the popularity of Earth Day, Green businesses are taking advantage of the opportunity to highlight their Green initiatives and eco-entrepreneurs are hopeful that events like Earth Day will expedite the task of bringing their innovations to market. Earth Day is effectively turning the wheels of our free market economy.

Sadly some green-purists appear confused, they fail to understand that sustainable consumerism is not the enemy it is the goal. Their cynical rants further serve to illustrate that their approach does not engage the public nor influence politicians.

Admittedly, Earth Day is a highly commercialized event, but those who criticize should remember that commerce is the language of action. If we are to see a Greener world, businesses must not only be amongst those who contribute solutions, they must lead.

For businesses and consumers, Earth Day is about more than a point on a calendar. The Earth Day event has amplified a message that will reverberate throughout the year.

Earth Day Business Resources

What can businesses do for Earth Day? From easy no cost money saving strategies to intensive overhauls of your workplace and supply chains, here is a comprehensive list of resources to help your business make the transition to a Greener world.


Administrative Operations

Reduce and reuse wherever possible. Eliminate unnecessary photocopying and encourage e-mailing. Use spell check and proofread before you print or copy. Print double sided whenever possible. Use digital storage solutions to cut down on paper. Set up an area to store and exchange reusable office supplies.

Recycling

Recycle everything you no longer need, from paper to packaging for shipping and e-cycling electronics. Find a recycling center near you. Make sure you properly dispose of items you can't reuse or recycle.

Alternative Transportation

Start a carpool, walk, bike, or use mass transportation instead of driving. Provide reserved parking for carpoolers. Offer transit passes to employees who take the bus or subway and bike racks for cyclists. Let workers telecommute. Teleconference instead of travel.

Energy Management

Unplug technology when it's not in use. Up to 75 percent of the electricity used to power office equipment is consumed while the product is turned off but still plugged in. Turn off your computer monitor, printers, copy machines, and the lights when they are not being used. If possible, take the stairs instead of using the elevator. See the consumer's guide to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Use Energy Star's energy-efficient office products. Explore energy efficiency tips and products. See programs, tools and resources.

Green Power Partnership: Use the tools and other resources. Review information on the organizational procurement of Green power, see advice and technical support. Explore how Green power can improve your organization’s environmental performance.

General Technical Overview of Power Management: Review methods of maximizing IT power savings, see savings estimates, activation instructions, and software tools.

Eco-Buying

Buy recycled content, remanufactured, and recyclable office products. At a minimum, buy recycled paper and recycle it again. Buy compact fluorescent bulbs to replace incandescent bulbs. Make the environment, and not just price, a factor when purchasing. Tell suppliers that you're interested in sustainable products, and set specific goals for buying recycled, refurbished or used. Talk to suppliers about alternatives to toxins used in batteries and copier toner.

Water Management

Water-efficiency: Reduce operating costs by employing water-efficient practices. Convey an image of stewardship to employees, customers, and the general public by helping to conserve water resources for future generations.

Green Building

Apply green building principles to your office buildings: See how sustainable design (green building) principles apply to your place of business. Use tools and read information on worker productivity, risk and cost reduction and see what it means to build with greater responsibility towards future generations.

Go Green with GSA. Review the U.S. Government Services environmental initiatives designed to help federal agencies Go Green.

Green Resources for Business

The Global Environmental Management Initiative: (GEMI) Use the tools and review information geared towards helping businesses achieve environmental excellence.

Center for Waste Minimization: Conduct sustainable opportunities assessments to help your facilities reduce their waste and/or recycle by-products and pollution prevention.

Green Pages: Find screened and approved Green businesses.

Products and Services: Find environmentally preferable products and services, including environmental attributes to look for, procurement guidance, tools, case studies, and other resources.

Fedcenter.gov: Explore links to, and highlights from programs which enable agencies to meet these goals include: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG), ENERGY STAR®, the Green Procurement Program (GPP), and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Regulations, Guidance, and Policy / Supporting Information and Tools / Lessons Learned / Training, Presentations, and Briefings / Conferences and Events.

EPA Publications: What you can do at the office / What you can do in small business / What you can do in industry / What you can do in retail / What you can do when planning and conducting meetings and events.

Sustainable Business

World Business Council for Sustainable Development: Review a wide range of information on sustainable development.

Business and Climate Change Solutions: See what the science of climate change means in terms of the risks and opportunities for business.

Eco-Capitalism: Review tips from a successful eco-capitalist.

Businesses have many choices as to how they will celebrate Earth Day and increasingly discerning consumers are rewarding sincere efforts from companies who are investing in a sustainable world.

Although measures like switching to compact fluorescent bulbs can deliver up to 75 percent energy savings and last more than 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, clearly this is not enough. Sustainability includes simple efforts repeated millions of times, but if we are to achieve the kind of change required we will need to do more than change light bulbs.

