The annual report focuses on the company’s commitment to being a responsible food manufacturer. Highlighted performance and initiatives throughout 2011 include Hormel Foods:

• Being listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the second consecutive year, placing the company among the world’s top 10 percent of sustainable companies.
• Achieving outstanding results from the annual Environmental Sustainability Best of the Best competition among all Hormel Foods locations. In 2011, the competition generated entries throughout all business segments that resulted in the reduction of 695.2 tons of solid waste to landfill, an increase in recycling tonnage by 27 percent and more than 40.4 million gallons of water saved collectively.
• Enhancing the On Our Way to Ending Hunger program, with contributions of more than $5 million in cash and product to aid hunger-relief efforts in the United States and abroad.
• Distributing its Supplier Responsibility Principles, which were designed to ensure the quality of products and services received from suppliers follows the commitment of Hormel Foods to responsible environmental and social performance.
• Expanding the number of facilities that have been certified under the Global Food Safety Initiative-recognized food safety management standards.
• Improving performance on a number of key metrics, including:
• Beating the packaging minimization goal, reducing packaging by 4.2 million pounds;
• Beating the water reduction goal, reducing water consumption by 15 percent;
• Continuing to outperform the industry average for safety rates; and
• Implementing several significant capital projects designed to reduce energy use, expecting to see results in the 2012 fiscal year, as part of the new energy conservation goal.

“I am proud of our team for achieving outstanding results in fiscal 2011,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “We will continue to responsibly conduct business following Our Way – the Hormel Foods values statement that defines how we operate every day in our approach to people, process, products, performance and philanthropy.”

The 2011 Hormel Foods Corporate Responsibility Report is the company’s fourth consecutive report that can be found entirely online. Also available is an executive summary that provides a condensed version of the full report along with key highlights. The online report can be accessed and the summary can be downloaded at www.hormelfoods.com/csr.

In alignment with the company’s commitment to philanthropy and in honor of the launch of the report, Hormel Foods will feature an online contest. For every retweet on Twitter announcing the release of the 2011 Hormel Foods Corporate Responsibility Report, the company will donate $6 to Feeding America (up to $5,000). Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

Hormel Foods plans to continue reporting on its environmental and social performance annually; the next report will be released in May 2013 for data spanning November 2011 to October 2012.

To date, 21 major brands have distanced themselves from SFI, ForestEthics says. Many of these companies also have made commitments to shift over to products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

For example, Shutterfly says it will give preference to FSC-certified products in all of its new paper purchases, and Pitney Bowes will give preference to FSC in all new paper purchases for internal use Both will avoid reference to the SFI program in external communications.

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Source: Environmental Leader

Nature of Business radio, created and hosted by Chrissy Coughlin, is a weekly show on business and environment.

This week I had a great opportunity to speak with Matt Gardner, Co-Founder and Director of SustainServ, a global sustainability consultancy with offices in Zurich and Boston. We talked about the current state of corporate sustainability. What does it really mean for companies — particularly the small and medium-sized ones? How has it evolved? What is going to happen to companies who are not paying attention? What is happening with supply chains? And what does the future look like? All fun and interesting questions.

Listen to Chrissy’s interview with Matt Gardner…

Source: GreenBiz.com

The mission of the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (IGIHOF) is to promote ecological sustainability excellence worldwide. IGIHOF’s mission is to recognize individuals and organizations for excellence and outstanding achievements in green industry. Induction ceremonies are held at various locations all over the world.

“It is a great honor to be inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame for our efforts as a green and sustainable organization,” said John Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “And it is truly humbling to receive a similar honor as an individual. It’s really all a testament to our constant commitment to the proper disposal of electronic waste and the hazards it presents to our environment. We are passionate about doing everything we can, beyond our industry-leading e-waste recycling efforts, to be a green and sustainable organization as well. To enter this Hall of Fame beside sustainability and green industry legends is added motivation for us to continue our mission in new, innovative and industry-changing ways. The green business revolution is here to stay and we are proud to help lead the charge!”

“The ERI story is truly amazing,” said Sam Geil, Chair of the Board of Directors for the International Green Industry Hall of Fame. “In 2002, John and his team pioneered electronic recycling on a national and international level and built a socially responsible company earning a place in the Hall of Fame. ERI is an example of what can be accomplished with great people, hard work, disciplined commitment and innovation. The best part of this story is that they are just getting started.”

About Shegerian the individual Hall of Famer, Geil added, “John has also earned a place in the International Green Industry Hall of Fame as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for his tireless work as Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI, Co-Founder and CEO of 1-800-Recycling, Co-Founder and Host of Green is Good, and Co-Founder of Addicted.com. John is truly an industry icon as an entrepreneur, advocate, and innovator. He has no equal when it comes to success and passion in the Green Industry.”

Shegerian established ERI’s headquarters in Fresno in 2005 and since then, under his stewardship, the company has fast become the largest and most efficient recycler of electronic waste in the world. With longstanding private sector and government contracts and relationships, ERI is licensed to de-manufacture and recycle televisions, computer monitors, computers, and virtually all other types of electronic equipment with a cord.

