Written by Sonia Bhatti
What is Corporate Sustainability?
Corporate sustainability goes far beyond buzzwords and drives progress to reduce your organization’s influence on the planet. Some organizations concentrate on environmental sustainability programmes, while others have sustainability targets for health, poverty, education, and equitable access to capital.
The continuing loss of natural resources has led businesses with high energy needs to become more mindful of the environment than ever before. Green initiatives save on costs, reuse capital, comply with regulatory criteria, and help build consumer brand awareness.
Irrespective of the company's priorities, here are four companies with extraordinary environmental initiatives:
1. NIKE
https://blogs.ubc.ca/sustainablemarketing/2015/04/10/nike-sustainable-innovations/
In addition to bringing great ideas into motion, Nike is keen to highlight the importance of green initiatives through its ads. Using environmentally friendly fabrics, like recycled polyester makes it possible to create sustainable products. In their production process, the company also uses renewable energy sources. In addition, 650 of its suppliers in 52 countries have been pressed by Nike to develop and introduce written environment policies.
2. Starbucks
Their business adopts environmental protection concepts throughout the board. Starbucks buys certified organic coffee from Fair Trade and is currently working on acquiring LED certificates for their new outlet locations. Moreover, Starbucks is reducing their operational costs and mitigating its environmental effects of business activities by building 'green' sites.
https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2018/starbucks-announces-global-greener-stores-commitment/
Furthermore, the company has a green building plan that involves adjusting temperatures from the normal of 72o F to 75o F for its air-conditioned stores and buying cabinetry that uses 90% post-industrial materials while integrating low-flow water valves.
3. Johnson and Johnson
For more than 20 years now, this business has led to developing environmentally friendly personal care goods. There are also efforts to minimize waste during processing and delivery through sustainable materials and packaging methods, wherever possible. The business also maintains an electric vehicle fleet that it also runs.
4. Disney
https://cleanenergy.org/blog/a-solar-powered-mouse-bold-strides-in-sustainability-from-disney/
The Walt Disney Company lowered its net greenhouse gas emissions by 41 percent in 2017. It diverted almost 50 percent of waste from landfills and incineration, making meaningful progress on its long-term target of achieving zero net greenhouse gas and waste emissions while protecting water supplies.
Moreover, they are working to reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy usage. There is also a zero-waste strategy for Disney, ensuring nothing can end up in landfills. The entertainment giant also uses water-saving technologies and is working to lower the footprint of its manufacture and delivery of goods.
This is related to the organization's strategy to have a net positive effect on the environment that has made Disney a model in environmental responsibility.
References
Bleich, C. (2020, April 29). Twelve examples of Corporate sustainability initiatives to inspire your goals. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://www.edgepointlearning.com/blog/examples-of-corporate-sustainability-initiatives/
Lee, S., & Lee, S. (2015, April 10). NIKE Sustainable Innovations. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://blogs.ubc.ca/sustainablemarketing/2015/04/10/nike-sustainable-innovations/
Rennicks, J. (2018, November 27). A solar POWERED MOUSE: BOLD strides in sustainability from Disney - Sace: Southern Alliance for clean energy. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from
https://cleanenergy.org/blog/a-solar-powered-mouse-bold-strides-in-sustainability-from-disney/
Scruggs, G. (2018, September 13). Starbucks announces plans to 'go Greener' at 10,000 of its stores worldwide by 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2021, from
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/starbucks-announces-plans-go-greener-10000-stores-worldwide-2025/