It is important that businesses lead the general population by doing as much as they can. By carefully reviewing operations and processes, businesses can find innovative and creative ways to recycle, reduce and reuse. We must take bold steps towards sustainability, not merely on Earth Day but everyday.

Next: Silencing Earth Day Critics

The Business of Earth Day

Earth Day is a great example of grassroots environmentalism turning the wheels of the free market. Businesses are joining people around the world who are coming together for workshops, rallies, cleanups, tree plantings and other events focused on the environment.

In 1962, Senator Gaylord Nelson decided he wanted to raise the profile of the environment in American politics. Six years later, amidst the war protests of 1969, Senator Nelson came up with the idea of holding a national protest in defense of the environment. The first Earth Day event was held on April 22, 1970 and was a massive success with over 20 million people taking part across the US. That day marked the beginning of the green movement in America. Twenty years later, on Earth Day 1990, 200 million people in 141 countries took part. In 2007, an estimated 1 billion people celebrated Earth Day around the world.

As reported in a recent Planetgreen.disovery.com article, "solving our environmental problems is going to require both top-down and bottom-up solutions. Now more than ever, we've all got to roll up our sleeves and get to work, in whatever way each of us can, because we're all in this together, and it's going to take everyone of us—from housewives to politicians to CEOs—getting with the program."

With the participation of approximately one billion people for the recent Earth Hour event and amidst climate change hearings in Washington, Earth Day 2009 promises to be bigger than ever.

Businesses are responding in varying degrees. Consumers can shop at Banana Republic, where 1% of sales from April 22 through April 27 benefit the Trust for Public Land. Some companies have launched comprehensive lineups of Earth Day activities and promotions. The Disney Store North America's approach is designed to educate families about their impacts, encourage recycling and replant an endangered rainforest through The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees Campaign. These initiatives build on The Walt Disney Company’s recently announced long-term environmental goals to reduce emissions, waste, electricity and fuel use, as well as the company’s impact on water and ecosystems.

Several broadcasting networks, including Fox Broadcasting, NBC and Nickelodeon, have announced green-themed TV program scheduling in honor of Earth Day. Verizon Business employees in Dallas, Boston and Tulsa are volunteering in local projects in support of Earth Day. Newsweek subscribers were able to fashion the cover of the April 14 issue into an envelope to send plastic bags to Target in return for a reusable tote bag. And Clorox's Brita brand's integration with NBC's "The Biggest Loser" has resulted in the elimination of plastic water bottles from the show's campus.

This month, Wal-Mart is running seven national 30-second spots, bearing the tagline "Budget-friendly prices. Earth-friendly products," Wal-Mart Ads also tout recycled materials. Macy’s Turn Over a New Leaf campaign is designed to support, educate and inspire eco-friendly practices in everyday life, and will include special promotions and merchandise. Last year’s event raised more than $2.9 million for the National Park Foundation. Toys 'R' Us' launch the "enviro-friendly playthings,"

With a host of Earth-day activities, benefits and workshops Anthropologie is drawing attention to the simple steps we can all take to help our planet, placing special importance on the survival of the honey bees and sustainable agriculture. Office Depot customers can take advantage of free electronics recycling with the purchase of any Zip Express service. Cartridge World has launched a “Recycle it @ Cartridge World” campaign that encourages consumers to recycle printer cartridges and cell phones at participating stores.

EarthGrains bread will make a $100,000 contribution to a leading international conservation group, The Nature Conservancy, to support the protection of the world’s lands and waters. Full Circle Architects hosts a free "Building Green Can Save Green" event. Reynolds Consumer Products is offering a free roll of its new recycled aluminum wrap.

For the second year in a row, New York’s airline JetBlue Airways invited hundreds of New Yorkers to do “One Thing That’s Green” by participating in a community tree planting day to support the MillionTreesNYC movement. Last week employees at Anheuser-Busch used public transportation, car pooled, biked or walked to work; recycled, planted trees and participated in community clean-up and restoration events. Many of the company's 12 U.S. breweries have combined "Green Week" activities with the company's annual "Bring Our Kids to Work Day" event to educate employees and their children about actions they can take to benefit the environment.

Outside of Philadelphia, Kenilworth business partners will be cleaning up a local wooded area and stream. And Fairmont Hotels have introduced the "Lexus Hybrid Living Suites." From local efforts to high end initiatives, businesses are aggressively capitalizing on Earth Day, even Barbie now has a green-accessories collection just in time for Earth Day.

More companies are using the day to highlight Green products, roll out eco-friendly initiatives and disseminate Green information. Earth Day has moved well beyond the largely student-led groups of the early days and is now a day for business.

Next: Part 2, Earth Day Business Resources / Part 3, Silencing Earth Day Critics