theCSRfeed
Sharing Thoughts on the Value of Values at the World Affairs Council
This week, I spoke to a group of about 200 business leaders at the World Affairs Council in Philadelphia. The session was headlined as "Business in the 21st Century and the Challenges that Lie Ahead."
I mentioned that, as part of GSK's global management team, I'm fortunate to have a role in helping to manage some weighty issues, ranging from navigating the European debt crisis to making our medicines and vaccines available to those in the developing world.
Read more from Deirdre in her post.
About GlaxoSmithKline
One of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information go tous.gsk.com, follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS or visit our blog (www.morethanmedicine.us.gsk.com/blog/).
Campbell’s Ellen Kaden Honored by Executive Women of New Jersey
(3BL Media) May 18, 2012 - Ellen Oran Kaden, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer, Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB), was honored by the Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) at its Salute to the Policy Makers Awards Dinner. Currently in its 32nd year, EWNJ’s Salute to Policy Makers biennially recognizes female leaders for their impact on policy in New Jersey corporations, nonprofit organizations, academia and government.
Kaden oversees Campbell’s global Legal Department, Office of the Corporate Secretary, and the company’s Government Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Community Affairs functions. She also serves as principal advisor to the Board of Directors and the CEO on legal and corporate governance matters.
“Ellen’s strategic business acumen, high ethical standards and commitment to integrity make her a trusted partner and integral member of Campbell’s leadership team,” said Denise Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer, Campbell Soup Company. “She has made many significant contributions to Campbell and to her field throughout her career.”
Kaden was one of 35 New Jersey executives recognized as women of professional distinction by Governor Chris Christie, who served as Distinguished Honorary Dinner Chair, along with Honorary Dinner Chair Lucia DiNapoli Gibbons, Regional Vice President-Wells Fargo, and 2012 Salute Dinner Chair Keitha M. Lackey, Director-Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Kaden’s career has spanned more than 30 years and encompassed academia and private practice of law as well as the corporate sector. She was previously Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of CBS, Inc. She began her career as a member of the Faculty of Law at Columbia University, and later practiced at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Kaden was recognized in 2010 with Legal Momentum’s Aiming High Award, given to women whose personal leadership has broken new ground for women in business.
Kaden is a trustee emerita of Columbia University, where she served as a trustee for twelve years and as chair of the audit committee. She earned her B.A. degree from Cornell University and was a graduate fellow of the Danforth Foundation at the University of Chicago. She earned her J.D. degree from Columbia University School of Law.
Campbell has built a distinctive and innovative culture that is committed to accelerating the development of future women leaders and strengthening the network of organizations that foster diverse talent and generate positive business results.
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup and sauces, baked snacks and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including “Campbell’s,” “Pepperidge Farm,” “Arnott’s” and “V8.” Through its corporate social responsibility program, the company strives to make a positive impact in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the communities in which it operates. Campbell is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoup.com
About Executive Women of New Jersey
Executive Women of New Jersey is a forum for senior-level women whose mission is to promote the advancement of women to the highest levels of business, the professions, and government. Since EWNJ’s founding in 1980, the organization has championed the advancement of women to the most senior levels of international corporations, non profits, and public service firms and given out more than $1.1 million in scholarships to deserving New Jersey women pursuing advanced degrees. www.ewnj.org.
Tweet me: .@CampbellSoupCo's Ellen Kaden Honored by Executive #Women of New Jersey http://3bl.me/eybxd7 Contact Info:
Arianna Stefanoni
Campbell Soup Company
+1 (856) 968-5725
WWF Report Highlights Urgent Need to Shift Toward a Sustainable Way of Life
Over the past 60 years, people living in the developed world have gained access to unprecedented levels of material consumption, which unfortunately was achieved in an unsustainable way. This consumption boom has left in its wake a path of environmental damage and, ironically, has not made humans happier, as a parallel boom in psychological diseases was registered in the same period.
A new report by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) highlights this unsustainable situation and warns that ever-growing demand by a growing population is threatening our future. Called Living PlanetReport, the report is a biennial survey of the planet's health and the diagnosis, it says, is a very sick planet.
It was produced in collaboration with the zoological Society of London and Global Footprint Network. The report was launched from the International Space Station by ESA astronaut André Kuipers. "We only have one Earth. From up here I can see humanity's footprint, including forest fires, air pollution and erosion - challenges which are reflected in this edition of the Living Planet Report," said Kuipers in launching the report during his second mission into space. "While there are unsustainable pressures on the planet, we have the ability to save our home, not only for our benefit, but, above all, for generations to come," he said.
Click here to continue reading and comment
Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.
Ecolab Named a Maplecroft Climate Innovation Leader
(3BL Media) St. Paul, MN – May 18, 2012 – For the third consecutive year, Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) was named a leader in the Maplecroft Climate Innovation Index (CII), which identifies global companies that demonstrate superior management, mitigation and adaptation in climate innovation.
According to the organization, the Maplecroft CII is the single-most exhaustive study of the top 360 U.S.-based multinational companies and how they manage and adapt to climate change, with a special focus on innovation to develop new technologies or initiatives that capitalize on climate-related opportunities.
Ecolab received the Overall Leader’s Rank of 43. The 2012 (Cycle 3) evaluation by Maplecroft started with an initial set of more than 1300 companies with a free-float market capitalization of over US$1 Billion. The top 100 are considered “Climate Innovation Leaders.” Ecolab ranked 25th for Adaptation, by incorporating climate impacts into company strategy and operations.
“Climate change is one of the key business and economic issues of our time, and Ecolab’s ranking in the top 50 of Maplecroft’s CII demonstrates our commitment to have a positive impact on society through our customers, by helping them manage risks and leverage opportunities associated with climate change,” said Emilio Tenuta, vice president, Sustainability for Ecolab.
Maplecroft rated each company against more than 100 criteria, including technological innovation and new working practices to combat climate change impacts; management of climate-related issues; adaption to physical climate-related risks throughout the supply chain; and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
About Ecolab
With 2011 pro forma sales of $11 billion and more than 40,000 employees, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that provide and protect clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments. Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to the food, energy, healthcare, industrial and hospitality markets in more than 160 countries. For more news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.
