The Green Facts on Facebook's 10th Birthday

It has been a decade since the social media phenomenon known as Facebook first opened its doors. In that time Facebook has succumbed to public pressure from Greenpeace’s Unfriend Coal campaign and has been moving quickly in a more environmentally sustainable direction.

In addition to greener facilities Facebook hosts a vast assortment of Groups and Facebook pages related to green business, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofit activism.

Cyber Monday 2013: The Ongoing Growth of a More Eco-friendly Way to Shop

The term for online shopping on the Monday following Thanksgiving is known as Cyber Monday. Each year a growing number of people are going online to do their holiday shopping. Since the term was coined by the National Retail Foundation's Shop.org in 2005, Cyber Monday spending has more than tripled. By avoiding a trip to the mall, shoppers cut down on their environmental impacts including emissions associated with car travel.

According to a report by GigaOm, Black Friday is 50 times more carbon intensive than Cyber Monday shopping. While the report is imperfect, it shows how driving cars to the mall en masse is not an eco-friendly way to shop.

One suggestions to reduce the footprint (and cost) of online shopping is to avoid overnight shipping (air freight). According to The Daily Green ground transportation is better than rush delivery. Ground shipping is six times more energy efficient than air. Not only do airplanes release more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than terrestrial vehicles, they release these GHGs higher in the atmosphere, which has a greater adverse impact on global warming than gases emitted at ground level. Data from the Center for Energy Climate Solutions shows that even when using overnight shipping, the carbon impact of buying online is a fraction of driving to a mall or store.

World Water Week Raises Awareness through Gamification

A new game designed to promote sustainable water resources management has been released for World Water Week. The game is called Aqua Republica and was created through a partnership between UNEP and DHI along with the collaboration of a number of others.

The game not only raises water awareness it is designed to help build capacity in some of the most critical issues in water resources management.

In this game participants make decisions about water management and in the process they learn about the connectivity and importance of water resources, as well as the need for careful management.

While the world of Aqua Republica is fictitious, the challenges of sustainably managing a limited supply of water resources in a situation of growing demand between multiple users and uses are very much based on real life scenarios.

Event - International Green IT Awareness Week

A Green technology brainstorm is headed for the IT world as International Green IT Awareness Week running from the 1 - 7 June 2013 aims to shine a spotlight on Green IT and pave the way for organisations and individuals to initiate, promote and support Green IT discussions and action.

Powerful New Tool Analyzes Website Sustainability

Mightybytes is a Chicago-based company that is working to help green the digital space. They are pioneers in the often overlooked area of digital sustainability. They have launched a free innovative web-based app called EcoGrader that helps companies to assess and improve the carbon footprints of their websites.

As a certified B Corporation and a three-star certified Eco-Andersonville green business, Mightybytes has sustainability woven into their DNA. They embrace an imperative for sustainability and apply that passion to their work, their office environment, and their personal lives. They are committed to making a social impact with their work and they are equally passionate about environmental stewardship.

Mightybytes helps organizations to solve communication, design, and technical problems, build online brands, create software-based business solutions, nurture and support customer communities, reach new targeted audiences and develop digital products that meet specific marketing goals.

Event - Environmental Management Information Systems in the Cloud Conference

Environmental Management Information Systems in the Cloud Conference (EMIScloud) will take place on May 30-31, 2013 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco

EMIScloud 2013 is the premier conference on organizing environmental, sustainability, health/safety, energy, air, and water information in the Cloud, hosted by Locus Technologies.

At this peer-led, two-day event, you will learn about recent developments in the environmental management space, and light will be shed on the best practices and Cloud-based options that exist today to more effectively manage your mission-critical environmental information.

Top 25 Sustainable Brands on Twitter

Here is Triple Pundit's list of 25 for-profit businesses who are using Twitter to support their advocacy of people, planet and profits.

1. @SCJgreenchoices: Daily tweets from SC Johnson’s Global Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability team on environmental topics, tips & green choices.
2. @Unilever: Sharing new content and engaging topics like marketing, business strategy, results, and sustainable living.
3. @SustainableSAP: Tweeting general sustainability and CSR info, and news about SAP’s sustainability solutions/efforts.
4. @CiscoCSR: Sharing resources for nonprofits & NGOs as well as global corporate social responsibility news & updates from Cisco.
5. @WalMartGreen: WalMart believes that together, we will create a more sustainable world to help people live better. 6.

Sustainable Learning Online: UNESCO's Young Masters Programme

In 2011 UNESCO inaugurated a global online education programme for 16–18 year-old students to learn about sustainability issues and solutions. The Young Masters Programme (YMP) is a free global web-based education and learning network about sustainable development. The programme is open for secondary students and their teachers from all over the world.

Extensive on-line teaching material gives the students a thorough understanding of sustainability issues and preventive environmental strategies. The students can also put their knowledge into practical use by starting sustainability projects in their local community.

Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner John Deans Talks Campaign Strategy

In an interview with Brandchannel, Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner John Deans made it abundantly clear that there is a new highly effective approach that is taking businesses to task for their irresponsible practices. These Greenpeace campaigns are putting the extraordinary power of social media to work for the environment.

“We’re not your grandfather’s Greenpeace anymore," Deans told Brandchannel. "We’re part of a new, building movement with a new set of people who are social media denizens. Brands see it’s not going away and that Greenpeace is communicating directly with their customers."

Deans remarked about how quickly social media messages can be disseminated, “Social media tools have let Greenpeace latch on to the viral nature of online society – and find where people are in order to spark their interest.”

