Green Corporate Network

Let’s talk about distribution facilities today. Those huge monolith structures in the center of no where, real estate properties that keep most of the countries supply chain moving. ProLogis is the leader of the industry.

ProLogis is the world’s largest owner, manager and developer of distribution facilities, with operations in 20 countries spanning three continents.

The company has $26.7 billion of assets owned, managed and under development, comprising 422 million square feet (39.2 million square meters) in 2,466 properties as of December 31, 2006. ProLogis’ customers include manufacturers, retailers, transportation companies, third-party logistics providers and other enterprises with large-scale distribution needs. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, ProLogis employs more than 1,250 people worldwide.

Via their website

So, it is heartening to note that they came out with their first “Corporate Sustainability Report” under the GRI initiative. They have incorporated a Green Mission that they call “straightforward” .

Our mission with regard to sustainability is straightforward: to be the leading global provider of sustainable distribution facilities and to create an optimal balance between shareholder value, the environment and corporate social responsibility.

To ProLogis, sustainability is a business approach that recognizes economic, environmental and social objectives. It defines who we are and how we operate. Check out their report and decide for yourself how “Green” is their mission.

TESCO is UK’s biggie with 250,000 employees and 1779 retail stores. Obviously, it’s carbon footprint is huge. It has realized the worth of “Going Green” and proclaim their “Green Corporate Mission” in no uncertain terms:

We work with our customers, staff and suppliers to make sustainable choices and reduce our impact on the environment.

Our priorities:

Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste

Making our products more sustainable

Via Tesco’s Website

They have come out with their Annual sustainability report. You can download it here

It seems GE is making tons of money from it’s “Ecomagination” initiative. A true inspiration for “Green Corporate Network” members . Here is it’s report card:

GE made the following progress on each of its ecomagination commitments in 2006:

1) Double its investment in clean research and development - GE invested $900 million in cleaner technology research and development in 2006, drawing closer to its $1.5 billion annual ecomagination R&D target by 2010. GE also increased the number of ecomagination-certified products by 50 percent over the last year - from 30 to 45 products.

2) Increase revenues from ecomagination products - GE reported $12 billion in revenues from ecomagination products and services in 2006, on course to the goal of $20 billion in sales in 2010.

3) Reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve the energy efficiency of its operations - GE GHG emissions in 2006 from operations have been reduced by about 4 percent from the 2004 baseline. GHG and energy intensity have been reduced by 21 percent and 22 percent respectively compared to 2004. GE is committed to reduce its GHG emissions 1 percent by 2012, reduce the intensity of its GHG emissions 30% by 2008, and improve energy efficiency 30 percent by the end of 2012.

4) Keep the public informed - GE continues to transparently apprise the public of the company’s progress

Download the GE 2006 report here

“Customer demand for the most advanced, most fuel-efficient and least emissive technologies is what sparked ecomagination,” . “Increasing demand from our customers is what is making it succeed beyond our expectations.

“Green is happening everywhere across GE,” .  “From our transportation products to renewable energy to clean water to how we make television shows and movies to home building and mortgages, green is truly universal at GE.” Quote - GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt.

From GE’s press release

Today, we visited the website of REI , a major outdoor and adventure company and immediately fell in love with the way they have expressed and designed their Goals and purpose around their business operations. Entrepreneurs around the world can get inspired by taking a lesson from their frame of reference. You can download their 2006 “Corporate Stewardship Report” here

Purpose: To inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure.

REI Values
REI’s values guide our culture, character and actions. We hold ourselves accountable to six core values and this commitment is evident in how we work with each other, our members and customers, business partners, and communities.

Authenticity: We are true to the outdoors.
Quality: We provide trustworthy products and services.
Service: We go the extra mile for our members, customers, colleagues and communities
Respect: We nurture a culture that is welcoming and respectful of all people and the environment.
Integrity: We live by a code of rock-solid ethics, honesty and decency.
Balance: We work smart and have fun.

Guiding Principles
In conducting REI’s business, REI’s management and staff are charged with doing so in a way that follows a simple set of principles. These guiding principles provide the framework for the way in which REI’s business is planned, guided and executed.

Stewardship Goals:

Taking action on reducing our carbon footprint by thoughtful energy use, given the enormous environmental risks posed by climate change.

Adopting green building design and construction standards for REI stores and facilities in the future.

Ensuring our paper purchases come from known sources and well-managed forests, and that we use paper efficiently.

Reducing the amount of waste we generate through recycling efforts and reuse of materials.

Designing and manufacturing our products and packaging with a sustainability mindset by increasing the use of sustainable materials, eliminating harmful components and minimizing product life cycle impacts.

“Welcome to our 2005/6 Sustainability Report. At Ford Motor Company, we have made sustainability a long-term strategic business priority. Sustainability issues touch every aspect of the economies in which we operate. This report explains our strategic thinking and details progress and performance against our Business Principles. Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO ”
Via Corporate Sustainability report- Ford Motor Company

Again, Green Corporate is not about sitting in judgement. Where there is a will, there is a way.. As consumer pressure builds in, we have no doubt that corporates like Ford will put in more and more of their future energies in making “Green” part of their corporate mission.

Starbucks has gone that extra mile in presenting it’s efforts in being a responsible world citizen. Here is their guiding principle.

“ Starbucks commitment to contribute positively to the environment is a Guiding Principle of our Company. Ever since, 1992, when we established Starbucks Environmental Mission Statement, we have been expanding our definition of what environmental responsibility means within the context of our growing and increasingly more complex business.

From Starbucks CSR report:

Starbucks clearly spells out their environmental commitment through their mission statement. Their is no room for any doubt. A primer to writing your own enviornmental mission statement.

“Starbucks Environmental Mission Statement”

Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business. We will fulfill this mission by a commitment to:

Understanding of environmental issues and sharing information with our partners (employees).

Developing innovative and flexible solutions to bring about change.

Striving to buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products.

Recognizing that fiscal responsibility is essential to our environmental future.

Instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value.

Measuring and monitoring our progress for each project.

Encouraging all partners to share in our mission.blockquote>

LINK: Environmental footprint