Corporations With Green Initiatives That Go Beyond Earth Day

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Earth Day is a reminder to protect the only home we have (Credit: Cheryl/Flickr/CC-By-2.0

On Monday, April 22, 2019, corporations worldwide will encourage employees to celebrate Earth Day by participating in activities like neighborhood or beach clean-ups, planting trees, or biking/walking to work. While the one-day enthusiasm to care for our planet certainly helps, to make a real difference, companies have to incorporate sustainability into their everyday operations. Here are a few businesses that are making an impact beyond Earth Day.

Apple Inc.

In 2018, Apple Inc. and its suppliers participated in green generation of green energy that roughly equaled the electricity needed to power over 600,000 homes in the US. (Credit: Apple.com)

US-based Apple Inc., which boasts an "unwavering mission to change the world," has adopted several green initiatives to reduce its impact on Earth. In 2017, to stop the over-mining of rare natural materials such as gold and tungsten used in its smartphones and computers, Apple made a commitment to obtain the rare metals through recycling older devices. The technology company is also looking at ways to make its devices 100 percent recycled. "We're moving toward a closed-loop supply chain. One day we'd like to be able to build new products with just recycled materials, including your old products," Apple said in its annual environment report. In 2018, the smart device maker announced that all its operations, spanning 43 countries, were being run using 100% renewable energy — either solar or wind.

The North Face Inc.

Founded in 1966 by two hiking enthusiasts, The North Face Inc., which specializes in outdoor clothing and gear, has always prided itself on being sustainable. In addition to incorporating recycled materials into their products and urging suppliers to reduce chemicals, energy use, and waste in their factories, the company also has a take-back program. "Clothes That Loop," encourages customers to drop-off unwanted North Face products, including old clothing and footwear, to the closest company retail store in exchange for a $10 coupon for their next purchase. The items are sent to Soles4Souls, a non-profit that distributes them to areas struck by disasters or donates them to those in need.

This year on Earth Day, the company is closing all of its 113 North American stores to enable employees to explore nature, without their digital devices, and connect with the "real world" — themselves and other people. North Face has also launched a global campaign to make April 22 an official public holiday to allow everyone the opportunity to do the same. To promote the cause, the corporation has created a weeklong series called “Explore Mode.” It features unique, digital-free interactive events organized by musicians, artists, and culinary influencers in major cities like New York, Paris, and London.

Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota hopes to have a positive impact on the environment by the year 2050 (Credit: Toyota.com)

Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has pledged to try to achieve a zero or, perhaps, even a net positive impact on the environment by the year 2050. The company plans to achieve this with several initiatives that include introducing emission-free cars, reducing water usage by reusing and recycling, using renewable energy to power their factories, and encouraging parts manufacturers to go "green."

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW)

In January 2019, 30 multinational companies banded together to reduce plastic waste (Credit: AEPW.)

In January 2019, a coalition of 30 oil and chemical multinational companies, including Chevron, Dow, Formosa Plastics, and Mitsubishi Chemical, announced a $1.5 billion initiative to reduce plastic waste through better recycling practices. Called the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), the group initially plans to focus their efforts on Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. According to the nonprofit environmental advocacy group Ocean Conservancy, the four Southeastern nations, along with China, are responsible for more than 60 percent of the plastic trash in our oceans.

While the efforts by these and other companies with similar practices will go a long way in helping the environment, individuals have to do their part as well. So this Earth Day, make a pledge to do everything you can to reduce your impact on the planet. Small actions such as switching off lights and devices when not in use, biking to school instead of driving, and using reusable water bottles and lunch boxes can make a big difference.

Happy Earth Day!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Resources: Toyota.com, Apple.com, thenorthface.com,breakfreefromplastic.org

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283 Comments
  • ninjaslayer8899
    ninjaslayer8899over 5 years
    i'm crying we hurt animal sad for us human|
    • #love thearth?over 5 years
      Look so, Earth day is great and all but after all the effect of humans and waste, pollution, and our actions ; the cause of this are so should we really make earth day a activity, or should it be a thing ever american should do, NO MATTER WHAT. "Nah I want to sit on my couch and watch TV. well If you just sit on your tush and do what your doing our earth is slowly going to die and soon there will be no earth, if this keeps going on our earth is slowly going to die as said. so earth day should be made a Required holiday with certain rules. "I want to drive my car to work." well the more you drive your car the more your going to slowly kill us all with the pollution that is produces. "What do I do with my leftovers then." Well use it as produce and/ Or Fertilizer. I've noticed that people love national parks. but they throw there trash where they want, is that good for the earth? No... Just one person cant do much so join me with the act of awareness around the world. #Love thearth?
      • Alexover 5 years
        Whe have to do something the earth and the animals on it are diying!!.
        • earth over 5 years
          it is so sad that birds are diying
          • zyannaover 5 years
            I love earth day
            • zoweover 5 years
              Have a nice day
              • TurtleLover123over 5 years
                YAASSSSSS!!!!! Save the turtles! -TurtleLover123
                • Love Earthover 5 years
                  are plants will die if people keep doing this and we not survive please dont trash the world ;(
                  • Slimeis sweamonover 5 years
                    Who does not love earth day
                    • Love Earthover 5 years
                      If people don't take care of the earth its bad because it can contaminate the environment and we can get sick . Also animals and also humans would stop to reproduce because of the contamination.