Sustainability: An Operational Imperative for Commercial Building Owners and Tenants

Study finds 93% U.S companies view sustainability is a lasting trend. Many companies are conducting major sustainability initiatives to improve the efficiency of their operations and reduce impact on the environment. The initiatives are taken for reasons ranging from lowering the operating costs of their buildings to complying with regulations or from satisfying client demand for efficient tenant space. In fact, according to a new survey conducted by Honeywell and The Business Journals eight of ten U.S. companies surveyed say that sustainability is an operational imperative and they have initiatives in place, while 70% say they have integrated sustainability into their strategic planning processes. To get more insight into the top priorities’ companies expect to take over the next year and the role tenants have in the sustainability initiatives they seek from their building owners, download this paper created by Honeywell and The Business Journals documenting the sustainability landscape for commercial buildings.

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Sustainability: An Operational Imperative for Commercial Building Owners and Tenants

Earth911 Quiz #60: New Tech and Materials Recycling

Daily, you make decisions that influence humanity’s impact on the Earth’s environment. Those choices may… The post Earth911 Quiz #60: New Tech and Materials Recycling appeared first on Earth911.

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Earth911 Quiz #60: New Tech and Materials Recycling

LEGO runs into stumbling blocks on its path to greener bricks

LEGO wants to make everything awesome for the planet. In 2015 , the Danish toy-maker pledged to spend $150 million and hire more than than 100 extra staffers to research and develop sustainable alternatives to the petrochemical-based plastics it uses to make its signature building blocks. The goal, the company said then, was to transition to either a bio-based version of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, its current primary raw material, or a polymer with a lower environmental footprint by 2030. Finding a suitable replacement, however, has proven thornier than anticipated. “We want any bio-based material to be capable of being precisely molded, or to mold to just a few microns,” Tim Brooks, vice president of environmental responsibility for the LEGO Group, told Quartz . “And we want it to be shiny.” Manifesting that gleam has proven to be a stumbling, well, block . Next to a traditional plastic brick, a prototype brick made from wheat sugar appears dull and matte. Related: BIG’s LEGO House tops out with opening date in September Not that LEGO is going to give up, of course. Climate change is real, and the world’s leading companies will have to rein in their fossil-fuel use if the human race wants a fighting chance at survival. “We know that making bricks has an impact on the planet, and we want it to be a positive one,” Brooks said. + LEGO [Via Quartz ]

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LEGO runs into stumbling blocks on its path to greener bricks

The emergence of natural capital consciousness

Why — and how — the corporate pioneers of the 21st century will account for natural resource scarcity and plan for their impact on the climate.

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The emergence of natural capital consciousness

How (And Why) H&M Is Trying On Clothing Recycling

The fast fashion industry has been under increased scrutiny in recent years, and rightly so. Some environmentalists claim that the clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world — trailing only oil in its impact on the environment….

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How (And Why) H&M Is Trying On Clothing Recycling

5 Simple Earth Day Crafts Your Kids Will Love

Earth Day is right around the corner. Every year on April 22, earth-conscious people around the world celebrate the planet we live on through special events and actions. During these events, many others are made aware of their impact on the Earth,…

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5 Simple Earth Day Crafts Your Kids Will Love

Heifer International’s Pierre Ferrari on sustaining small farms

Bolstering the financial security of global smallholder farmers could make a major impact on the world’s food supply.

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Heifer International’s Pierre Ferrari on sustaining small farms

How coastal cities can learn resiliency tactics from nature

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced. Flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise are serious threats to natural resources, infrastructure, and human communities in coastal areas. In effort to adapt to these changing conditions, planners and policymakers should consider nature’s strategies when developing coastal resiliency plans to protect communities from increasing coastal erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels.

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How coastal cities can learn resiliency tactics from nature

Eco Friendly Product Labels: Your Guide To Better Understanding

As we become more aware of our impact on the environment and as consumers we try to do our part to make the best choices, the array of eco friendly product labeling seems to grow more complex and confusing. What do all those labels really mean and…

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Eco Friendly Product Labels: Your Guide To Better Understanding

American Ecovillages? They Exist And Here’s 5 Exciting Examples

Have you ever thought about getting away from it all and moving to an ecovillage? What’s an ecovillage you ask? Ecovillages are communities whose inhabitants seek to live according to ecological principles, causing as little impact on the…

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American Ecovillages? They Exist And Here’s 5 Exciting Examples

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