Tweet me: Ecolab ranks 43rd on 2012 Maplecroft Climate Innovation Index, 3rd straight year on the index. http://3bl.me/4de5pc Contact Info:
Roman Blahoski
Ecolab Inc.
+1 (651) 293-4385
MediaRelations@Ecolab.com
Fair Trade USA and Partners Deliver Record Impact to Farmers in 2011
Fair Trade USA, a non-profit organization and the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, recently released its 2011 Almanac, an annual publication which provides detailed information on the supply and impact of Fair Trade Certified products. According to the Almanac, in 2011 farmers and farm workers earned almost $22 million in community development premiums, up over 50 percent from 2010. Farmers and workers have democratically elected to invest these premiums in projects which improve their communities, improve the health of their environment and improve the quality of their products.
Community Development Premiums Improve Lives
Fair Trade community development premiums enabled projects in areas like healthcare, education, environmental conservation, community infrastructure and quality and productivity for over 1 million farmers in 70 countries around the world.
FEDECARES, a coffee cooperative in the Dominican Republic, believes that the additional income from community development premiums has been critical to their survival and success. Their members have invested in projects ranging from community healthcare to road improvement and have created scholarship funds for community members to attend college. Cooperative member Juan Arias said that “if it wasn’t for Fair Trade, we would probably not exist; we would not be able to remain coffee growers, working the land we love.”
Similar impact can be seen on Fair Trade flower estates across the globe. On large farms where the workers do not own land, Fair Trade premiums are crucial to worker empowerment and community improvement. After democratically electing a Fair Trade committee, workers at the Hoja Verde flower farm in Ecuador decided which projects to invest in based on their most pressing needs. “Through the sale of our roses, we have earned enough Fair Trade community development premiums to invest in adult education classes, micro-financing for home appliances, education for our children, pediatric care and more,” said farm worker Rocio Giron, referring to the $1.3 million in premiums earned by flower farm workers since 2007.
Now, Fair Trade USA’s new Farm Workers Standard allows coffee farm workers to receive the benefits of Fair Trade for the first time in the history of the model. Fazenda Nossa Senhora de Fatima, a 100 percent organic coffee farm in Brazil, has become the first ever Fair Trade Certified coffee estate. They achieved certification by complying with rigorous Fair Trade standards that benefit both their workers and the environment. The 110 farm workers there have democratically elected to spend their Fair Trade community development premiums on eye and dental care; many workers just received their very first pair of eye glasses. “Another important change has been the farmers taking on increased roles in the operations of the farm,” said Luir Fontes, farm worker representative from Fazenda Nossa Senhora de Fatima. “Farmers now see the opportunity to have a direct influence on the success of the farm. The transparency, increased funds, and ownership of work have changed what was previously seen as a 200-hectare farm with 100 workers into 100 farmers with their own 2-hectare projects.”
Collaboration Drives Impact
It’s taken many stakeholders, working across the supply chain, to deliver this growth in sales and impact. An example of this effort is the recent Intercambio Peru 2012 event. Fair Trade USA brought together 44 producer organizations, along with importers, traders, NGO’s and social lenders, for a multi-day event in Peru. The goal of the event was to increase transparency and collaboration in the supply chain, exchange ideas, and create a productive space to share news and experiences. During this time, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc was able to sign contracts for millions of pounds of coffee for the upcoming harvest, which will result in approximately $3.15 million in Fair Trade premiums back to farmers.
Social lenders like Root Capital, Rabobank, Shared Interest and responsAbility were also present at the event, each signing contracts with numerous Latin American producer groups to provide access to affordable credit.
“Fair Trade USA’s mission is to alleviate poverty through trade,” said Mary Jo Cook, Chief Impact Officer at Fair Trade USA. “The only way we can achieve this mission is by working with others to maximize our efforts. Through increased collaboration with U.S. businesses, NGO’s, social lenders, conscious consumers and other industry leaders, we helped deliver more impact to farmers and workers in 2011 than ever before.”
Tweet me: #FairTradeUSA and partners deliver record impact to farmers and workers; http://3bl.me/mpvt74 hear it from #fairtrade farmers themselves! Contact Info:
Jenna Larson
Fair Trade USA
jlarson@fairtradeusa.org
Chevrolet Volt Saves Supertanker of Gas
(3BL Media) Detroit - May 18, 2012 - Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have saved a supertanker of gasoline since the electric car with extended range went on sale, compiling 40 million miles on electricity and avoiding the use of more than 2.1 million gallons of gasoline.
“With each click of the odometer, Chevrolet Volt owners are measuring their contribution to reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and to preserving the environment,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “Volt owners are also saving at the fuel pump with more than $8 million in combined savings.”
Chevrolet recently introduced a rolling ticker on its website that showcases real-time daily driving statistics for Volt owners based on OnStar data. Results in total number of miles driven, electric miles driven and gallons of gas saved are viewable. As of today:
40 Million Total Electric Miles (EV) driven equivalent to:
- 16,373 trips across the United States (2,443 miles from New York to Los Angeles)
- 1,606 trips around the Earth (24,901 miles each)
- 167 trips to the Moon (238,657 miles each)
2,130,000 Gallons of Gas Saved equivalent to:
- 50,714 barrels of gas saved (42 gallons of gas per barrel)
- $8,000,000 saved at the gas pump (based on $3.80/gallon of gas)
- 387 U.S. semi-truck tankers of gas saved (5,500 gallons of gas each)
- One supertanker of gas saved (2 million gallons of gas)
“Our Volt owners are driving the vehicle exactly as the car was designed,” Landy said. “Sixty percent of the time our owners are driving electric, but the extended range is providing additional miles when they need it. This shows that you don’t have to change your daily driving habits to drive the Volt.”
