Tag Archives: sustainable forest

September Book Review: Brewing Change, Behind the Bean at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on October 10, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

Written by Rick Peyser and Bill Mares, with foreword by Bob Stiller

Authors’ and publisher donations benefit Food 4 Farmers

SHELBURNE, Vt.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rick Peyser, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ (GMCR) Director of Social Advocacy and Community Outreach, was swayed by running partner and co-author Bill Mares to tell the story of Peyser’s personal journey and quiet crusade to help change the world of coffee.

Their book, Brewing Change: Behind the Bean at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
, is the inspiring result of those frequent runs and steady conversations. Brewing Change chronicles Peyser’s 24-year career with an insider’s view of GMCR, one of the largest specialty coffee companies and purchasers of certified Fair Trade coffee in the world. Brewing Change is part travelogue, part social commentary, and part motivating business model for building corporate social responsibility. Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Business, BusinessWire, CSR, Environment, Goods, Services & Product Design, Green Business, Green Living, Green Marketing, Green Supply Chain, Health, Kitchen, Landscaping, Sustainability News, Sustainability Practices, Sustainable Farming | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hershey’s Second CSR Report Shows Substantial Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on May 1, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

HERSHEY, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today issued its second Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, “Listen, Learn, Act,” providing updates on its substantial progress against the sustainability goals the company announced in its first report in 2010. The new report highlights how Hershey has met or exceeded nearly all of its original sustainability targets. The report, which can be found at www.thehersheycompany.com/social-responsibility, also sets new targets for the company through 2015.

“Our deep commitment to doing well by doing good traces back more than a century to the values and vision set by our founder, Milton Hershey,“ said John P. Bilbrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company. “I am proud of our many, meaningful sustainability accomplishments during the past few years but we recognize this is a journey. Our team is committed to continually improving the way we do business and working to make our communities stronger. The new goals we have set for ourselves are fundamental to our business strategy and linked to how we will grow our business around the world.” Continue reading →

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Fair Trade USA Produce Imports Post Huge Increase

by 3BL Media Press Release
Posted on April 28, 2012 by 3BL Media Press Release

Article from The Packer on import growth of Fair Trade produce

Fair Trade USA logged a 40% increase in fresh produce imports in 2011 compared to 2010, partially driven by the reintroduction of cucumbers and bell peppers and a 170% increase in citrus imports.

Officials expect tremendous growth for 2012 also because several commodities from northern Mexico are being added.

In its recently released 2011 Almanac, the Oakland, Calif.-based Fair Trade-certifying organization reported year-to-year increases for 2009 and 2010 were only 2%.

“Notably, 2011 marked the first time that Fair Trade-Certified bell peppers, cucumbers and bananas from Mexico were imported into the United States,” the almanac states.

Hannah Freeman, director of produce and floral development for Fair Trade USA, said additional new commodities certified for import from Mexico this spring include grapes, watermelons, honeydew, cantaloupes, roma tomatoes and peaches.

“There’s a lot of excitement in Mexico right now,” Freeman said. “We expect to see several new growers certified this year offering new products like asparagus, strawberries, eggplant and tomatoes.” Continue reading →

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Luminant Plants Over 1.7 Million Trees as Part of 2012 Reforestation Program

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on April 3, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With recent rainfall providing ideal ground conditions, crews are wrapping up their efforts to plant more than 1.7 million tree seedlings at Luminant mine sites. The annual four-month project is part of Luminant’s long-standing commitment to quickly return mined land to productivity.

“We are looking forward to seeing this year’s seedlings take root and grow.”

“This program is something we look forward to each year, but especially this year after last summer’s drought and its impact on tree and plant life in Texas,” said Sid Stroud, director of environmental mining. “We are looking forward to seeing this year’s seedlings take root and grow.”