Greenpeace's Consumer Powered Pressure Campaigns

Greenpeace is waging very effective pressure campaigns that reach out directly to customers. Greenpeace encourages their supporters to take direct action and voice their concerns. Greenpeace has come a long way from their beginnings in the early 70s; in addition to protests and demonstrations, they are now using digital technologies to widely disseminate their message. Social media figures prominently in the Greenpeace strategy. These Greenpeace campaigns co-opt the brand message of the companies they are targeting.

Waitrose Bows to Greenpeace Pressure

In less than 2 weeks Greenpeace succeeded in getting UK supermarket Waitrose to rethink its partnership with Shell. The Greenpeace campaign targeted Waitros' stores in Shell gas stations because of the oil company’s plans to drill in the Arctic. This decision means Waitrose has shelved plans to expand on the number of  stores in Shell gas stations. Waitrose currently has two pilot stores and had planned on adding more in 2013. Yet again this underscores the power of consumer driven campaigns to influence the business practices of major brands.

Greenpeace's Consumer Powered Pressure Campaign Targets Levi's (Video)

Greenpeace activists in over 20 countries took to the streets, joined by over 175,000 people online, to demand Levi's make fashion without pollution. Despite hazardous chemicals being found in Levi's clothing items, and investigations revealing that Levi's suppliers in Mexico and elsewhere are releasing toxic chemicals into public waterways.

ZARA Mannequins Revolt! (Video)

As part of Greenpeace's global "Detox" campaign, more than 700 people, in over 80 cities, in 20 countries around the world protested, staged street theatre and conducted "mannequin" walk-outs to demand ZARA commit to eliminating the use of all hazardous chemicals throughout its supply chain. The participants, from Bangkok to Buenas Aires, also called on ZARA store managers to forward Greenpeace's Detox demands to their headquarters, after new research found traces of hazardous chemicals in ZARA clothing items, some of which can break down in the environment to become hormone-disrupting or even cancer-causing substances.

Why a Dozen Clothing Giants Have Bowed to Greenpeace

There are powerful financial incentives that drive corporations to agree to the demands of organizations like Greenpeace. The customers moral concerns can undermine sales and thus it is very directly impacts the bottom line. A dozen clothing brands have now accepted Greenpeace demands to detox and before this there were campaigns directed against KFC, Shell, Mattel and Lego. Through its “Toxic Threads: Under Wraps” report, Greenpeace spurred a global movement that is succeeding in detoxing some of the major players in the clothing industry.

At least twelve clothing companies have decided to heed Greenpeace demands and reduce their environmental impacts including Mango, Esprit, Nike, H&M, Adidas, Puma, M&S, C&A, Li-Ning, Zara and now Levi’s.

Levi's Bows to Greenpeace Pressure

After a mere 8 days of pressure from Greenpeace, Levi's has agreed to become more environmentally responsible. Greenpeace alleged that Levi’s suppliers are some of the worst water polluters in the Mexican textile industry. The denim behemoth has said it will stop polluting Mexico's rivers and the company further agreed to eliminate the release of all hazardous chemicals in its manufacturing process by 2020.

There have been a number of Greenpeace actions that have encouraged Levi's change of heart. Hundreds protested outside Levi’s shop fronts in 80 cities around the world and in one demonstration at Levi's headquarters in Mexico, Protesters covered the area in foam to symbolize the toxic effluents that Levi's released into the country's rivers.

Free Online Education

Distance learning is part of a growing trend that makes it easier for people to learn online, often in very flexible formats that accommodate busy schedules. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) is amongst a number of educational institutions that are offering free education online. Others include Academic Earth, Khan Academy and the Open University (OU). These schools provide a number of courses in a great many different disciplines including those that relate to the environment.

On-Line Sustainability Training Opportunities from the SLC

The Sustainability Learning Centre's (SLC) new e-learning Sustainability Education Series has over 50, 15 minute modules that focus on Green Core Competencies. The 50 modules range from Sustainability Planning to Green Fleet and Supply Chain Management.  Each module is 15 minutes, self-directed and complete with “tests for understanding”.  Participants can gain recognition toward sustainability learning certification.

14 Environmental Compliance Case Studies (E-book)

This e-book is composed of 14 environmental compliance case studies. It helps readers to understand what environmental compliance success means and why it is important. This complementary e-book was published in 2012 by enviance. It draws on their experience working with leading companies in the US and around the world. These companies have made environmental compliance their corporate priority not only achieving regulatory goals, but most importantly saving time, money and resources.

Take a closer look at these companies and their case studies. Find out how they achieved success, improved internal communication and gained confidence in their compliance reports. You'll learn more from companies like the following:

The University of Vermont's Advanced Certificates in Sustainability

The University of Vermont is now offering sustainability training that is designed to lead your organization to sustainability and profitability. The University of Vermont online sustainability certificate programs provide a flexible and convenient way for today’s organizations and busy professionals to learn the latest in sustainable operations models and maximize their current sustainability skills.

TerraCycle Facebook Game App: Upcycling & Recycling

An initiative from TerraCycle incorporates recycling into a game. In 2011 TerraCycle, the company which turns trash into eco-products, launched Trash Tycoon, a Facebook game that teaches players to upcycle. Instead of planting crops or building cities as in FarmVille or CityVille, in Trash Tycoon the player cleans houses and town buildings such as a library, a school and a town hall. Players also build factories, which upcycle and recycle the collected trash and include a worm farm, glass smelter, plastic extruder, injection molder, paper recycler and greenhouse.