A number of top companies have pledged to reduce their carbon footprint as much as they can. As part of their goal to “go green,” these corporations are finding ways to create more sustainable products and packaging, as well as amping up their recycling efforts and more. Let’s take a look at how five companies are doing what they can to be as sustainable as possible.
Apple Rubber
Thanks to its expansive inventory of o-rings, Apple Rubber is a major player in the o-ring and gasket supply chain. They are also taking tangible steps to help the Earth; specifically, by looking into bio-based rubber for automotive applications. The EPDM rubber, known as KELTAN® Eco, uses Brazilian sugar cane to produce ethanol, which in turn becomes a building block to create the “green” form of rubber. This sustainable form of rubber would help to improve energy balance while lowering the company’s carbon footprint, would use less than 1 percent of the country’s total area and have absolutely no impact on the high quality of the product.
Clorox
Cleaning product giant Clorox has pledged to minimize waste whenever possible during the formulation, manufacturing and packaging of their products. As part of the company’s IGNITE strategy, Clorox is focusing on some very eco-friendly packaging goals, including a 50 percent combined reduction in virgin plastic and fiber packing by 2030, and to use 100 percent recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025. Clorox has also announced its zero-waste-to-landfill goal; they hope to achieve this in all of their plants by 2025, and in their global facilities by 2030.
Target
As Forbes notes, Target has taken significant steps in becoming more sustainable and eco-friendly. For example, by upping their efforts to utilize recycling programs, Target was able to reduce the amount of waste it sends to the landfill by 75 percent. In addition, they are working to install solar panels on a number of their stores, which will make them more energy efficient.
Ford Motor Company
Ford’s impressive environmental policy is upping its “green” factor. For instance, according to Smart Cities Dive, Ford uses sustainable fabrics in its vehicles, and an impressive 80 percent of its Escape and Focus vehicles are recyclable. The paint fumes that are generated in the company’s Michigan plant are recycled as fuel, and the Crown Victoria Interceptor cars that are used by police departments have fuel systems that can run on either gas or ethanol.
Starbucks
The classic Starbucks siren logo is not the only thing about this company that is green; Starbucks has also found a number of ways to be more sustainable. Thermostats are set at 75 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the industry standard of 72 degrees, and water valves are low-flow. To significantly reduce the need for straws, the cold drink cups now typically come with a “sippy cup” type lid, and cabinets installed in the stores are made from 90 percent post industrial materials.
These Efforts Add Up to a Better World
People who wish to shop at or work for companies that are Earth friendly have an ever-growing number of options. From the tiniest o-ring and the ubiquitous sanitizing wipes to big box stores, a major coffee chain and automobile plant, corporations are doing their part to be as sustainable as they can.
