Stories from Gina-Marie Cheeseman
Energy
New York City Bans Foam Packaging
New York City is joining a slew of California cities that have banned foam packaging. Known as expanded polystyrene (EPS) […]
January 13, 2015
Energy
Waste Management Tackles Landfill Diversion
Waste Management is a company known for collecting trash. However, the company is making strides to reduce the amount of […]
January 13, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
NRDC Files Lawsuit Over Toxic Pesticide Used In Pet Flea Control Products
When we put flea control products on our pets, we want to kill the fleas on our four-legged friends — […]
January 8, 2015
Energy
California Governor Calls for 50 Percent Renewables By 2030
On Monday, California Gov. Jerry Brown gave the inaugural address for his fourth gubernatorial term. During the address he praised […]
January 7, 2015
Energy
Panera Bread Shares Animal Welfare Progress
In late December, Panera Bread shared its progress on reducing antibiotic use and cruel confinement for farm animals in its U.S. […]
January 2, 2015
Energy
California Law Banning Confinement Crates Takes Effect In 2015
If hens realized the better conditions that Proposition 2, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, ushers in for […]
December 31, 2014
Energy
Starbucks Updates Animal Welfare Standards
Starbucks recently updated its animal welfare standards. They include phasing out sow gestation crates and cages for chickens, eliminating the […]
December 29, 2014
Energy
Good and Bad News For Climate Change Performance
Looking at the 10th edition of the Climate Change Performance Index, there is good and bad news. The index, which […]
December 26, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
A Comprehensive Standard For the Aluminum Industry
There are many uses for aluminum: It is used in consumers goods, for transportation and even for door knobs. Given the […]
December 25, 2014
Procter & Gamble Reports Big Moves in 16th Annual Sustainability Report
The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) is serious about environmental stewardship, as its 16th annual sustainability report reveals. The multinational consumer goods company […]
December 22, 2014
Energy
The Key to Reducing Food Waste
Food waste is a worldwide problem. Globally an estimated 30 to 50 percent (or 1.2 to 2 billion tons) of […]
December 19, 2014
Voices for Change
Dow Promotes the Importance of Handwashing
Dow Chemical Co. clearly knows that handwashing is an important thing for children to do. The company recently announced its affiliation […]
December 18, 2014
Energy
Largest School District In the U.S. Will Serve Antibiotic-Free Chicken
Children attending schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the largest school district in the nation, will soon […]
December 12, 2014
Carnival Corporation Reduced Its Carbon Emissions By 20 Percent
Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company with nine brands, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent from shipboard operations, […]
December 5, 2014
Energy
Timberland Gives Tire Retreads Second Life as Shoes
Old, worn out tires will get a new life through a partnership between two companies: Outdoor clothing manufacturer Timberland and […]
December 1, 2014
Technology
Climate Financing Drops in 2013, Driven Mainly By Falling Solar Costs
Annual global climate flows last year decreased from 2012, according to a new report from the Climate Policy Initiative. The […]
November 27, 2014
Energy
General Mills Announces New Water Conservation Efforts
General Mills Chairman and CEO Ken Powell declared the company’s commitment to water conservation at the the Nature Conservancy (TNC) Global Water Summit in […]
November 26, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Fetzer Vineyards Diverts Almost All Its Waste
Vineyards factor prominently in my life, having grown up surrounded by them. When I read that Fetzer Vineyards, located in […]
November 24, 2014
Energy
Cargill Releases First Palm Oil Progress Report
Cargill Tropical Palm released its first progress report on sustainable palm oil this week. The report, released on Monday, details the company’s […]
November 20, 2014
Energy
Palm Oil Industry Threatens Indonesian Biodiversity
The Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems. The 6.5 million acres of tropical lowland rainforests […]
November 18, 2014
Energy
U.N. Extends Protections to 31 New Species
Last week, the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species […]
November 13, 2014
Energy
Norway Ranked Number One For Climate Change Adaptability
Norway ranked number one in the University of Notre Dame’s Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN) for its ability to adapt to […]
November 12, 2014
Finance
These Stores Refuse to Open On Thanksgiving Day
Nothing is more American than the Thanksgiving holiday. As a cherished time when families gather for good food and connection, […]