The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Typically Volt owners drive an average of 900 miles between fill ups at the gas station.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Tweet me: .@Chevrolet #Volt Saves Supertanker of Gas http://3bl.me/t4x68r #Green
Bringing Water And Sanitation To Ethiopian Children
By Conrad Person, Johnson & Johnson, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, Creative Writing, Parenting, ACCP, PQMD, Head Start
This blog was co-authored with Teshome Lemma, Program Coordinator for Water Sanitation & Hygiene at CARE Ethiopia.
Whether you live in the United States or in Ethiopia, sanitation and proper hygiene is an issue that affects you, but in Ethiopia, the lack of convenient water sources can make the difference between life and death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unsafe drinking water, inadequate availability of water for hygiene and lack of access to sanitation together contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases, or more than 1.5 million of the 1.9 million children younger than five years of age who perish from diarrhea each year, mostly in developing countries. This amounts to 18% of all the deaths of children under the age of five and means that more than 5,000 children are dying every day as a result of diarrheal diseases. Water and sanitation-related diseases, particularly diarrhea, are among the top three causes of death in Ethiopia.
Health indicators clearly show that Ethiopia has serious problems in the areas of primary health care and disease prevention. Very high infant and child mortality rates, a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and low life expectancy point to a lack of basic services and under-developed infrastructure. Water and sanitation-related diseases, are among the top three causes of death in the country after malaria and HIV/AIDS. According to Demographic and Health Survey data for children under five in the Amhara region, 51.8 percent are malnourished; stunting affects 57 percent; and severe stunting affects 29 percent. In the Amhara region's South Gondar zone, access to safe water is still not assured for many households and a lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices contribute significantly to children's ill health and constrained opportunities.
This is where the partnership between CARE and Johnson & Johnson comes into play.
Continue reading and comment on the original article published on the Huffington Post.
Bombardier Reports on Green Fund; Barrick Funds 25 Community Projects; Kimberly Clark Earns Excellence Award - CSR Minute for May 18, 2012
The CSR Minute is your daily video digest of the most relevant Corporate Social Responsibility news of the day. Our team of 3BL Media correspondents tracks the global world of corporate social responsibility to bring you coverage of the most important announcements, initiatives, issues, trends, ideas, and breaking news.
DESCRIPTION:Bombardier has published its fifth CSR Report. The report describes products such as the C Series aircraft and the ECO4 rail technologies which set new standards of energy efficiency, and the implementation of the Bombardier Green Fund to leverage the best site-submitted initiatives to improve overall environmental efficiency.
Barrick Gold Corporation has announced 25 community projects, from education and clean water to affordable housing, in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Tanzania. Investment in the programs totaled $47 million dollars in 2011. The initiatives are part of Barrick’s broader business strategy to provide economic and social benefits to communities in 11 countries worldwide.
Kimberly-Clark has received the 2012 Circle of Excellence award from the Distribution Business Management Association. The award recognizes Kimberly-Clarks’ leadership in sustainability and environmentally responsible supply chain management.
For more information on these and other stories, go to thecsrminute.com
Video source: Bombardier Reports on Green Fund; Barrick Funds 25 Community Projects; Kimberly Clark Earns Excellence Award
CITGO and C&S Oil Name Indiana University: Books & Beyond Project a Fueling Good Winner
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., May 18, 2012 / 3BL Media / PRNewswire/ -- Caring about people and helping to improve the quality of their lives is a deeply embedded value of CITGO Petroleum Corporation and its Fueling Good program. Now in its fourth year of rewarding local heroes, the Fueling Good program has assisted more than 200 non-profit organizations in carrying out their vital missions, from caring for the eyes and ears of the underinsured to providing support for families affected by mental illness to protecting valuable water resources.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110426/PH89704LOGO)
CITGO and local Marketer C&S, Incorporated, the owner and operator of the Circle S Food Marts, recognized the Indiana University: Books & Beyond program as a 2012 Winter Fueling Good winner. Books & Beyond, a collaborative service learning project founded at Indiana University, provides reading materials and student mentors from Indiana University to the Kabwende Primary School in Rwanda. It also matches academic mentors from Indiana University with at-risk middle and high school students from the TEAM Charter Schools in Newark, N.J.
The Fueling Good award will help fund two trips from Bloomington to Newark so that student volunteers can connect with the children they are mentoring and will also allow the Indiana University students to dedicate more funds to the production and delivery of reading materials to the students in Rwanda.
"Thanks to CITGO, C&S Inc. and the Fueling Good program, our team of fundraisers will be able to focus on raising money to cover the cost of printing and shipping books to the students at Kabwende and expand our impact on the communities that we serve," said Caitlin Ryan, volunteer student director of the Books & Beyond project. "The Fueling Good prize will also help the team in Indiana connect with our students at the TEAM Schools. It's about 750 miles from Bloomington to Newark, and the $5,000 prize will make that trip much more affordable!"
In addition to the network of support that the program has created for students in the United States, volunteers also work to provide high-quality reading material for the Rwandan students. These books help to foster critical thinking skills by encouraging students to author, illustrate, publish and market an annual cross-cultural anthology of their children's stories, which are inspired by the books they receive from Books & Beyond. These stories are collected and compiled to illustrate how literature can engage youth in a way that helps them reach beyond international and cultural boundaries.
"We are thrilled that this award will help Books & Beyond connect the students in New Jersey to their mentors in Bloomington and also help students in Rwanda," said Jonathan Smith, president of C&S Inc. "By Fueling Good, we believe that we are making connections between these students, both at home and abroad, that will benefit everyone."
Books & Beyond also offers a wide range of supplementary initiatives, including teacher development and curriculum training for staff at the Kabwende Primary School, mentor and pen-pal matching and facilitation, international cross-cultural student exchange opportunities and professional skill building.
The principles of Fueling Good can be seen in all aspects of the CITGO brand. In fact, since the launch of the program in 2009 CITGO has fueled more than a million miles of good through its support of local heroes like the Books & Beyond Project. During the most recent campaign, nearly 1,700 charities entered and nearly 151,000 votes were cast to help determine the current round of Fueling Good winners.
