Mike Hower
Founder & Principal Consultant, Hower Impact
Global Sustainable Tourism Council Initiative Promotes Careers in Sustainable Tourism
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has announced a partnership with the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP) to launch an industry philanthropic initiative aimed at promoting sustainable tourism development and educating secondar... View More
Coca-Cola, Britvic Sign on to Soft Drink Sustainability Roadmap
Coca-Cola and Britvic, along with half of the United Kingdom’s foremost soft drink producers and suppliers, have joined the Soft Drinks Sustainability Roadmap, a supply chain study designed to reduce the environmental footprint of soft drink produc... View More
GM, Honda to Collaborate on Next-Gen Fuel Cell Technologies
General Motors and Honda have announced a partnership to share expertise, economies of scale and common sourcing strategies to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies by 2020.The automotive companies plan to work... View More
KPMG Says Investing in Working Conditions in China Good For Business
Manufacturers that invest in working conditions can improve their profit margins and increase their competitive advantage, according to recent research by KPMG.Business Case Analysis for Responsible Electronics Manufacturing was commissioned as part ... View More
LG Says Energy Star Products Save Consumers $150 Million in Utility Costs
Sales for LG products that attained EPA’s “Energy Star Most Efficient” designation jumped 75 percent in 2012, saving consumers more than $150 million in utility costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 930 million pounds over the li... View More
GE Generates $25 Billion in Revenues from Sustainability Investments
Last year, General Electric invested nearly $2 billion in research and development for sustainability innovation and generated some $25 billion in revenue, according to the company’s 2012 “Our Global Impact” update.The report includes an update... View More
Recyclebank Reduces Carbon Footprint By 27%, Funds NativeEnergy Clean Water Initiative
Recyclebank, a company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals, has announced a 27 percent reduction in its corporate carbon emissions, down from 830 metric tons in 2011 to 602 metric tons in 2012.Since 2009, Re... View More
IKEA Developing Durable Alternative Shelter for Refugee Camps
Swedish furniture behemoth IKEA, in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency and Refugee Housing Unit, is developing a solar-powered, insulated, hard-sided shelter the company claims is a superior alternative to tent-based refugee shelters ... View More
Ceres Blueprint Outlines Action Steps for Sustainable Investing
Institutional investors and their investment managers must integrate the financial risks from climate change, resource scarcity, supply chain failures and tighter water supplies into their investment practices if they are to be successful in the 21st... View More
Mars Named Best Private Company in 2013 Responsible Business Awards
Mars, Incorporated has been named “Best Private Company” by the 2013 Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards. Ethical Corporation is a UK-based global business publication focused on global ethical business and exploring how large compani... View More
More than 300,000 Business Leaders Voice Support for Obama's Climate Plans
The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), which represents more than 165,000 businesses nationwide and more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers and investors, has thrown its support behind President Obama’s recent announcement ... View More
WindMade Introduces Product Label and Calls on Consumers to 'Show You Care'
The WindMade organization has launched the first global consumer label for products made with wind energy, according to a recent announcement.The WindMade Product Label can be applied to all products using a minimum share of 75 percent of renewable e... View More
Target Releases Line Featuring 250 Organic Foods, Commits to 25% More Organics by 2017
Target has introduced a new healthy food collection designed to take make it easier for customers to identify and purchase products free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives as part of its efforts to increase organic food offerings by 25 p... View More
Tesla Launches Electric Vehicle Battery Swap System
Tesla Motors has introduced a system that allows battery packs in electric vehicles to be swapped in roughly 90 seconds.At an event last week, the electric car company’s CEO Elon Musk said that the system provides an alternative to charging EVs, he... View More
Nickelodeon Refuses to Ban Junk-Food Ads
Children's entertainment network Nickelodeon says it will not give in to public pressure to ban advertisements for junk food despite childhood obesity concerns.The Viacom-owned network has no plans to follow in Walt Disney Co.’s footsteps, which la... View More
Chipotle Pledges to Serve More Than 15 Million Pounds of Locally Grown Produce in 2013
Chipotle Mexican Grill says it plans to serve more than 15 million pounds of locally grown produce in its restaurants this year, up from its 2012 goal of 10 million pounds.As one of the few national restaurant companies with a significant commitment ... View More
AT&T Creates Jobs, Social Benefits, Notable Energy Savings Through Recent Sustainability Efforts
AT&T has saved over $151 million in annualized energy savings since 2010 after implementing more than 14,300 energy-reducing projects, according to the company’s 2012 Sustainability Report.These projects have saved nearly 1.3 billion kilowatt h... View More
GreenBlue Value Innovation Methodology Helps Firms Make Business Case for Sustainability
Sustainability non-profit GreenBlue’s Advisory Services Group has begun employing a strategic process to help companies walk through a ten-step course of action that strategically links sustainability with innovation.The sustainability-focused adap... View More
Hyatt Launches Program to Support Global Literacy and Career Readiness
Hyatt Hotels Corporation recently announced a long-term commitment to help improve education and workforce readiness through a new global philanthropy program focused on literacy and career development.With a focus on literacy and career readiness, R... View More
Sainsbury’s Hits Zero Landfill Waste Target Seven Years Early
Sainsbury’s says it has succeeded in diverting all store waste from landfills, reaching its zero-waste goal in just three years — seven years ahead of schedule.As part of its 20x20 Sustainability Plan, the UK supermarket chain said it would put a... View More
