Companies Commit To Protecting the Environment

Not only can we effect change by recycling in our homes, we can also make a difference by purchasing goods from companies that are committed to caring for creation. This is a short list of some of the companies leading the way to more responsible use of our world’s resources.
Crayola: Colorcycle is Crayola’s school-based program to recycle not only their own plastic markers, but those made by other companies.  It’s a simple program.  Plastic markers are placed in a sturdy box by students in grades K through 12 and sent by Fedex to Crayola.  Crayola picks up the shipping cost. Crayola also offers lesson plans about recycling and the environment that teachers can use with students. 
According to the company website, Crayola:

• Uses solar power to make a billion crayons and 500 million markers annually. Their solar farm, located in Easton, Pa., has over 30,000 panels on 20-acres of land.
• Eliminates waste by re-melting any crayons chipped or damaged in production.
• Makes marker plugs with recycled plastic.
• Crushes plastic scraps from making marker casings into tiny pellets that are put back into the system.
• Uses wood from reforested areas to make Crayola colored pencils
  - For every tree used, another of the same kind is planted.
  - NO wood is used from tropical rainforests or endangered species.

To learn more go to: https://www.crayola.com/about-us/company/green-products.aspx
A Forbes April 20, 2018 online article reports five companies are leaders in recycling They recycle more than 85 percent of their waste and demonstrate a strong commitment to caring for the environment.

1. Accenture
2. Intel
3. Estee Lauder
4. Eaton
5. Texas Instruments

Read the entire article about these companies at: ( https://www.forbes.com/sites/justcapital/2018/04/20/these-5-companies-are-leading-the-charge-on-recycling/#1504de1623ec). 
Amazon offers a recycling program for their electronic equipment … whether the item is still working or not.
Go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200197550
for guidance.
LEGO® has committed to:   

• Zero waste by 2030.
• Investment in renewable energy to ensure the production of LEGO® elements is 100% balanced by renewable power.
• By 2020 reduction of carbon emissions per LEGO® brick produced by 10 percent compared to 2016.  LEGO® changed the company’s target from energy efficiency to carbon efficiency per ton of LEGO® bricks in 2017.

• To identification and implementation by 2030 of sustainable alternatives to the current raw materials used for LEGO products.

More about the LEGO® commitment to environmental and social responsibility is available at:
https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/responsibility/environmental-leadership
Water is an essential part of the manufacture of Levi Strauss products.  In an environmentally responsible move, Levi Strauss created the Water<Less™ process in 2011.  Since initiating that process Levi Strauss has:

• saved more than 1 billion liters of water in the manufacture of their products, including 30 million liters of fresh water saved through reuse and recycling.

 Per their website, Levi Strauss aims to make:

• 80 percent of its products by 2020 using Water<Less™ up from nearly 25 percent currently.

For more about Levi Strauss’ sustainability efforts go to their website at: http://levistrauss.com/sustainability/products/waterless/
 
Have a favorite company?  Check what it is doing to promote zero waste, to decrease its carbon foot print, to care for creation.  If it doesn’t seem to be enough, take a minute and send an email expressing your concern, ask your friends and family to do the same.  Together our voices can make a difference.  Many business leaders have already heard and are moving their companies toward more environmentally responsible practices.