Registration for the next Fueling Good program will open for all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations within the CITGO marketing area on Sept. 4, 2012. To enter for a chance to win up to $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards or to learn how CITGO and local organizations are making a difference, visit www.FuelingGood.com. For regular updates and to join the conversation, "Like" CITGO Fueling Good at www.Facebook.com/CITGOFuelingGood and view videos of past winners at www.youtube.com/CITGOFuelingGood.
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information visit www.CITGO.com.
Copyright 2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.
Mining Industry Keeps Nevada Vendors Afloat During Tough Times
(3BL Media) May 18, 2012 - In 2007, the year before a massive recession began ravaging the state of Nevada, Western Nevada Supply Inc. had about 400 employees. Today it has 200.
Headquartered in Sparks, just east of Reno, Western Nevada Supply provides pipes, plumbing fixtures, landscaping and underground utilities for many new homes in northern Nevada. When the recession hit, housing starts plummeted 90 percent in the northern part of the state, and remained at depressed levels for four straight years, says Rick Reviglio, President of Western Nevada Supply. “Most businesses can’t weather that kind of decline,” he says. “Our relationship with Barrick played a key role in keeping us afloat.”
The gold-mining industry has been one of the few bright spots in recession-battered Nevada, which has led the nation in unemployment, bankruptcies and home foreclosures for the past four years. With the price of gold riding high amid ongoing global economic turmoil, gold mining companies operating in Nevada are spending more on exploration, construction, equipment and maintenance. For instance, in 2010, exploration spending nearly doubled to $214 million from $111 million a year earlier, according to a survey by the Nevada Division of Minerals. While survey data for 2011 is not yet available, companies that participated in the 2010 survey projected a 38 percent increase in expenditures to $295 million. Overall, Barrick invested more than $140 million in Nevada exploration in 2011, and a significant increase is planned for 2012.
The Nevada mining industry does business with nearly 2,400 companies in the state, according to the Nevada Mining Association (NMA). And the flurry of activity in the industry is generating much-needed business for many of these vendors, such as Western Nevada Supply. “We feel very blessed and fortunate that we have a partnership with Barrick during these very tough times,” says Reviglio, whose company has been supplying Barrick with pipes, valves and fittings since 2004.
For Cashman Equipment Co., a large Caterpillar distributor that serves the Nevada market, mining helped offset a sharp decline in sales to the construction industry. “Construction almost ceased in Reno and Las Vegas during the recession, and it’s still well below pre-recession levels,” says MaryKaye Cashman, CEO of the Las Vegas-based company. “Fortunately, mining helped us maintain our equilibrium.”
As its mining-related business grows and the construction industry shows signs of life, Cashman Equipment has begun hiring again. The company’s head count stands at about 675, up from 500 at the low point of the recession. The company is looking to add 50 new jobs this year, about half of those at its state-of-the-art plant in Las Vegas and the remainder at sites in Elko and Reno. “The growth of the mining industry has helped diversify Nevada’s economy, and without a doubt, Barrick has been a big part of that,” says Mike Pack, President of Cashman Equipment.
In its 2010 economic overview, the NMA estimated mining added $7.5 billion to Nevada’s gross state product and $3 billion to household income. The industry paid an estimated $314 million in state taxes in 2010, an all-time high, and generated an estimated 12,200 direct jobs at an average salary of $83,000, including benefits. The average state salary in 2010 for all occupations in the state was $43,000, according to the NMA.
While the NMA’s 2011 economic overview won’t be available until October 2012, a recent survey of its members revealed plans to add between 1,200 and 1,500 new jobs this year. Barrick employs more than 5,000 people at its Nevada operations, and is budgeting for 330 new positions in 2012. The company attempts to hire in-state whenever possible, attending numerous job fairs around the state, including hard-hit urban areas like Reno and Las Vegas. For every direct job in the mining industry, the NMA estimates another 5.23 indirect jobs are created. In 2010, that translated into about 64,000 jobs.
“There are all kinds of geotechnical firms, environmental firms and engineering firms located here to service the mining industry,” says Gene McClelland, President of Reno-based McClelland Laboratories. “They pay their employees, and their employees spend their money in the state. If the big mining companies weren’t here, things in Reno, and across all of Nevada, would have been a whole lot worse.”
McClelland Laboratories provides metallurgical testing and research services to the mining industry. These days, its biggest challenge is keeping up with demand, McClelland says. That explains the recent expansion of the company’s laboratories to 50,000 square feet from 20,000, and the doubling of its employee base to 100 from 50. Inside its Reno headquarters, a myriad of labs teem with technicians testing samples of ore shipped from mines around Nevada and beyond. Companies from as far away as Turkey, Pakistan and Mongolia rely on McClelland Laboratories for metallurgical and environmental testing that help determine whether they have a viable mine.
“We’re here because of the Nevada mining industry, but we bring in revenues from around the world — and we’re busier than ever,” McClelland says.
It wasn’t always this way. In 1999-2000, the price of gold was hovering below $300 and global exploration was at a standstill. Business was so slow that McClelland cut head count to 13, closed the company’s foreign offices and feared for his company’s future. Throughout this period, Barrick continued to do business with the company. “I think I can say that, by continuing to work with us, Barrick kept us from going out of business,” McClelland says. “Things were that dire.”
Barrick’s growing presence in Nevada continues to help companies during rough patches, providing new opportunities to vendors that have traditionally relied on the construction and gaming industries. YESCO Inc., best known for its innovative billboards and signs that predominate on the Las Vegas and Reno strips, is one such vendor. As revenue from the gaming industry dried up during the recession, YESCO was compelled to look for new markets and it turned to the mining industry.
YESCO worked closely with Barrick to develop a new product called the Safety Medallion. The product is a six-by-seven-foot, medallion-shaped digital scoreboard that tracks time lost due to safety incidents at various operational areas of a mine. The scoreboard can be easily updated each shift, and as the amount of time without an incident increases, the Medallion becomes a source of pride for workers, says Ed Lawson, an Account Executive at YESCO’s Reno office. “When a lost-time incident occurs, word spreads quickly because the scoreboard is reset to zero,” he says. “Workers want to find out what happened and how to prevent a recurrence, so the Medallion helps drive new training opportunities.”
