Fortune 500 Companies Accept Green Challenge

When you think of big business, you probably have an image of a monolithic corporate headquarters and factories spewing sewage and pollution into the environment.  You may even formulate a picture of an evil CEO laughing maniacally as he consigns our planet to doom in his quest for the all-important bottom line.  Or maybe you’re thinking about the BP oil spill in the gulf.  Whatever impression comes to mind, chances are good that “environmental consciousness” is not part of the corporate package in the eyes of the layman.  However, many mega-corporations have turned a new leaf and are striving to leave behind the antiquated notion of the industrial tycoon and all of the negative associations it engenders, by taking a stand for the environment and changing their business practices to support a healthy planet and reduce their environmental impact.

You might not be surprised to hear that a company like Whole Foods Market has been purchasing green energy.  After all, they certainly cater to a sector of society that prefers organic and un-processed foods, so it only makes sense that they’d take it a step further and run their outlets on eco-friendly energy.  But when you hear that companies like Intel Corporation, PepsiCo, and even Starbucks are purchasing alternative energy to run their businesses, your eyebrows probably shoot up in surprise.  In fact, according to an EPA survey, as of 2008 there were 53 Fortune 500 companies buying more than six billion kilowatt-hours of clean, green energy per year (as opposed to the regular fare that pollutes our planet daily) in response to a call by the EPA for companies to double their green power consumption in the coming years.  Most do this by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which means that they calculate how much energy they use and then pre-pay for green energy sources like solar and wind power to be produced in an equal amount (cutting the production of other, more harmful energies).  And that’s not all.

Many Fortune 500 companies are also turning to eco-friendly promotional items as a way to reduce their carbon footprint.  Rather than wasting money on items that will only end up in a landfill, many large corporations are now looking for ways to make products that are sustainable and re-useable.  For example, some companies are turning to totes, t-shirts, and other items made from organic fabrics, biodegradable plastics made from corn, and recycled or seeded paper for mailers.  In this way, promotional items start Earth-friendly, enjoy a longer life through continued usage, and do less harm when they are eventually thrown away or recycled.  Not only are these companies doing their part to ensure a greener planet, they are garnering goodwill from the public, so that the benefits are in keeping with their bottom line.

While the battle between eco-activists and corporations willing to pollute in order to save a few bucks looks to rage on for quite awhile, there are a lot of big brands who are taking the eco-challenge issued by the EPA seriously and seeking ways to run their businesses symbiotically with the Earth.  For a long time, big business has been leeching the planet’s natural resources and giving back nothing but waste.  Now, thanks to the efforts of several Fortune 500 companies, the pendulum may be swinging the other way.

Shirley Simpson writes for Medical Coding where you can find information on a career in medical billing and coding industry.