November 10, 2014
Energy
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Gets Nutrition Upgrade
People who eat I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter are now eating a healthier version of the butter substitute. Made by […]
November 7, 2014
Technology
Georgia Acquires Cheap Solar Power
Georgia Power filed a request for certification to enter into power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 515 megawatts of solar power. […]
November 3, 2014
Energy
57 Tons of Garbage Removed From Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Last week, a team of 17 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) divers returned from a mission in which it […]
November 3, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Change.org Extends Gender-Neutral Parental Leave Policy
Change.org announced recently that it will amend its parental leave policy. The site that allows users to create petitions will increase the […]
October 30, 2014
Technology
North Carolina Cigarette Plant to Switch to Producing Batteries
Former Philip Morris cigarette plant in Concord, North Carolina will produce batteries to store energy for wind and solar farms, […]
October 30, 2014
Energy
EU Leaders Called Out For Lackluster Climate Change Package
European leaders agreed to reduce greenhouse gases by 40 percent by 2030. Two targets of 27 percent were also agreed […]
October 29, 2014
The North Face and Dept. of Interior Partner to Protect Public Lands
Public lands like Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California and Everglades National Park in Florida are national treasures that […]
October 28, 2014
Voices for Change
The Corporate World Invests in Ebola Fight
The Ebola virus is one of the deadliest to hit West Africa. The number of Ebola cases in West Africa […]
October 28, 2014
Energy
Solar Prices Still Falling Fast, Study Finds
Solar prices continue to drop, according to the findings of a joint report by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and […]
October 27, 2014
Technology
Masdar To Develop 50 MW Wind Farm in Oman
The Sultanate of Oman will have a 50 megawatt (MW) wind project online in early 2017. Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable […]
October 23, 2014
Energy
Ikea Considers Price On Carbon
The Ikea Group may be putting a price on carbon emissions, Reuters reports. “There was a lot of discussion about carbon […]
October 23, 2014
Energy
California Organic Dairy Farmers Hit Hard By Drought
It’s easy to see the impact of the three-year-long California drought in residential areas anywhere in the state. Just look […]
October 15, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Procter & Gamble to Boost Conservation in Water-Stressed Areas
Procter & Gamble, commonly known as P&G, expanded its sustainability goals to include water conservation and sustainable packaging. P&G expects […]
October 15, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Lego to End Partnership with Shell
Lego recently announced that it will not renew its contract with Shell when it ends in 2016. “We want to […]
October 14, 2014
Technology
The Clever Marketing Strategy of NRG
NRG is a company with a clever name and marketing strategy. The company provides sustainable energy choices, including solar power, […]
October 8, 2014
Energy
Mars is On Track to Meet Its Sustainable Palm Oil Sourcing Commitments
Mars, Inc. launched a new palm oil policy six months ago and recently released an update on its progress. The food […]
September 30, 2014
Caesars Entertainment's Environmental Stewardship Sparkles
Caesars Entertainment touts its commitment to environmental stewardship, but the company’s latest Corporate Citizenship Report demonstrates that it is more than […]
September 29, 2014
Energy
On the Heels of U.N. Summit, Nations Announce Partnerships to End Deforestation
Heads of government, business leaders and activists met in New York, this week for the one-day U.N. Climate Summit. One […]
September 26, 2014
Energy
Hershey Expands Ivory Coast Cocoa Farmer Program
Earlier this month, Hershey announced the expansion of its cocoa farmer training and community initiatives in the Ivory Coast. The company […]
September 25, 2014
Energy
Sustainable Seafood is On the Rise, New Reports Show
Although 29 percent of the world’s oceans are overfished, 10 percent of global wild caught seafood comes from fisheries involved […]
September 24, 2014
Energy
Bacardi Partners with World Wildlife Fund on Sugarcane Farm
World famous rum maker Bacardi and the World Wildlife Fund are aiming to advance sugarcane standards in Fiji with a […]
September 22, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Dunkin’ Brands, Krispy Kreme Commit to Sustainable Palm Oil
Dunkin’ Brands Group, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, announced its commitment to source only 100 percent sustainable […]
September 19, 2014
Technology
