2001
Nike Joins Climate Savers
Through a new Climate Savers memorandum of understanding with the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Center for Energy & Climate
Solutions (CECS), Nike Inc., Beaverton, OR, committed to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions across its operations worldwide. Nike will
also measure greenhouse gas emissions from contracted manufacturing
and shipping operations with the intent to ultimately reduce those
emissions.
In the Climate Savers program, the WWF and CECS work with companies
to pursue practical activities that reduce emissions
of greenhouse gases and achieve energy efficiency goals.
Under the new agreement, the WWF and CECS will work with Nike to achieve
the following climate-saving targets:
• Reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from business travel
and Nike-owned facilities and services to 13 percent below 1998 levels
by the end of 2005 by pursuing energy conservation projects, purchasing
green power and investing in community energy efficiency projects.
As the earliest year for which reliable data and information exists
regarding Nike’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, 1998 will serve
as the baseline for reductions.
• Create baselines for Nike’s major subcontracted footwear
and apparel manufacturing facilities by year-end 2003. Extend- ing
reduction efforts to its global network of business partners, Nike
will investigate, evaluate and distribute best practices to its major
subcontracted manufacturing facilities. A GHG emissions-reduction
strategy for these facilities will be determined in 2005.
• Examine Nike’s supply chain, from packaging to modes of
transportation, for opportunities to improve logistics efficiency
and reduce GHG from it. By 2005, Nike will determine how to proceed
with a GHG reduction strategy for logistics.
• Continue its progress to eliminate sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
Nike has committed to complete elimination of SF6 by June 2003.
“With approximately 750 contract factories worldwide manufacturing
its products and employing some 500,000 people, Nike’s commitment
to measure and reduce greenhouse gases is significant,” said
Dr. Joseph Romm, director of the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions.
“The Climate Savers program has tremendous potential to mitigate
climate change through the combined efforts of its present participants,
including IBM, Johnson & Johnson and Polaroid.”
Centex Commits to Nature
Conservancy
Centex Homes, Dallas, TX, one of the nation’s leading residential
home builders, has made a three-year, $2.25 million pledge to The
Nature Conservancy, a leading non-profit conservation organization
that promotes the preservation of natural habitats and ecological
resources.
The funds are tentatively earmarked to support The Nature Conservancy
preserves in Texas, Florida and California; construct learning centers,
paths and trails; and preserve precious places forever. Subsequent
plans include further contributions to projects in the Mid-Atlantic,
Midwest and Mountain States as business conditions allow and as the
agreement is extended beyond the current three-year time period.
During the past two years, Centex Homes has provided approximately
$1.3 million in donations to support The Nature Conservancy’s
mission; Centex Homes donates $35 for each new home purchased from
the company during the agreement. Working locally with communities,
businesses and individual supporters, The Nature Conservancy protects
millions of acres of valuable lands and waters around the world forever.
E-Commuting
The National Environmental Policy Institute (NEPI) announced the launch
of a new $250,000 national pilot program, eCommute, which encourages
businesses to contribute to environmental quality. The project will
help reduce air pollution by providing businesses with tax incentives
for allowing employees the option of telecommuting. eCommute aims
to reduce air pollution, ease traffic congestion and improve productivity
and the quality of life for area employees and employers.
The project will be piloted in Denver, CO; Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles,
CA; Houston, TX; and Washington, DC. These five urban centers were
chosen because a large number of workers have especially long commutes,
and they have a sufficient number of businesses that lend easily to
telecommuting. Statistics indicate that the program could reduce emissions
by 2,613 tons-per-year for every 100,000 people who participate, according
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Centex Homes’ commitment to The Nature Conservancy is a key component
of its corporate giving program, Helping the World Feel at Home, which
is built around giving back to the land, home and people through support
of leading national non-profit organizations.
For more information, visit www.centexhomes.com or http://nature.org.
EIA Announces Grant Recipients
The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), with Canon, Hewlett Packard,
JVC, Kodak, Nokia, Panasonic, Philips Consumer Electronics North America,
Sharp, Sony and Thomson Multimedia, has awarded grants to U.S. EPA
Region III, the State of Florida and the Northeast Recycling Council
(NERC) as part of its industry short-term recycling project.