ERI developed and houses the largest e-waste shredder in the world and processes more than 120 million pounds of electronic waste annually at its locations in California, Colorado, Indianapolis, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, Washington State and Washington DC.

It was announced Friday that as inductees into the Hall of Fame, ERI and John Shegerian are enshrined into the Hall permanently and will be members for life.

For more information on recycling needs, visit www.electronicrecyclers.com , http://1800recycling.com or www.urbanmining.org .

Now the largest privately held recycler of electronic waste in the US, and the world’s first dual-certified electronic waste recycler, Fresno-headquartered Electronic Recyclers International is licensed to de-manufacture and recycle televisions, computer monitors, computers and other types of electronic equipment. ERI serves public sector clients via GSA contract GS-10F-0051Y and processes more than 120 million pounds of electronic waste annually at eight locations in seven states, including California, Washington, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas and North Carolina. For more information about e-waste recycling and ERI, call 1-800-884-8466 or visit http://www.electronicrecyclers.com .

The prototype home, which is expected to define the next generation of sustainable home building in this country, combines expertise from industry leading sustainable building practices in the United States and from European Active House Alliance practices. Construction began in early May and the 2600 square foot home is scheduled for occupancy in September.

The Active House USA home was designed incorporating Active House Alliance standards utilized in existing Active House Homes built around the world, and to meet, or exceed, four North American sustainable building certifications: Energy Star, EPA Indoor Air Plus, Building America Builder’s Challenge and ANSI ICC-700-the National Green Building Standard.

VELUX Group, the Danish parent company of VELUX America, was involved with the founding of the Active House Alliance in 2010 in Copenhagen Denmark. The Alliance has been involved with the construction of many Active House projects.

Mikkel Skott Olsen, chairman of the Active House committee, traveled from Denmark to attend the groundbreaking. “These homes take an innovative approach to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and interaction with the surrounding environment,” he says, “and a holistic approach to sustainability and community conscious home construction.”

The Active House Alliance U.S. building partner is Kim Hibbs of Hibbs Homes, a Certified Green Professional through the National Association of Homebuilders and a leading custom green homebuilder in the St. Louis area. Project manager is Matt Belcher, a nationally recognized green builder, consultant, and educator. Belcher serves as Chair of the NAHB’s Green Building sub-committee. Architect is Jeff Day of Jeff Day & Associates.

The geographic location of the home is ideal because designing the prototype in St. Louis’s mixed humid climate requires that cold and warm climate specifications be taken into account, allowing for easy translations of the prototype into other homes in the United States.

This prototype home is unique in that it is being built as an infill project in an historic neighborhood close to downtown shopping and restaurants. The original home on the lot was in poor condition and not a good candidate for renovation.

“From careful deconstruction and recycling of materials, such as interior framing in the original home, to the extensive use of VELUX No Leak skylights for natural light and passive ventilation, solar panels for water heating, geothermal wells for a good part of the energy requirements, and other green elements and techniques, we are building a very efficient home that will perform well,” says builder, Kim Hibbs. “We even ground the concrete foundation of the original home into gravel for fill in the new construction,” he says.

Project manager Matt Belcher says his company, Verdatek Solutions, has diverted as much as 80 percent of an entire deconstructed home for reuse through cooperative organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Re-Source St. Louis. “After performing an environmental analysis on the building and removing items, such as Asbestos and floor tiles, we normally give ‘first crack’ at donating some of the viable components to participating organizations where interested parties can procure and reuse the materials.”

Belcher also points out that the Active House specifications are meant to be a guide to achieve high performance goals for building durable homes and managing the resources it takes to build, all with a sharp focus on energy efficiency to greatly reduce need for power and water use. “For example,” he says, “the Active House USA design incorporates natural light sources in our energy planning while adding to the comfort of living in the home.”

In addition to function, appearance was an important factor in the design of the home. The owners, David and Thuy Smith, made it clear that they didn’t want a “funky” home – just a “nice, Midwestern house” that didn’t “stick out” in the nearly-century old neighborhood.

Project architect Jeff Day, of Jeff Day & Associates in St. Louis, says that the two-story home will blend visually with the surrounding neighborhood, unlike more modern styles seen in some European Active House models. “A goal is to build the house with traditional design while incorporating efficiencies that will make utility costs negligible,” he says.

The University of Missouri Columbia Center for Sustainable Design will monitor and document energy data for the home during the first year of occupancy.

Stephan Moyon, director of sales for VELUX America, says that the project will demonstrate to construction professionals nationwide that quality, energy efficient skylights and windows can work together to result in a highly energy efficient home. “Active House principles illustrate the concept,” Moyon says, “of the interaction between homes and their occupants and why it is important for sustainability that all elements of design work together. It’s a message that is being conveyed to architects and builders throughout the country.”

For more information visit www.activehouse.info , www.velux.com , www.veluxusa.com , www.hibbshomes.com , or www.activehouseusa.com/press-room/ .

