Even though people may look down on Walmart because they are so over powering, they are trying to help our environment to go green. I am not a fan that Walmart has taken over so many small grocery stores and almost acting as a monopoly, however I still do shop there. Even though, I do not necessarily agree with all of the things that Walmart as a corporation does, it is a one stop shop and so it is very practical for me to shop there for groceries and for dry goods such as shampoo and conditioner. While researching how this corporation was going green, I was pleasantly shocked to find out that this big-time corporation is doing it for the right reasons. Below is a video of how Walmart is going green.
As reading on MSNBC, I came across this quote by Lee Scott, the Chief Executive, “As one of the largest companies in the world, with an expanding global presence, environmental problems are our problems.” To me this shows that the corporation really does see a need to help change the environment, and they are taking matters into their own hands. This video describes that Walmart is going green by using sky lights, motion censored lights, toilets using less water, and receipts that have print of both side.
I know that the Walmart that I shop at incorporates lots of these things. While I know that Walmart may be wanting money to make the men in charge richer, they have have it together while about going green. Walmart is not perfect by any means, they are still trying to work some things out. According to care2.com, by being open 24 hours that burns a lot of energy. Small things like that need to be looked at. However, I give Walmart an A on the task of going green.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9815727/ns/us_news-environment/t/wal-mart-going-green/#.Tz4PllzOx_c
http://www.care2.com/causes/wal-mart-going-green-or-greenwashing.html
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Starbucks
Starbucks: a place where people go daily to get coffee or pastries. As a college student, I go to Starbucks at least once a week. I have a very hectic schedule so getting small boost of energy is a must to keep me going. Millions of people use Starbucks daily, but how are they trying to protect the environment. With the use of many paper cups daily, is Starbucks doing anything to help our environment such as recycling.
After reading about Starbucks, I was kind of disappointed in their efforts of going green. While their intentions seem well, I do not think that their goals are very realistic.
Each year Starbucks sells 3,000,000,000 cups of coffee. While that may be good money for their business, it could potentially be bad for our environment. That is three billion paper cups. If you ask me, that is a lot of paper that should be recycled. In 1985, Starbucks started to offer discounts in help to protect the environment. Each time a customer brings in a reusable mug, they would receive a 10% discount. According to the Starbucks website, “Although we served 6.4 million more beverages in reusable cups in 2010 than 2009, we will need considerable innovation and customer engagement to reach our 2015 goal.” The Starbucks 2015 goal is to have all of Starbucks cups that are reusable. In my opinion, I think that is a good goal, but not realistic. While I may be wanting to go green, not every person that walks through the doors of Starbucks agree with this. Another thing that Starbucks is trying is setting out recycle bins, just for your coffee cups in the stores. While that sounds like a good idea, lets be realistic. Most people that go into Starbucks are in a hurry and get their coffee and go. The only time the customer will see the recycle bins is while he or she is running out of the door to their next destination. The bins would be good for customers who stayed in the coffee shop, but from my experience most people are getting their coffee to go.
While Starbucks may not have all of the kinks out yet, what they are trying to do is help the environment. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Starbucks is ranked number four in the the top 50 companies going green. “We applaud Starbucks’ leadership in green power purchasing,” said Rick Albright, Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste & Toxics in Seattle. “Their actions are helping to protect air quality, green our power supply and create renewable energy jobs.”
I applaud Starbucks for trying to help to their part, but I do not see their methods advertised a lot, nor do I see reusable mugs being used more than paper cups. I think that to help Starbucks reach their goal, they should advertise their recycle bins more.
Below is a video about Starbucks using reusable mugs.
Each year Starbucks sells 3,000,000,000 cups of coffee. While that may be good money for their business, it could potentially be bad for our environment. That is three billion paper cups. If you ask me, that is a lot of paper that should be recycled. In 1985, Starbucks started to offer discounts in help to protect the environment. Each time a customer brings in a reusable mug, they would receive a 10% discount. According to the Starbucks website, “Although we served 6.4 million more beverages in reusable cups in 2010 than 2009, we will need considerable innovation and customer engagement to reach our 2015 goal.” The Starbucks 2015 goal is to have all of Starbucks cups that are reusable. In my opinion, I think that is a good goal, but not realistic. While I may be wanting to go green, not every person that walks through the doors of Starbucks agree with this. Another thing that Starbucks is trying is setting out recycle bins, just for your coffee cups in the stores. While that sounds like a good idea, lets be realistic. Most people that go into Starbucks are in a hurry and get their coffee and go. The only time the customer will see the recycle bins is while he or she is running out of the door to their next destination. The bins would be good for customers who stayed in the coffee shop, but from my experience most people are getting their coffee to go.