To date, YESCO has sold four Safety Medallions to Barrick’s Goldstrike operation and it is marketing the product to other Nevada mining companies, Lawson says. “The economy forced us to look for new markets and we found one in mining,” he says. “We think we can sell this product around the world.”
Tweet me: #Mining industry keeps Nevada vendors afloat during tough times http://3bl.me/hahg2q Read about @BarrickGold's commitment Contact Info:
Barrick Gold Corporation
Greening the Healthcare Supply Chain with Sustainable Purchasing
By Al Iannuzzi
Sr. Director Product Stewardship, WW Environment, Health & Safety
Having recently returned from the CleanMed conference in Denver, Colorado, I’m gratified by the growing number of hospitals and healthcare suppliers in the United States that are determined to work toward a greener supply chain. Although this is our first year as the international sponsor, Johnson & Johnson has sponsored CleanMed for four years because we are committed to helping drive sustainable practices in healthcare.
At the conference, leaders in healthcare sustainability came together to discuss the future of green healthcare and look for ways to reduce waste and curb carbon emissions. Sessions covered green building and design, waste management, reducing energy consumption, sustainable hospital food services, and greening the supply chain. You can read a recap of the conference at this link.
One essential element to this is sustainable product development. I was invited to share my experience and expertise in this by presenting in the Greener Product Innovation & Solutions for Healthcare Facilities session, along with Kimberly Clark’s David Spitzley. While I presented the Johnson & Johnson Earthwards® proprietary process, Spitzley discussed Kimberly Clark’s EcoLogical process for product lifecycle analysis. Both are being used to create greener products by taking a more holistic view of their environmental impact.
Johnson & Johnson’s Earthwards® process, developed in 2009, recognizes the numerous ways a product has helped reduce environmental impact, using a 4-step evaluation scorecard. To achieve Earthwards® recognition, a product must achieve a greater than 10 percent improvement in at least three of seven areas: materials, packaging, energy, waste, water, social impact and innovation. To date, 29 products have earned this recognition, which is nearly halfway toward the Johnson & Johnson Healthy Future 2015 goal of 60 products.
And our timing couldn’t have been better, as there’s greater demand for sustainable healthcare products.
“A lot of hospitals want to purchase green products—ones with lower environmental impact—and suppliers are really listening,” said Lara Sutherland during a discussion at the CleanMed conference. Lara is an expert in sustainable product purchasing who serves as Director of Business Membership for Practice Greenhealth. Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading membership organization dedicated to sustainable healthcare, co-hosted the CleanMed conference, along with Health Care Without Harm, while Johnson & Johnson stepped up as its first international sponsor.
In fact, new research confirms that environmental sustainability and green attributes rank high in the purchasing decisions of Institutional Delivery Networks (IDNs) and hospitals in the United States, Brazil, Germany, and Italy. A majority of respondents (54%) rated the impact of “green” on purchasing decisions for health care products and supplies—specifically, pharmaceuticals and medical devices and diagnostics—an 8 or higher on a 10-point scale.
Nearly one-third of current requests for proposals for medical products include green attributes, while key decision makers expect nearly 40% of future requests for proposals to include green attributes.
The report also found Johnson & Johnson is the highest rated company globally among customer perceptions of top manufacturers and their level of sustainability, with 45% of respondents rating us an 8 or higher.
This work is important because it helps deliver on the commitment in Our Credo to protect our environment and natural resources. Our customers expect us to provide them with environmentally-preferable product offerings that align with their values. Our Earthwards® process is one of the ways we address these demands for more sustainable and innovative healthcare products.
Idaho High School Wins National Teen Safe Driving Contest and $10,000
(3BL Media) Northbrook, IL – May 18, 2012 – Thousands of teens have been organizing safe driving activities for the last six months in more than 300 high schools around the country as a part of the Act Out Loud Contest®, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety®. This year’s winner, Lake City High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was selected based on their participation in three safe driving projects.
Each team of high school students that participated in Act Out Loud engaged in three projects: a Safe-Tee Shirt design, a Creative Community Sign, and a Facebook Yearbook application--where teens could contact their members of Congress and express their support for stronger teen driving laws. Teams earned points for completing each project, with Lake City High School accumulating the most points. Special Judge’s Choice and Runner-Up Awards were also awarded.
“The teens made it happen and it was a full school effort. Administration, faculty, and the students all had a major part in creating activities that the whole school could participate in,” said Dan Armstrong, advisor for the Business Professionals of America chapter a Lake City High School. “In the end, the teens and everyone at our school will be safer, better drivers on the road because of the Act Out Loud program.”
The Lake City High School BPA chapter led in each phase of the overall contest. For the Safe-Tee shirt design portion of the contest, students at the school created more than 600 entries. The one design that was selected and entered into the Act Out Loud contest finished among the contest’s top 25 designs. For the Creative Sign phase, they created a banner with a list of Idaho passenger restrictions to help raise awareness of these laws. For the Facebook Yearbook application, they rallied the whole school to get involved and used this online platform to pledge to be safe drivers this summer, which is the deadliest season for teens on the road.
As the grand prize winner, Lake City High School will be awarded $10,000, a private concert from rising musical artist Skyler, and a taped broadcast from their school that will air on Channel One News which will be seen by nearly six million young people in middle schools and high schools across the country.
“Car crashes are the number one killer of teens. In fact, younger, inexperienced drivers crash four times more often than older drivers, “said Vicky Dinges, Allstate Vice President, Social Responsibility. “By acting out loud for safe teen driving, students from Lake City High School now have funding for their school’s safe driving programs. More importantly, those students will go into the summer months aware of dangers on the road and be even more prepared to get behind the wheel safely.”
Additional winners from the Act Out Loud contest included:
Runner Up Winners:
Ada High School, Ada, Okla.
Conroe High School, Conroe, Texas
Fatima R-3, Westphalia, Mo.
Oconee County High School, Watkinsville, Ga.
Stafford Technical Center, Rutland, Vt.
Judges' Choice Winners:
Cape Coral High School, Cape Coral, Fla.
Fulda High School, Fulda, Minn.