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If current water usage trends continue, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population — or 5.3 billion people — will be vulnerable to water shortages. What many here in the U.S. may not know is that we are far from immune to water stress. One need look no further than Texas, where a record-breaking drought last year created massive water shortages that significantly impacted the state’s water supplies, agriculture and industry.

Although the world’s water supply works in a continuous cycle of consumption and replenishment — we are currently using more at a faster pace — and nature is not able to keep up. It’s no longer enough to conserve water during droughts, or to turn off the tap while we brush our teeth. Water reuse must be part of the long-term solution.

The time has come to look past the “yuck factor” that some associate with treating and reusing “used” water, rather than drawing from our shrinking fresh supplies. The water used in today’s morning shower shouldn’t disappear down the drain, but rather find new life to feed crops or produce electricity.

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Source: GreenBiz.com
By Jon Freedman

With spring planting well underway, gardeners across the country are up to their elbows in dirt and compost, putting beautiful flowers and healthy veggies in the ground.

For many, the annoying side effect of this very green activity is all the plastic pots left over at the end of the process. Nursery pots are typically made with #5, #6 or #7 plastics, which are difficult or sometimes impossible to recycle.

A Seattle-area company is doing what it can to change that. The McConkey Company, which manufactures and distributes products for plant nurseries, recently released the rEarth line of flowerpots, which are made entirely from recycled water bottles.

Most plastic water bottles are made with #1 plastic, known as PET or PETE, which is quite recyclable. But the remanufacturing process required to turn PETE back into new products is typically done overseas.

“We have these water bottles that Americans recycle, but then they’re put on an ocean container to China, where they turn it into consumer products,” Stina McConkey, McConkey Company’s COO, said in a press release. “So we asked ourselves, can we keep this valuable material at home — and keep jobs in the US by turning them into flower pots? After working with local recyclers, it turns out we could.”

The company also hopes its product will spur awareness about the wastefulness of single-use plastic bottles and encourage conversations about recycling. Fifty-four percent of Americans drink bottled water regularly, according to McConkey, but only about one-quarter of those bottles are recycled. An estimated 60 million water bottles are thrown away every single day.

rEarth pots are easy to recycle; once you’re through with them you can chuck them in your curbside bin (or, if your municipality does not accept #1 plastic, you can take them to a recycling center with all your other plastics). During the first year of manufacturing, the company diverted 72 million plastic water bottles.

The pots come in eight different sizes, including the six-packs that are popular for vegetables starts and small flowering plants. rEarth has been successful enough that the McConkey Company is planning to add additional sizes to the line later this year.

Consumers will find rEarth pots holding plants from growers such as Colorama, SummerWinds Nursery and Do Right’s Plant Growers in California. They are available for sale (in bulk quantities only) on the company’s website. Want to see them in your area? Encourage your favorite nursery to check them out.

By Sophia Bennett

Many vendors exist to handle large scale e-waste, and they say less than one percent of their business comes from individual consumers. This ruling has got the industry wondering how it will get the consumer on board.

Currently, the Central Pollution Control Board has said that India is expected to exceed 8 lakh tonnes of e-waste this year, which is double of what it was last year. Industry estimates say 70 percent of e-waste generated is from businesses and 30 percent from consumers. While businesses have organized forms of disposing their e-waste, the challenge that lies ahead is the consumer. Here is where the new rules could make a difference if seriously implemented.

The 2011-2012 annual report of the MoEF says, “Producers are required to set up collection systems and meet the costs involved in the environmentally sound management of e-waste generated from the ‘end of life’ of their own products.”

These rules call the producer to have an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Now, producers are supposed to bear the cost of creating awareness among its customers as well as disposing their products in an environmentally-friendly manner. This goes above and beyond their current role of being with the customer until the warranty period expires.

Companies like Dell India have had programs in place where a free pick up of the product along with free recycling is provided to customers who ask for it. Upasana Choudhry, environmental manager, HP India, says: “In 2011, we have had 1,821 enterprise consumer touch points across 150 cities using our e-waste pick-up option. We have been working towards expansion of the program to include more cities and setting up more drop-off locations to achieve coverage over 20 states.”

Read more…

Source: Forbes India Magazine
By Nilofer D’Souza

Here are some of the key findings of the report:

10,000 Computers Disposed Weekly

According to the GAO, the U.S. federal government is the world’s largest purchaser of IT equipment, spending $80 billion in FY 2010, and disposing of 10,000 computers each week. The report found that while federal agencies have made some improvements in how they are managing their e-waste, “federal agencies often have little assurance that their used electronics are ultimately disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.”

Floundering Federal Electronics Stewardship

There have been several efforts by the federal government to promote better “stewardship” of used electronics including two executive orders plus voluntary efforts led by the EPA, the GSA, and an inter-agency task force. The GAO goal for this report was to review these efforts and see if they’ve been effective. For its study, the GAO looked at a cross section of five agencies.

What it found is that while there has been some improvement in management of federal e-waste, none of these efforts can assure that federally owned e-waste is being managed responsibly, mostly because the agencies can’t show what’s ultimately happening to their used products.

Read More…

Source: Environmental Leader
By Barbara Kyle