Tag Archives: waste

The colors of Ikea Italy: blue, yellow and.. green!

Ikea Italy announced an environmental investment of € 20 million: 150,000 solar panels to be installed by the end of August 2011in each store so that to create a small solar power station. Clean, renewable, sustainable.

About 150,000 solar panels modules will be placed on a aluminum structure resting on the Ikea store roofs, and in Catania (Sicily), also on the bus shelters in the parking lot. An area as big as 16 football fields to cover about 10% of the electricity needs of Ikea Italy. The first floor (showroom) of all stores will be then lightened with this renewable energy. A total of 10,000,000 kWh of electricity, equal to the average consumption of 3,300 households will be produced each year with a reliable and innovative technology.

This will prevent the annual emission of approximately 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the quantity of CO2 absorbed annually by 400 acres of tropical forest and the emissions of 3,300 cars travelling an average of 10,000 km. Another key point of the Company policy is to reduce waste and an effective use of raw materials, recycled materials or easy to recycle ones, natural and renewable energy, CO2 emission reduction thanks to a clever consumption, the optimization of facilities’operational activities and electricity from renewable sources (in 2010 equal to 83% of the total consumption).

When dealing with waste management, the goal is to reduce it thanks to the development of a less bulky packaging and a careful waste disposal collection so that to assure their almost full recycling. Ikea is bio too. In restaurants, the group includes more than 58 recipes and organic products from biological origin. In 2010, Ikea Italy purchased 2,080 tons of organic products (+38% compared to 2009). Ikea Italy is now the third third largest Ikea supplier company in the world after China and Poland, as stated by the managing director of Ikea Italy, Lars Petersson during a meeting in Milan. (Source. Greenbiz.it)

When Zero is a great result

Fresh Worldwide Press, sustainability, , , , , , , , ,

I  suggest to everybody interested in what big corporations are doing about sustainability to download the State of Green Business report by Greenbiz.com available online.

For those of you who have little time and want to hear the good news first: many big coCourtesy of Naem.orgrporations, from Xerox to Kraft, from Procter and Gamble to Coca-Cola, are working hard at reducing if not eliminating the waste originated by the manufacturing process. Companies learnt that cutting waste can yield multiple savings, together with a better image and a greener environment.

But -here's the bad news – there is no generally accepted definition of what "zero waste" means. For some companies zero waste might include also incinerations and other technologies that many "green professionals" will not define as sustainable and eco-friendly ones.

As we always stress, a standardization of sustainability practices is a need for a better and more efficient communication with consumers and with stakeholders, so that to avoid a word that we don't like at all: greenwashing.(Photo courtesy of naem.org)

The Ecoacquisti Trentino brand has finally born

DESITA, ECOFFEE, ecology, Fresh Worldwide Press, packaging, retail food, sustainability, , , , , , , ,

The Ecoacquisti Trentino project aims to the reduction of the waste produced in Retail Stores and raises awareness on a more environmental friendly purchase in more than 100 outlets in the city of Trento area (Italy)

But what does it mean in practice "eco shopping?" Means that in the stores that have received this certification you can find canvas bags or other reusable materials, empty cartons to bring your purchases at home, rechargeable batteries, cold cuts and cheese in a ply-separable paper, fruits and vegetables packaged in compostable bags, bottles of water, wine or milk can be purchased in re-fillable containers.You can alsobuy food with special discounts in last-minute market or donate them to charitable organizations.

The project aims to the reduction of the amount of waste, the promotion of recycling practises, requires a constant audit of the POS and sustains educational projects through school and extracurricular activities. (Courtesy of Alternativa Sostenibile)