Google Invests $145 Million to Turn an Old Gas Field Into a Solar Plant
Last week, Google invested $145 million in an 82 megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Kern County, California. The solar […]
September 17, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Heineken USA Takes Sustainability Seriously
It’s not a small thing for a company with almost 500 employees, eight offices, over 20 beers and ciders in […]
September 15, 2014
Energy
Drought, California Agriculture and Water Efficiency: Why Farmers Must Adapt
The entire state of California is in a drought. A big part of the state, including the fertile Central Valley, […]
September 12, 2014
Kimberly-Clark Focuses on Sustainable Forestry in New CSR Report
Kimberly-Clark produces mainly paper-based personal care products, including popular brands such as Cottonelle, so it’s only fitting that the global […]
September 9, 2014
Hyatt Sets New Environmental 'Vision' for 2020
In its latest corporate social responsibility report, Hyatt Hotels revealed a new set of environmental goals that it’s calling the […]
September 8, 2014
Energy
Nestle's New Animal Welfare Commitments
Nestle, the global food giant known for its Nestle Crunch Bars, announced its new animal welfare program that will eliminate […]
August 29, 2014
Energy
Italian Scientists Turn Food Waste Into Bioplastics
Food waste causes a range of environmental problems when left to rot in a landfill. A staggering amount, 1.3 billion […]
August 27, 2014
Energy
Kellogg Sets Bold Sustainability Goals for 2020
Fans of Frosted Flakes and Eggo, two Kellogg Co. brands, who are also champions of sustainability have something to cheer about: […]
August 27, 2014
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group is Serious About Reducing Waste
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group has surpassed several of its environmental targets, as its latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) report reveals. The company […]
August 25, 2014
Technology
Solar System Will Power New Dropbox Office
Dropbox provides a handy and free service that allows you to share documents, videos and photos with people. Founded in […]
August 25, 2014
Energy
Stonyfield Collaborates With WikiFoods to Sell Package-Free Yogurt
Plastic is a part of our lives. It packages many of the food products we buy, encases our electronics and […]
August 21, 2014
Energy
Hyatt to Source More Sustainable Seafood
Hyatt Hotels Corp. recently announced a new initiative to add more responsibly-sourced seafood at its hotels. The first goal of the […]
August 13, 2014
Energy
Massachusetts Food Waste Ban Goes Into Effect in October
Food waste is a real problem in America. The economic impact of food waste in the U.S. is equivalent to $197.7 […]
August 12, 2014
Kimberly-Clark Releases Sustainability Report
Kimberly-Clark is a big company with well-known brands like Scott, Depends and Huggies. It has also made some real strides in […]
August 11, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Beijing to Phase Out Coal
Local authorities in Beijing announced that the city will ban coal sales and use by 2020 to reduce air pollution, […]
August 8, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Recycling is Built Into Bacardi
Recycling old materials is built into Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, and is part of […]
August 6, 2014
Energy
J.M. Smuckers Commits To a Sustainable and Traceable Palm Oil Supply Chain
J.M. Smucker recently updated its policy on palm oil sourcing, the company explained in its 2014 corporate social responsibility report. Smucker’s […]
August 4, 2014
Energy
Mars, Inc. Plans to Eliminate Fossil Fuel Use in Direct Operations by 2040
Mars, Inc. has big sustainability goals. Its 2040 target is to eliminate all fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas […]
July 31, 2014
WhiteWave Foods Issues Its First Sustainability Report
WhiteWave Foods met its 2015 goal to source Certified Sustainable Palm Oil for 100 percent of its liquid creamers in […]
July 29, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Pact Apparel Launches Fair Trade Certified Line
Pact Apparel, which brand itself as an “ethical and organic apparel basics brand,” announced it is releasing an organic cotton Fair […]
July 28, 2014
Energy
Better Cotton and Ikea Report Shows Less Pesticide and Water Use
Cotton is a major world commodity, accounting for almost half of textile production. Traditional cotton farming is hard on the […]
July 23, 2014
Energy
British Supermarket Powered By Food Waste
The British supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s announced that one of its stores will be powered by its food waste. All of […]
July 22, 2014
Energy
Kroger Cuts Energy Use By 35 Percent, Ramps Up Sustainability Efforts
The Kroger Co. has reduced energy use in its stores by 34.6 percent since 2000, saving more than 2.5 billion […]
July 21, 2014
Safeway to Eliminate 1 Billion Single-Use Bags By 2015