John A. Dubiski Career High School, Grand Prairie, Texas
North High School, Bakersfield, Calif.
Stuarts Draft High School, Stuarts Draft, Va.
Act Out Loud winners are announced each May as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month®. Now in its sixth year, National Youth Traffic Safety Month engages youth from across the country in peer-to-peer education efforts to address the number one cause of death for teens in the U.S. - traffic crashes1.
For more information about the contest, visit www.ActOutLoud.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
About National Organizations for Youth Safety
National Organizations for Youth Safety® (NOYS) is a coalition of national organizations and federal agencies who serve youth and focus on youth safety and health. Through the coalition, NOYS influences more than 80 million young people and their adult advisors. The mission of NOYS is to promote youth empowerment and leadership, and build partnerships that save lives, prevent injuries, and enhance safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. For more information, visit www.noys.org.
Contact:
Kyle Donash
(847) 402-5600
kyle.donash@allstate.com
1Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Tweet me: Idaho High School Wins National Teen Safe Driving Contest http://3bl.me/f42dxf
City of Corpus Christi, Recyclebank and the Ziploc® Brand Commemorate Continued Success of Environmental Efforts
(3BL Media) Corpus Christi, TX - May 18, 2012 - The City of Corpus Christi announced today the unveiling of a playground donated by Ziploc® brand in recognition of its continued support of Corpus Christi Recycles, its single-stream recycling program featuring Recyclebank® rewards that launched in January of last year. The Earthscapes playground, made of more than 30,000 plastic containers, will be officially “open for play” following a ceremony with Corpus Christi Mayor Joe Adame tomorrow, May 19 at H-E-B Park, in honor of National Kids to Park Day.
“The City of Corpus Christi prides itself as an environmental leader in the great state of Texas, and we’re heartened to see the exceptional community engagement around recycling and other green actions that has grown rapidly with the help of partners like Recyclebank and the Ziploc® brand,” said Adame. “On behalf of the community, I’d like to convey a special thanks to Ziploc® for providing yet another way for our families to enjoy the outdoors we’ve worked to keep beautiful this summer, and we look forward to realizing an even more environmentally-friendly Corpus Christi through our combined efforts.”
The impact of the City’s recycling program continues to grow. With recycling now easier and rewards for those that do so, Corpus residents have recycled more than 33 million pounds since the program’s inception, including over 9 million pounds in 2012 alone.
The Ziploc® brand first teamed up with Recyclebank and the City of Corpus Christi to support the launch of Corpus Christi Recycles in January 2011. Recyclebank rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from local and national businesses. A special significance for Ziploc® brand, the City of Corpus Christi was the first Recyclebank community to benefit from Ziploc®’s efforts in supporting the expansion of Recyclebank rewards and increase recycling in communities across the nation. To commemorate this, the Ziploc® brand donated the Earthscapes playground, which is officially ready for use in H-E-B Park, to the City in January this year.
The new Earthscapes playground is composed of more than 30,000 recycled plastic containers, which have avoided the landfill thanks to Ziploc®. Earthscapes playgrounds, both large and small, are manufactured from recycled structural plastic lumber made from reclaimed post-consumer plastic products like milk jugs and other beverage containers, plastic cartons and bags. Earthscapes is committed to building quality playground equipment that puts the safety of children first, but never forgets what it means to play and make a difference for the environment.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the City of Corpus Christi and Ziploc®, as we look to further build upon this momentum, driving greater community engagement by offering rewards for green actions in the form of valuable savings at the local and national businesses people shop with every day,” said Sue Igoe, senior vice president at Recyclebank. “Corpus Christi exemplifies how partnerships like these most effectively encourage the small lifestyle changes that add up to the biggest impact on the environment.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Corpus Christi Recycles asks residents to place all their recyclables in their Smart Cart on collection day. To earn Recyclebank rewards, residents need only visit www.Recyclebank.com to sign up for a free account. Each time a neighborhood’s recycling is collected, the total weight of the recycled materials is captured, converted to Recyclebank points, and then allocated to the participating members, tracked by each household’s Smart Cart. The points can then be redeemed at www.Recyclebank.com for rewards from businesses in more than 10 categories, including food and beverage, health, beauty, home, clothing, accessories and gifts. Residents are also encouraged to drop off clean and dry Ziploc® Brand Sandwich, Freezer and Storage Bags at in-store recycling collection bins at participating grocery stores for even more earn opportunities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- For more information on Corpus Christi Recycles, please visit www.corpuschristirecycles.com.
- For more information on Ziploc®’s sustainability efforts across the nation, please visit www.ziploc.com/sustainability.
- For more information on Earthscapes, please visit http://www.goearthscapes.com/.
ABOUT RECYCLEBANK
Recyclebank® helps create a more sustainable future by rewarding people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses. Through its online platform and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank is empowering individuals to make a collective impact on the environment by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and learning to live greener lives. Recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.
ABOUT CORPUS CHRISTI
The City of Corpus Christi is a multi-cultural community located 140 miles southeast of San Antonio on Corpus Christi Bay, an inlet off the Gulf of Mexico. The City comprises of an estimated population of 277,454 and is the sixth largest port in the nation. This All-America City is the eighth largest city in Texas, and key industries include petrochemicals, military and tourism. For more information, visit us at www.cctexas.com.
# # #
Tweet me: Corpus Christi unveils playground donated by #Ziploc brand, featuring @Recyclebank rewards. http://3bl.me/wwhzzc Contact Info:
Laura Moen
Bateman Group for Recyclebank
+1 (415) 503-1818
recyclebank@bateman-group.com
Kim Womack
Public Information Officer for City of Corpus Christi
+1 (361) 826-3211
KimW@cctexas.com
AEP Grant Helps Restore Brook Trout in Virginia's Little Tumbling Creek
A grant from the AEP Foundation is one reason that Southern Appalachian brook trout is once again swimming in Virginia's Little Tumbling Creek. The upper four miles of the creek lost its brook trout population more than 20 years ago due to naturally occurring and man-made acid deposits in the stream.
