shared by raychelle:
Today I went to Target and several things caught my eye - organic bed sheets and bamboo kitchenware. Like a young'un in a candy store, I giddly bought these, but I just had to go home and make sure I wasn't dreaming...
From the Target website -
http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-001095"We recognize that we have a responsibility—as team members, as a company, and as global citizens—to minimize our environmental footprint. So we've sought ways to reduce waste, use energy more efficiently, and operate more sustainably. We're proud of our accomplishments and we're continually improving, one store at a time.
One way we're improving the quality of our buildings and reducing their impact on the environment is by following the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System for some new Target stores.
Everything from raw materials to packaged products as a valuable asset to protect. Through our comprehensive recycling and reuse programs, we've cut our waste by 70%. We're encouraged by our success and continue to seek out opportunities to expand our programs.
In 2006, Target:
Reused 385 million garment hangers and recycled 2.1 million pounds of plastic and 153,000 pounds of metal from broken hangers.
Recycled 911.1 million pounds of cardboard, the largest portion by weight of our recycled materials.
Recycled 4.3 million pounds of shrink wrap at our distribution centers.
Recycled 10,400 pounds of rechargeable batteries collected from guests. This program provides a safe and convenient option for Target guests to dispose of batteries containing hazardous components.
Recycled or refurbished 47,600 broken shopping carts.
Target puts tremendous focus on designing and operating energy-efficient stores and facilities. We also track and report our annual greenhouse-gas emissions, as part of our involvement in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary Climate Leaders program. Here are some ways that Target conserves energy:
Energy-efficient fluorescent lamps are used throughout our stores, a first in the retail industry. We are currently changing our sales floor lighting from a three-lamp to a two-lamp fixture, which will reduce our energy consumption by 22 percent.
Motion-sensor lighting in our stockrooms keep areas lit only when needed.
Energy use for lighting, refrigeration equipment, heating and cooling is carefully monitored to be as efficient as possible.
When economically feasible, energy is purchased from renewable sources.
We are in the process of switching our exterior neon signs to LED, which will increase energy efficiency by 78 percent.
Four stores in California draw 20 percent of their annual electricity needs from their own rooftop solar-panel systems. In 2007, Target will retrofit 14 more California stores to operate on solar power.
Since the early 1990s, we have used white membranes on our store roofs, which reflect the sun's heat, helping to reduce the heat-island effect of the store."
I'm impressed! Honestly I've never been for big-name, sprawling corporations... but when they go GREEN, should we support them? Some SuperTarget stores are now selling local organic fruits and vegetables. I've always believed we should support those little stores on the street - the mom and pop stores, the farmer's market, etc, but now with Target (and Wal-Mart) jumping on the Green bandwagon.. what do we do as consumers? What do you think?
When I watched Julia Butterfly Hill give her presentation in 2003, what she repeatedly emphasized was our power as consumers. As consumers, we can make all the difference in the world we want to see. We control the flow of our money and our money influences the supply and demand. Buying things that aren't good for the Earth, we increase the number of products that damages Earth, and when we buy things that are good for Earth, we increase those products (and make them cheaper for many others who want to purchase them as well).
Your Thoughts on Target?