With the help of tree-planting machines capable of planting up to 10,000 seedlings a day, 35 species ranging from winged elms to a variety of oaks are now growing across Luminant mine sites. Some species will be used for commercial timber production, while others will help establish quality wildlife habitat. Continue reading →

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Sustainia on the Look-out for Top 100 Sustainable Solutions

by 3BL Media Press Release
Posted on March 29, 2012 by 3BL Media Press Release

(3BL Media) Copenhagen – 28 March 2012 – The Schwarzenegger-backed Sustainia project is gathering 100 solutions for a sustainable tomorrow. Titled Sustainia100, the solutions will be delivered to decision-makers during Rio+20 to inspire discussions. In addition, solutions selected for the Sustainia100 will be registered as nominees for the Sustainia Award. Submissions of projects are open until 20 April via sustainia.me.

The objective of the Sustainia100 and the Sustainia Award is to present existing solutions that help build a desirable and realistic sustainable society. Sustainia invites corporations, organizations and engaged individuals to present their sustainable ideas and solutions. A wide range of projects are welcomed, ranging from local community initiatives to large scale technology solutions.

“We are looking for the great ideas, innovations and technologies that take us to Sustainia. Our aim is to provide a strong international platform showcasing the ready and available sustainable solutions. Sustainia100 is the people, companies, communities and organizations that represent the greatest story never told: that bottom-up change is in fact already happening and at an impressive speed,” says
Executive Director of Sustainia, Laura Storm. Continue reading →

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Parisleaf Printing and Design Receives CurrentState™ Platinum Certification

by 3BL Media Press Release
Posted on March 20, 2012 by 3BL Media Press Release

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Tulsa, OK – March 19, 2012 – Parisleaf Printing and Design recently completed the CurrentState™ Sustainability Audit and received Platinum Certification – the highest certification level available.

The Client’s Challenge

Parisleaf is a Printing and Design company located in Gainesville, Florida.  Parisleaf provides a variety of services which include printing, branding packages, web and logo design.

Parisleaf’s largest challenge is that traditional print related goods and services can have a significant negative impact on the environment.  Negative impacts occur at all stages of the paper life cycle -  the harvesting of trees, the processing of wood fiber into pulp and  the disposal of paper products at the end of their useful life.

However, Parisleaf has overcome these challenges. They offer carbon negative printing and web solutions to its clients. Parisleaf is able to achieve this because of their innovative green practices and the steps they take to mitigate their effect on the environment.   Continue reading →

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LEED’s Artificial Barriers Continue to Fail Responsible Forestry

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on March 6, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

(3BL Media) Washington, DC - March 6, 2012 - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) continues to put up artificial barriers in its latest draft of its LEED rating tool, shutting out 75 percent of North America’s certified forests from the LEED credits that deal with “responsible extraction of raw materials.” The third draft of LEED 2012, released on March 1, includes credits for certified wood that is “FSC or better.”

“This new language raises more issues than it resolves: Who will decide what is ‘better than FSC’ and on what basis?” saidKathy Abusow, President and CEO of Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc. (SFI®). “SFI clearly has requirements that are not matched by FSC varying standards around the world.  This fact continues to go unrecognized by the USGBC, despite the fact that governors, congressmen, and 6,000 individuals have urged the USGBC not to turn its back on North American forests and recognize all forest certification standards.”

Currently LEED only recognizes forests certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which account for about one quarter of North America’s certified forests. The rest are certified to three independent standards in use across North America – SFI, Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and American Tree Farm System (ATFS), all of which are endorsed by the international Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Continue reading →

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First Projects Certified by SITES National Rating System for Sustainable Landscapes

by CGR Staff Writer
Posted on January 27, 2012 by CGR Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, Jan 25, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Sustainable Sites Initiative(TM) (SITES(TM)) has announced the first three projects to be certified by the nation’s most comprehensive system for rating the sustainable design, construction and maintenance of built landscapes.

The corporate headquarters of an international manufacturing company, a new university green space and a children’s playground in an urban park are the first to be recognized for their sustainable land practices from among 150-plus pilot projects that began the certification process in summer 2010. These initial projects are the St. Charles, Missouri, campus of Novus International Inc.; the Green at College Park of the University of Texas at Arlington; and the Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn.

SITES is a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden. SITES was created to fill a critical need for guidelines and recognition of green landscapes based on their planning, design, construction and maintenance. The partners have collaborated since 2005 in developing a voluntary, national rating system and set of performance benchmarks for sustainable landscapes in areas with or without buildings. Continue reading →

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