Safeway, the second-largest supermarket chain in North America, is making progress toward its environmental goals, according to its sixth annual sustainability […]
July 17, 2014
Energy
U.K. Grocer Becomes the First Retailer to Issue a Sustainable Seafood Report
The British supermarket chain Asda is the first retailer to publish a sustainable seafood report. The report, titled Wild Fisheries […]
July 15, 2014
MillerCoors Cuts Water and Energy Use, Pilots Sustainable Barley Farming
Next time you reach for a MillerCoors brew, you can rest assured that the company is doing its part to be […]
July 9, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
UNEP Report Discloses the Business Risks of Plastic Use
Plastic is used in everything from electronic devices, including computers and smartphones, to food packaging. However, plastic also has a […]
June 27, 2014
Energy
Xeros Laundry System Saves Businesses Water and Money
Water is a precious commodity, and reducing water use is a goal every business should set. A Sheffield, England-based company […]
June 27, 2014
New CSR Report Shows Ford Takes Climate Change Seriously
Ford‘s latest corporate social responsibility (CSR) report really caught my attention. I read at least two or three CSR reports a month. […]
June 25, 2014
Technology
Harley-Davidson Launches an Electric Motorcycle
Iconic American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson Motor Co. is launching its first electric motorcycle. Calling it Project LiveWire, the company gave the […]
June 23, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Alaska Bars to Distribute Free Pregnancy Tests to Help Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a serious condition that affects about 1 in 100 children, and is caused by alcohol […]
June 23, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
New Reports From Marks & Spencer Prove it is One Sustainable Retailer
Looking at the Plan A and Annual reports of the British department store chain Marks & Spencer (M&S), two things become […]
June 19, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
American Eagle Outfitters Expands Clothing Recycling Program
Clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters is expanding its partnership with I:Collect (I:CO), a closed loop textile recycling company. AE added […]
June 17, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
U.S. Companies Send Letter of Support Over EPA’s New Carbon Standard
More than 100 companies and investors sent a letter of support to the Obama administration for this week’s release of a new EPA […]
June 3, 2014
Energy
Regenerative Organic Farming Can Sequester Vast Amounts of Carbon
We are at a proverbial crossroads when it comes to climate change and avoiding its worst impacts. Total annual global greenhouse […]
May 29, 2014
Energy
EDF, Smithfield Foods Collaborate to Reduce Fertilizer Runoff
The Environmental Defense Fund is collaborating with Smithfield Foods and its livestock production subsidiary, Murphy-Brown LLC, to help farmers optimize […]
May 28, 2014
Energy
Interactive Map of World Ocean Pollution Shows is the Plastic Most Common Type
Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans is a huge problem. Plastic makes up the majority of all trash floating in […]
May 26, 2014
Energy
How Energy Impacts Water Supplies
Water and energy intersect in more ways than many of us realize. Extracting water takes energy. Up to 13 percent […]
May 23, 2014
Energy
Gov. Jerry Brown: California is the 'Epicenter' of Climate Change
On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown called California the “epicenter of climate change” while speaking at the University of California’s Giannini Foundation […]
May 21, 2014
Technology
Sprint to Sell iPhone Cases Made from Carbon
Imagine a cell phone case made from carbon. Soon you won’t have to just imagine. Sprint will be selling AirCarbon […]
May 20, 2014
Energy
Why Climate Change May Affect the Foods We Eat
Climate change may one day affect the foods we eat: A new study led by the Harvard School of Public […]
May 15, 2014
Nike Significantly Reduces Carbon Footprint, Sustainable Business Summary Shows
Can a very popular shoe company make strides to be more sustainable while continuing to grow? The latest Sustainable Business […]
May 14, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Subway CEO 'Not Concerned' About a Federal Minimum Wage Increase
Subway is a major fast food chain with more than 41,000 restaurants in 106 countries. CNBC calls it the “largest restaurant […]
May 13, 2014
Finance
Stanford Becomes the First Major University to Divest From Coal
As we all know, coal is dirty. It is a fossil fuel and has a big environmental impact, as the […]
May 8, 2014
Energy
Top 50 Cities in the World Ranked for Resilience
Parts of the U.S. are experiencing drought, including California. Other parts are experiencing floods, while others are also experiencing extreme […]
May 7, 2014