Big corporations are showing their commitment to helping the environment
by Serene Touma
More and more Fortune 500 companies are deciding to think and act "green." Big businesses are streamlining, updating and opting for better environmental practices. As Kermit the Frog put it, "It's not easy being green," yet some of the largest companies are proving it can be done. Here's a look at some of the most prominent.
Wal-Mart: Following a screening of Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, Wal-Mart chairman Lee Scott realized that "there can't be anything good about putting all these chemicals in the air," and opted for a greener line of attack. Scott has committed to investing $500 million in sustainability projects in attempts to achieve Wal-Mart's goals of reducing the energy used in stores by 30 percent and solid waste by 25 percent. (Despite their efforts, Wal-Mart's bad reputation for labour violations is still at the forefront; Norway, displeased with labour practices at Wal-Mart, divested $430 million worth of shares this year.)
DuPont: Ahead of it goals, this life sciences company has already surpassed its 2010 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent from 1990 levels; it has already brought emissions down to 72 percent. Example-setting DuPont has also contributed to the reduction of global energy consumption by 7 percent, also managing to save $3 billion.
General Electric: GE's "Ecoimagination" initiative has changed the way big business is done. Jeffrey Immelt, the company's CEO, has made a promise to invest $1.5 billion in environmental technologies by 2010. Also on the agenda, GE hopes to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 1 percent by 2012 without which would have caused emissions to skyrocket by 40 percent.
DuPont has contributed to the reduction of global energy consumption by 7 percent.
Goldman Sachs: Investment Banking goliaths and Wall Street's most prestigious tenants has not only agreed to purchase more products locally but is also aiming to put $1 billion into clean-energy investments.
Intel: Making computer chips relies on PFC chemicals which contribute to a myriad of dangerous greenhouse gases. Realizing the danger of continuing emissions, Intel has promised to lower its emissions by 10 percent from 1995 levels.
UPS: By gradually switching to new generation hybrid-electric delivery trucks, the package delivery pros are doing their part to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In February of this year, UPS put in their order for 50. CEO Mike Eskew has assembled an enviable fleet of 1500 alternative-fuel vehicles, one of the biggest around. The hybrids will reduce fuel consumption by 44,000 gallons over one year's time.
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