An infographic by the team at CouponAudit
I love the song “Stand By Me.” It’s especially wonderful when people form all over the world come together and “Play for Peace.” Enjoy!
Last week during a webinar (posted here), Robert Watson shared the results of the 2009 Green Building Impact Report. Watson is the Editor of GreenBuildings.com and the ” Father of LEED,” ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
At the conference, Johnson Diversey CEO and President, Ed Lonergan, announced that their company has tripled their WWF Climate Savers commitment of an 8% absolute GHG (green house gas) emissions reduction, to a 25% reduction target for the same time period (by 2013). The company announced it will invest $12 million to achieve the changes, and anticipates operational savings of $32 million, demonstrating that sustainability is the right approach for both the environment and the bottom line. Lonergan emphasized the company’s integrated bottom line- clarifying that Johnson Diversey sees no separation between People, Planet, and Profit.
In the last year, Johnson Diversey has shown, the evolution of the triple bottom line, or old way of thinking. In the old way of thinking, in regards to business, People were the human impact, The Planet, was the environmental impact, and Profit was a companies financial profit. Now, the shift is to an integrated bottom line, that combines both growth and cost savings, achieved by reduced operational costs.
Ed Lonergan states that, ” We’ve found addressing climate change, is not only good for the environment, but it also makes really good business sense. And, I think when that happens, the world changes.”
We cannot rely upon government alone, to make the changes we need to save our planet. Voluntary commitments by major corporations such as Johnson Diversey, show us that the private sector and individuals can make a big difference. So, I am inviting you to triple your commitment to the environment. If a multinational corporation operating in 175 countries can do it, so can we, your average everyday people!
At this link, you can take action now on climate change, as well as view a flash video player of the Building a Sustainable Future Webinar, access both the 2008 and 2009 LEED Green Building Impact Reports, and much more.
Now, we can all do our part on working toward a better tomorrow, and a “green” future. “Let the clean economy begin.”
Clean the World Foundation Inc., has only been an official organization since February, 2009. Already, they are well on the path of doing great things!
Their campaign states that, by recycling soap and shampoo from hotels and motels, they are able to make it possible for people in developing countries, to clean themselves. This not only reduces the risk of disease, for those people, but also reduces waste in landfills.
CTW, states that 9,000 children die everyday, from diarrheal disease, and respiratory disease. This is often caused by a lack of hygiene, as well as, unsanitary conditions, and often a lack of water. Studies have shown, that the 9,000 figure can be reduced by as much as 60 percent, just by hand washing alone.
The Clean the World team sanitizes, steams, packages, and sends the soap to homeless shelters, and overseas where thousands of children die from diseases stemming from poor hygiene.
Co-founder Shawn Seipler says, “If we can stop that soap from hitting landfills, recycle it, and get it to the 9,000 children who will die today, because they don’t have soap, and lack of hygiene, then we’re gonna do what Clean the World set out to do.”
Clean the World, picks the barely-used soap bins up from Hotel Biba, and other participating hotel/ motels each week. Then, back at their plant in Orlando, their team sanitizes, steams, packages, and sends the soap to homeless shelters, and overseas where thousands of children die from diseases stemming from poor hygiene. They have already sent more than 150,000 bars of soap, over by boat, to Haiti. In case you didn’t know, Haiti, is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Hotel Biba General Manager Jennifer Reichert says, “Generally we collect one bar from the shower, and one bar from the sink from each guest per day. It’s a lot of soap.” Hotel Biba, has 40 guest rooms, and typically up to 160 soap bars are used each day.
The program seems to benefit a lot of folks. The hotel maids who collect the soap, feel like they’re making a difference. Men from a local shelter get jobs disinfecting the soap. People in Haiti, and other overseas countries receive the soap, who otherwise,cannot afford it. They are already helping save many lives, and keeping soap out of landfills.
Members of the non-profit organization hope more hotels request their service, as I’m sure they have, and will continue to do so. If you travel a lot, check with your hotel/motel to see if they are participating in this program. If they are not, please encourage them to do so. CTW, is saving lives and definitely working toward a better tomorrow for many people.