While Starbucks may not have all of the kinks out yet, what they are trying to do is help the environment. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Starbucks is ranked number four in the the top 50 companies going green. “We applaud Starbucks’ leadership in green power purchasing,” said Rick Albright, Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste & Toxics in Seattle. “Their actions are helping to protect air quality, green our power supply and create renewable energy jobs.”
I applaud Starbucks for trying to help to their part, but I do not see their methods advertised a lot, nor do I see reusable mugs being used more than paper cups. I think that to help Starbucks reach their goal, they should advertise their recycle bins more.
Below is a video about Starbucks using reusable mugs.
http://www.go-green.ae/greenstory_view.php?storyid=1350
http://www.starbucks.com/thebigpicture
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-1531/Starbucks-Going-Green.html
http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/learn-more/goals-and-progress/recycling
Friday, January 27, 2012
AT&T
Many people in America have heard of the cell phone company, AT&T. This corporation does advertising in many places to try and get consumers to buy their product.Even though millions of people may use this corporation, what is AT&T doing to help the environment in which we live in. I personally use AT&T and so I was very interested to find out what a corporation that I use daily does for my environment. AT&T is trying to go green by using e-billing and having bins in their store to bring in old electronic devices. However, if I would have not done research, I would have no idea about their services. To be considered a company going green, AT&T should advertise more about how they are trying to help our environment.
AT&T has developed a program called Reuse and Recycle. This corporation was teamed up Environmental Protection Agency and Keep America Beautiful. AT&T Reuse and Recycle is an easy way to help protect the environment. This program was developed because of all of the e-waste that was not going into landfills. On the AT&T website I found this: "According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products that can be recycled, only 18 percent was collected for recycling and 82 percent was disposed of, primarily in landfills." It impresses me that AT&T would put this on their website. It shows that in the past they have not been helping the environment, but now they are trying to help. In this program, the corporation is encouraging people to bring in their old cell phones and batteries into a local store to be used for recycling. Another aspect of Reuse and Recycle is wireless billing. This is something that my family does because it helps save paper, and also it is easier to pay a bill online than to get it in the mail. According to Keep America Beautiful, ""We are honored to be the first wireless carrier to partner with the EPA and Keep America Beautiful to help protect our environment for the next generation," said Wally Hyer, vice president-AT&T Wireless." In my opinion this show that AT&T is really trying to help our environment go green.
AT&T has developed a program called Reuse and Recycle. This corporation was teamed up Environmental Protection Agency and Keep America Beautiful. AT&T Reuse and Recycle is an easy way to help protect the environment. This program was developed because of all of the e-waste that was not going into landfills. On the AT&T website I found this: "According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products that can be recycled, only 18 percent was collected for recycling and 82 percent was disposed of, primarily in landfills." It impresses me that AT&T would put this on their website. It shows that in the past they have not been helping the environment, but now they are trying to help. In this program, the corporation is encouraging people to bring in their old cell phones and batteries into a local store to be used for recycling. Another aspect of Reuse and Recycle is wireless billing. This is something that my family does because it helps save paper, and also it is easier to pay a bill online than to get it in the mail. According to Keep America Beautiful, ""We are honored to be the first wireless carrier to partner with the EPA and Keep America Beautiful to help protect our environment for the next generation," said Wally Hyer, vice president-AT&T Wireless." In my opinion this show that AT&T is really trying to help our environment go green.
While all of this seems like AT&T is helping out, I do not see it advertised very well. Prior to researching for it, I had no idea about the AT&T Reuse and Recycle Program. I knew that e-billing was offered, but I had no idea about bringing in old cell phones and batteries.I think it is great that AT&T offers this service, but if they really cared about the environment like they say they do, than why have I never heard of this before. I encourage this corporation to really advertise that they take old electronic things, so that they can be helping our environment in an even better way. However, if there is no more advertising then there is now, I am no sure how serious AT&T is about going green.
Below is a video about some of the things that AT&T is doing to help recycle and better our environment.
http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=20369
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-wireless-connects-with-keep-america-beautiful-for-reuse--recycle-program-70888062.html
Friday, January 20, 2012
About the Author
This is my first post! My name is Marleigh Mills and I will be blogging for my Writing 1320 class where we're exploring how corporations have influenced our environment over the last 140 years. I am a freshman at the University of Central Arkansas. I have never thought about how corporations worked much less how they have effected the environment. I am very curious to find out new information about how deceiving the corporations in the United States of America are. In class we have watched videos about how much power corporations have. As a citizen of the United States, I should be informed of how these corporations are directly and indirectly affecting me.
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