Through this project, EIA hopes to generate data that will contribute
to the development of efficient and cost-effective recycling programs
in the U.S. “The end-of-life management of electronics is a relatively
new and complex issue and one that involves many stakeholders,”
says Dave McCurdy, president of EIA. “Consumers, recyclers, governments,
manufacturers and retailers all have roles to play in promoting the
reuse and recycling of used electronics. We need to examine what works
best under different models and how each stakeholder can contribute
to the development of an effective solution.”
EIA received proposals from more than 20 federal, state and local
governments and interest groups. Grantees were chosen by a number
of criteria, including a willingness to test different recycling models
and favorable regulatory conditions for electronics collection.
EIA’s Industry Recycling Grant Program builds upon the electronics
industry’s commitment to reduce environmental impact of its products
over their entire life cycle. In addition to this program, tools include
participation in EPA’s Energy Star Program, EIA’s Design
for the Environment Program and EIA’s Consumer Education Initiative,
a Web-based tool for consumers to find local opportunities for their
used electronics.
For more information, visit www.eia.org.
Ballard/Ford Sign Fuel
Cell Agreement
Ballard Power Systems, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has signed
a three-year, $34.5 million ($22 million U.S.) agreement with alliance
partner Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI. Under the terms of the agreement,
Ballard will supply Ford with Mark 900 Series fuel cell power modules
and related engineering and support services.
“This is the largest order for Ballard® fuel cells to date
and represents Ford’s commitment to deliver fuel cell vehicles,”
said Firoz Rasul, Ballard chairman and CEO. “Ford is not only
our strategic partner, but also a customer that is assisting Ballard
in preparing for the commercial launch of fuel cell vehicles.”
“We intend to launch our first commercial fuel cell vehicle in
2004, and this agreement with Ballard will enable us to achieve that
goal,” said John Wallace, executive director of the THINK brand
for Ford.
Diesel Sulfur Removal Available
Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK, announced that its S Zorb
Sulfur Removal Technology (SRT) for diesel is now available for licensing.
Like Phillips’ S Zorb SRT for gasoline, the S Zorb-Diesel process
significantly lowers sulfur content using a proprietary refining process.
Pilot plant tests show that the
S Zorb-Diesel process can reduce diesel fuel sulfur levels to less
than 10 parts-per-million (ppm).
Beginning in June 2006, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations require production of highway diesel fuel with sulfur
content not to exceed 15 ppm. European regulations are expected to
require availability of highway diesel fuel with sulfur content of
10 ppm or less beginning in 2005.
To date, diesel streams ranging from 460 to 2,400 ppm have been reduced
to 10 ppm or less using the S Zorb-Diesel pilot reactor system. Operating
conditions for the process range from 275 to 500 pounds-per-square-inch
gauge, temperatures of 700 to 800 Fahrenheit and run lengths similar
to fluid catalytic cracking units. A large continuous pilot plant
is expected to start up in the fourth quarter of 2001 at Phillips’
research center in Bartlesville. A commercial-scale unit within Phillips’
refining system is in the planning stages.
Earth Share GA Expands
Choices
The Environmental Fund for Georgia has announced its affiliation with
Earth Share, an alliance of environmental organizations in 20 states
and abroad. The new name, Earth Share of Georgia, reflects the continued
focus on local conservation activities while broadening the scope
to benefit national and international non-profit organizations. Currently,
Earth Share of Georgia is participating in more than 50 workplace-giving
campaigns across the state to raise money for 64 environmental non-profit
organizations.
“Our goal in joining with Earth Share is to create a single network
and voice championing the environment in the workplace,” says
Alice Rolls, executive director of Earth Share of Georgia. “The
affiliation will allow us to support far-reaching environmental efforts,
from the Chattahoochee River to the Amazon.”
Earth Share of Georgia organizations work to protect, preserve and
restore valuable land, watersheds, river corridors, coastlines and
wildlife habitats. Its success translates into improved health and
a better quality of life for all Georgians by promoting a bioregional
approach to conservation and ensuring the long-term sustainability
of Georgia’s natural resources. Funds raised in these campaigns
support non-profits like the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the
Georgia Conservancy and Trees Atlanta, as well as the World Wildlife
Fund and Audubon Society.
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