This past winter, AEP subsidiary Appalachian Power built a new road to service transmission lines, which gave the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) the perfect opportunity to restore the brook trout to its native habitat.
The partnership of VDGIF, the American Electric Power Foundation, the Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited and James Madison University, is working to create the first restored the brook trout stream in Virginia. Click here to read more about the Little Tumbling Creek partnership.
AEP - American Electric Power
AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.
AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas).
Personal Passions Drive Corporate Volunteerism
With corporate social responsibility topping the list of expectations young workers have for their employers, corporations are increasingly guiding employees on charitable initiatives they want to support.
Zurich Insurance provides support to employees in North America and funding to charities aligning with the following three focus areas:
- health and welfare of children in need
- sustainable community development
- health, safety and disaster relief programs
As part of the year-long celebration of 100 years insuring America, Zurich is encouraging its employees in North America to take action and give back to communities in “100 Ways” by completing 100+ projects of service for communities across U.S. and Canada throughout 2012.
Zurich employee and active volunteer Joanie Perez talks about the support Zurich provides to grassroots movement by employees who are genuinely concerned and responding to needs in their communities.
Tweet me: #Zurich100 volunteer shares why it's important for companies to give back. Check out the vid http://3bl.me/rsanp5 Contact Info:
Jennifer Nowacki
Zurich
+1 (847) 605-6511
jennifer.nowacki@zurichna.com
United Way "Fun with Food" Food Drive
During Zurich Insurance's first ever Global Community Week, Zurich employees raised in-kind donations of food and other items equaling 146 boxes or 2,920 pounds, benefitting local United Way food pantries.
Employees in the Product Underwriting team in Schaumburg, Illinois also participated in the "Fun with Food" Food Drive Photo Contest where employees were encouraged to collect enough boxes and canned goods to use to build landmarks. The team recreated Zurich's North American headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill.
Tweet me: Volunteers recreate Zurich's North American headquarters during @UnitedWay "Fun with Food" employee photo contest http://3bl.me/yfm7yz Contact Info:
Jennifer Nowacki
Zurich
+1 (847) 605-6511
jennifer.nowacki@zurichna.com
CVS Caremark All Kids Can and Cedars-Sinai Partner to Bring COACH for Kids and their Families® Mobile Medical Clinic to Four Additional Los Angeles Schools
(3BL Media) Los Angeles, CA - May 17, 2012 - CVS Caremark, through its All Kids Can program, today announced a partnership with Cedars-Sinai to expand the medical center's COACH for Kids and their Families® program to provide health services to more vulnerable children in South Los Angeles who otherwise would not have access to health services, including immunizations and dental screenings.
Supported by a $50,000 grant through its CVS CaremarkAll Kids Can program, which is committed to helping children of all abilities to be the best that they can be, the COACH for Kids mobile clinic will expand free healthcare services to four additional public schools in South Los Angeles.
"CVS Caremark All Kids Can is committed to supporting programs like the COACH for Kids Mobile Clinic that help thousands of children and families on their path to better health," said
Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Community Relations for CVS Caremark. "We are proud to partner with Cedars-Sinai to help expand the COACH for Kids Mobile Clinic program in Los Angeles and provide access to quality medical services to more children."
Cedars-Sinai's mobile medical and case management program provides continuity of care to thousands of underserved children in Los Angeles each year.
To celebrate the partnership with COACH for Kids, CVS Caremark and Cedars-Sinai will host a community-wide family health fair on Saturday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Gilbert W. Lindsay Recreation Center. The celebration, which will bring together CVS/pharmacy pharmacists and volunteers, representatives from Cedars-Sinai, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, children of all abilities and families in the community, will honor the expansion of the COACH for Kids Mobile Clinic. The event will feature free medical services, such as immunizations and dental screenings, as well as fun activities for the whole family. CVS/pharmacy pharmacists will be on-hand to review medications and answer questions related to prescriptions and other services.
"At Cedars-Sinai, we are passionate about providing quality healthcare to all, including those most vulnerable in underserved communities of Los Angeles. With two mobile medical units, COACH for Kids plays a vital role by providing expert care for low-income and medically underserved children and their families at schools, shelters, and community centers," said
Michele Rigsby Pauley, Program Director, COACH for Kids, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "Thanks to generous support from CVS Caremark COACH for Kids will expand the number of public schools we serve and ensure that more children have access to free regular and quality healthcare services."
COACH for Kids provides medical, case management and mental health services, along with oral health, nutrition and fitness education including primary care services such as immunizations, screenings and laboratory tests, prescription medications, and referrals to specialists. Staffed by Cedars-Sinai professionals, the COACH healthcare team travels in two, fully equipped, 38-foot mobile medical units to see patients. Each unit is equipped with two private examination rooms, a nurse's station, lap top computers, state-of-the-art records technology, medical and lab supplies and medications for acute illnesses.
About CVS Caremark All Kids Can
CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a program of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust and CVS Caremark, is committed to supporting children with disabilities. The goals of All Kids Can are to: support children with disabilities by raising awareness in schools and in local communities about the importance of inclusion; create greater opportunities for physical activity and play; and provide access to medical rehabilitation. CVS Caremark and its more than 200,000 employees seek to help children with disabilities learn, play and succeed through partnerships with leading local and national nonprofit organizations such as VSA and others across the country. http://www.cvscaremarkallkidscan.com/.
About Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Meeting the health needs of the wider community has been an integral part of Cedars-Sinai's mission for more than 100 years. In 2011, the medical center contributed $600 million to Community Benefit programs and services crucial to the community, such as COACH for Kids, which provides access to healthcare to vulnerable populations in Los Angeles. Internationally renowned for quality patient care, leading-edge research and medical education, Cedars-Sinai is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the Western United States. For more information visit http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Community-Benefit/.
Contact:
Joanne Dwyer
(401) 770-2898
jdwyer@cvs.com
Joyce Huyett Turner
(626) 253-2814
Joyce.turner@cshs.org
Nicole White
(310) 423-5215
Nicole.white@cshs.org
GameDesk: Where Technology, Fun and Academic Success Converge
It only takes 5 minutes of watching my kids play with tablets and mobile phones to quickly realize the lure the digital world has on young minds. These technologies are intuitive, hands-on, and engaging, but more often than not, I’m negotiating with my kids over how much time they “have to spend” on educational apps before they can get back to what they want to play.
