The latest in the growing number of efforts directed at reducing, repurposing and ultimately eliminating waste in all its forms.
Sears Holdings Corporation (SHC), which operates over 2,600 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada under the Sears and Kmart brand formats, is taking significant steps to reduce its waste stream in specific areas of its enterprise. The company’s commitment is reflected in its participation in the EPA’s WasteWise program, which started in 2010.
This post first appeared on 2degrees on January 21, 2013.The John Lewis Partnership has committed to developing a 'closed loop' waste plastics strategy in what is claimed to be a first for a UK retailer.
In December 2012, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission, which is the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) policy and rulemaking board, voted unanimously to adopt Materials Management in Oregon: 2050 Vision and Framework for Action.
Higher education can play a leadership role in advancing environmental sustainability. Through its research, teaching, and operational practices, The University of Pennsylvania is dedicated to promoting a sustainable culture. This is not surprising given the current trend in higher education to adopt climate action plans and examine campus footprints.
When Herman Miller engineers began using Cradle to Cradle thinking as part of their Design for Environment (DfE) process in 2001, the world of green design was less complicated than today.
As both a natural resources and packaged goods company, Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) is always looking for ways to reduce our footprint while producing superior products that meet consumer demand. When it comes to our packaging, we are constantly seeking methods to increase our use of recycled PET (rPET) in our bottles.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is gaining notoriety as a smart production and marketing strategy, as product take-back programs emerge as a major consumer trend.
The overarching principle for this month’s Issue in Focus is the insight that in nature there is no waste.For centuries, human industry has ignored this simple lesson. But today, a convergence of environmental and resource concerns is driving the recovery of all sorts of valuable materials.
At Goodwill, we were excited to be invited to co-edit this issue dedicated to highlighting innovative solutions for eliminating and reutilizing waste streams in operations. As individuals continue to consume products and companies continue to expand, finding waste stream solutions that keep these products from stacking up in landfills has become an urgent priority.The companies we’re highlighting this month demonstrate the opportunities organizations have taken at every step of the product life cycle to limit the negative impact they have on the environment. From innovations in how products are packaged to post-use recovery efforts to partnerships that maximize both environmental and financial impact, these agencies are truly leading the way in achieving net positivity.
Hewlett Packard has agreed to continue development of a database used by nearly three dozen car manufacturers to eliminate harmful substances from their automotive supply chains.
Simple actions by consumers and food retailers can dramatically cut the 1.3 billion tons of food lost or wasted each year, according to a new campaign launched last week by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and partners.
Restaurants produce 21 tons of food waste a year, nearly fives times as much per meal as the average UK household, according to the Sustainable Restaurants Association (SRA).
As a seasoned green marketing professional (she literally wrote the books on it), Jacquie Ottman has made a name for herself working with companies to develop and market sustainable products sustainably.
Calling all innovators and implementers! Beginning in February 2013, Sustainable Brands will be publishing a new “Issues in Focus” editorial package, including daily features, interviews and case studies on how businesses are “Striving for Net Positivity.”The Issue in FocusIn nature, we do not critique abundance; rather, we celebrate it. Every by-product of every organism is used for the next process of life. Nothing is wasted — “waste” equals food.
A group of companies calling itself The Paperless Coalition is promoting a collection of online tools that can reduce the need for paper documents in the workplace.
Global carpet tile manufacturer Interface, Inc. will soon begin using discarded fishing nets to make carpets, bringing both conservation and socioeconomic benefits to some of the world's poorest coastal communities.The company recently completed a pilot project, called Net-Works, with conservation charity the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). By establishing a community-based supply chain for discarded nets, Net-Works aims to improve the livelihood of local fishers, while providing Interface with an innovative source of recycled materials for its carpet tiles.
This post first appeared on edie.net on December 17, 2012.
TerraCycle, the New Jersey-based company that specializes in upcycling waste packaging into durable consumer products, will soon launch a program for disposable diapers, according to Waste & Recycling News.Ernie Simpson, global vice president of research and development for Terracycle, says the company is 90 percent finished with the development of a continuous process for collecting, sterilizing and processing used diapers. Certain parts of the diaper will be compostable, and the remaining materials will be upcycled into plastic lumber, pallets and outdoor furniture.