My wife, Janis, and I baby-sit our 6-month-old grandson, Nathan (pictured at left), on Thursday afternoons, and, I sometimes wonder: What will our planet be like when he grows up?
Until six months ago, I was convinced the outlook was pretty bleak, thanks to some of the news coverage about global warming. But now I’m more optimistic (my New Year’s resolution in effect) that our planet’s future is brighter.
For example, now when I’m listening to the news, it seems more individuals are accepting responsibility for the future of the planet by doing things such as choosing fuel-efficient cars, recycling and conserving water. The new auto emission standards, which the government announced in May, are also a huge step in the right direction. And, in business, you can feel the positive momentum building, as captured at the Sustainable Brands '09 Conference in early June.
At the conference, industry leaders gathered to share sustainability best practices and talk about the future of environmental sustainability. Thomas Oh, a Marketing Director at Frito-Lay, was one such thought leader, presenting Frito-Lay’s environmental sustainability progress and future plans.
During his presentation, Thomas summarized three key areas of environmental sustainability where Frito-Lay has taken a leadership role:
Using Solar Power: In total, eight of our sites use solar power. Since 2008, our Modesto, Calif., plant has used solar power to produce steam that powers the SunChips line. And, this year, we’re planning to begin installing solar panels at our Casa Grande, Ariz., plant to harness the power of the sun for snack production.
Humanizing “Green”: Last year, the SunChips brand donated $1 million to build the SunChips Greensburg Business Incubator -- part of the effort to rebuild Greensburg, Kan., after a devastating tornado wiped out the town. And more recently, SunChips partnered with National Geographic to launch the Green Effect, a program that will award five $20,000 grants to bring “green” ideas to life in various communities.
Transforming Our Packaging: The large SunChips bag, now made with 33% renewable, plant-based materials, generated
the most interest at the Sustainable Brands Conference. Our goal is to launch a fully compostable bag on Earth Day 2010.
"I wanted to educate people about our packaging journey with SunChips while ensuring they understand it’s a process – we’re not quite there yet," Thomas told me. "We've learned that our consumers demand both great taste and healthier foods, and that’s why they eat SunChips. But they are also interested in the health of the planet, and expect the brands they buy to do their part to conserve and preserve our planet. So, it’s clear that inventing a fully compostable snack bag is important to consumers.”
So, my advice to my grandson, Nathan, is: Hang in there. With all the progress companies are making toward a more sustainable planet, as brought to life by SunChips and other brands whose leaders attended the Sustainable Brands '09 conference, combined with the government and individual’s support, we may be leaving behind a much better planet than I once thought. Do you believe we are making progress in conserving and preserving our planet?
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