Enter GameDesk, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that’s proving you can marry high quality entertainment with learning by creating tools and technologies that have a measurable impact on student success. So how does it work? GameDesk creates game-based interactive learning tools that embed academic content and assessment into digital games and simulations. By doing this, GameDesk helps students of all skill levels and backgrounds understand difficult concepts and learn new skills, reaching students in the digital world in which they live, play and now study.
An evaluation of a math-focused GameDesk program called “Mathmaker” found that 80 percent of the students in an inner city school in Los Angeles who used the game as part of a pilot program showed increases in math scores, and that these score increases averaged 22 percent.
You don’t need to be a math expert to know that a score jump like that is no small feat. These proven results on students in a population at-risk for dropping out are one of the main reasons we’re collaborating with GameDesk through AT&T Aspire. Through a $3.8 million dollar Aspire contribution, we plan to vastly expand GameDesk’s reach so that these technologies are available to help all students achieve academic success.
We look forward to replicating the GameDesk success stories we saw in Los Angeles across the nation through two new initiatives:
- First, we’re helping GameDesk create a learning laboratory that will serve as a "classroom of the future” where students and teachers can gain hands-on experience using GameDesk technologies, and where these new tools can be tested and evaluated.
- Second, we’ll work with GameDesk to provide free access to an online portal filled with digital learning content. Through the portal, the technologies developed in the learning lab will be made available to parents, students and educators nationwide, equalizing access to these exciting new learning tools.
Additionally, user feedback is crucial to the success of any new technology, so we’re working with GameDesk to ensure that the online portal allows users to not only access new learning tools, but to evaluate materials, consult other users, and even add their own resources to the site. This two-way conversation between users and developers will help to create the highest standards for digital education materials and practices, and set the bar for this crucial fledgling industry.
We’ve witnessed and harnessed the positive power that disruptive technologies can have on the way we live and work. GameDesk brings that same disruptive philosophy to the way we learn.
Through GameDesk and other Aspire initiatives, AT&T is continuing to drive innovation in education, seeking exponential change in educational outcomes that will lead to a stronger workforce for our future.
GM Donates Chevrolet Volt to Colorado Conservation Trust
(3BL Media) Detroit, MI – May 17, 2012 – General Motors will donate a Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range to the nonprofit Colorado Conservation Trust. The vehicle will be presented June 21 to the winner of a silent auction at the annual “Q for Conservation” event that generates revenue for conservation projects throughout the state.
“It’s a perfect fundraiser for our crowd of environmental leaders, fueling our work to conserve Colorado landscapes,” said Linda D. Campbell, chairwoman of Colorado Conservation Trust. “I am a proud Volt owner and enjoy driving electric on a daily basis. The Volt is a smart solution to rising population concerns and resource scarcity as drivers don’t have to change their daily driving habits to be more environmentally conscious.”
The sixth annual Q for Conservation will focus on the effects of population growth on land, water and resource management, and how conservation will shape the future of Colorado.
“We are dedicated to resource preservation throughout our operations, and this donation enables more great work to be done to protect our environment,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of sustainability and global regulatory affairs. “It’s fitting since the Volt is often the vehicle that allows us to tell our sustainability story. It all starts with building efficient vehicles that fit peoples’ various needs and lifestyles.”
Colorado residents can save on purchasing a Volt through a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 and a state of Colorado income tax credit of up to $6,000. Gov. John Hickenlooper proclaimed May 17 Electric Vehicle Day in Colorado in recognition of Colorado Renewable Energy Society Electric Avenue and the American Lung Association’s Project FEVER (Fostering Electric Vehicle Expansion in the Rockies) events.
“GM is to be applauded for delivering an outstanding vehicle with a positive environmental touch,” said Brian Ross, executive director of Colorado Conservation Trust. “The Volt represents the kind of innovative product the world needs."
The Volt has a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, it can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank. Volt owners have travelled more than 65 million miles since the vehicle launched late last year. Roughly two-thirds of those miles were powered by grid electricity.
For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit www.gm.com/environment and GM’s sustainability blog www.GMBeyondNow.com.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Tweet me: .@GM Donates #Chevrolet #Volt to Colorado Conservation Trust http://3bl.me/s8bkxr
Sign Up Today for The Natural Step's Level 1 Sustainability Course: Foundations in Strategy (Toronto, ON) - Registration Closes Soon!
The Natural Step Canada’s Level 1 Sustainability Course: Foundations in Strategy is an opportunity to apply the core concepts of sustainability. In this compelling 1-day workshop you will work through a hands-on case study using The Natural Step Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, giving you the knowledge and tools to better understand “strategy” and take a systemic approach to planning and managing sustainability initiatives. After this workshop, you will be better equipped to take a sustainability leadership role in your organization to capture value, enable innovation, and drive strategy.
This course is taught by engaging facilitators who have worked with businesses and communities—large and small—across Canada and around the world. It draws upon The Natural Step’s 20 years of practical sustainability experience researching, developing, and refining our approach with countless global clients and partners.
Registration closes June 4th, for more information and to register please visit http://www.thenaturalstep.org/en/canada/learning-programs/level-1-sustainability-course-foundations-in-strategy/toronto-ontario
About The Natural Step Canada
The Natural Step Canada is a dynamic non-profit organization with over a decade of experience helping organizations and individuals understand and make meaningful progress toward sustainability.
WE ENVISION... a sustainable world in which individuals, communities, and businesses thrive within nature's limits.
WE STRIVE... to inspire, educate, and connect Canadian leaders to accelerate the transformation toward a sustainable world.
Tweet me: Sign up today for @TheNaturalStep Level 1 #Sustainability Course: Foundations in Strategy in #Toronto http://bit.ly/yVRleP Contact Info:
Erika Aruja
The Natural Step Canada
earuja@naturalstep.ca
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