2Sustain

A new report from Siemens and McGraw-Hill Construction shows that corporations across the U.S. are continuing to accelerate sustainability efforts and increase efficiencies as part of their overall business plans.

In fact, the percentage of firms at the highest levels of engagement has doubled over the past three years –rising from 18 percent to 37 percent.

The new report, titled “2009 Greening of Corporate America; The pathway to sustainability—from strategy to action,” offers comparative statistics, trend analysis, and thought-leader interviews with corporate sustainability officers at Microsoft, AT&T, and Owens Corning. Plus, it confirms what I have been seeing for quite some time now: leaders of our country’s largest and most influential organizations are firmly committed to sustainability as a strategic imperative.

In particular, the report found that: (more…)

More than two-thirds (70 percent) of corporate real estate executives recognize sustainability as a critical business issue, according to new survey results released by CoreNet Global and Jones Lang LaSalle.

What’s more, a full 89 percent of those polled consider sustainability criteria in making leasing decisions, with 46 percent always considering energy labels (such as Energy Star or HPE), and 41 percent always considering green building certifications (such as LEED, BREEAM, IEMA, NABERS Energy, Green Star, GreenMark or CASBEE).

This third annual global study, which surveyed 231 corporate real estate executives in September and October 2009, also found that: (more…)

California-based Conexant Systems, Inc. has won a 2009 Green Supply Chain Award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE) magazine.

Conexant, a leading supplier of innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded-modem, and video applications, was recognized for achievement in implementing a sustainable supply chain that includes a Social and Environmental Management System (SEMS). The company uses its SEMS to develop and manage programs that prevent pollution, minimize the company’s overall environmental impact, reduce health and safety risks, and promote integrity and fair labor practice –all while continually improving business practices and performance, as well.

Conexant’s recent sustainable supply chain accomplishments include: (more…)

This week, Walmart announced that it plans to install energy-efficient LED light bulbs inside 650 new and renovated stores.

Walmart will use Cree, Inc. for the lighting retrofit. Specifically, the Cree LRP-38, a PAR38 style LED lamp, was selected for its energy-efficiency,
long lifetime, controlled beam and high color-rendition. (more…)

Yesterday, Xerox released its 2009 Report on Global Citizenship, a 20-page document that outlines the company’s activities and progress in the key areas of corporate social responsibility: environmental sustainability, governance and ethics, customer privacy and satisfaction, employee diversity and development, and corporate giving and volunteerism.

In particular, Xerox has made some impressive environmental sustainability progress: (more…)