Zero Waste among Corporate Green Goals

A survey conducted in the formation of a State of Green Business Report has found that companies are making sustainable packaging and zero waste goals high priorities.

In a news release announcing its fourth annual State of Green Business Report, GreenBiz, Oakland, Calif., says American corporations are identifying sustainable packaging and landfill avoidance as environmental priorities.

GreenBiz, www.greenbiz.com, says the free downloadable report “measures the progress of U.S. businesses and the economy from an environmental perspective, and highlights key trends in corporate culture in regard to the environment.”

Adds GreenBiz, “Companies are thinking bigger and longer-term about sustainability; many companies invested more in their sustainability activities and made bold new sustainability commitments.”

Examples cited by GreenBiz include:

• Proctor & Gamble made a commitment to power all of its factories with renewable energy within the next 10 years;
• Hasbro promised that 75 percent of its paperboard packaging will come from recycled materials in 2011;
• FedEx committed to improve vehicle fuel efficiency by 20 percent by 2020; and
• Wal-mart pledged to sell $1 billion of fresh produce sourced from 1,000 small- and medium-sized farmers.

Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz.com and principal author of the report identifies 10 major trends in the 2011 State of Green Business Report, including:

1. Consumer Giants Awaken to Green — big push by consumer package good companies to make bold sustainability commitments

2. Companies Aim for ‘Zero’ — growth of zero-waste goals and achievements by big companies

3. The Developing World Yanks the Supply-Chain — key issues like “conflict minerals” and sustainable palm oil rattling supply chains

8. Companies Learn to Close the Loop — the growth of new products made from recycled materials

10. Bioplastics Become Material — a steady flow of new materials emerges, made of corn to coconut to cashews

Those wishing to download a free copy of State of Green Business 2011 Report can do so at www.greenbiz.com.