| Gettin' Bizzy Companies are greening but progress is limited, says report Hardly a day goes by without some U.S. company touting its green credentials, but don't get too optimistic about corporate eco-friendliness. Consulting company Greener Media studied companies' performance on 20 economic and environmental indicators, from alternative-fuel vehicles to telecommuting to pesticide use, and has published the results in a new 65-page report. Only eight of the 20 indicators showed progress last year: emissions disclosure, clean-tech investment and patents, energy efficiency, green office space, recycling, quality of management, and toxic emissions. Two issues, electronic waste and carbon intensity, actually got worse in 2007, while 10 other issues stayed about the same. Says report executive editor and green-biz guru Joel Makower, "Companies, in aggregate, aren't changing quickly or significantly enough to move the needle on climate change and other challenges." To move that needle, they need to be needled. And thus we wheedle. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Wired, San Jose Business Journal, The Mercury News, CSRwire straight to the report: State of Green Business 2008 |
Looking for a job where you don't have to check your values at the door? Find the perfect green-leaning job opportunity on Grist's new job board. Or if you're a company with a conscience, post your jobs here.
TODAY'S NEWS
| Use the Force: Lukewarm Hot liquid increases toxic leaching from plastic bottles, says study Contact with hot liquid causes a huge spike in the amount of toxic chemical bisphenol A leaching out of plastic bottles, says new research that's bad news for baby-bottle-sterilizing parents and hot-liquid-drinking hikers. Filling bottles with boiling water boosted rates of BPA ooze by up to 55 times compared to room-temperature water, according to the study published in the journal Toxicology Letters. The age of the bottle was found to be irrelevant. Cold chocolate, anyone? [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: The Globe and Mail, USA Today, The Canadian Press, The Guardian see also, in Grist: A guide to buying non-plastic baby products |
| Doing the Waive All four Republican prez candidates express support for California's EPA waiver Last night's Republican debate spawned at least one memorable surprise: all four GOP candidates appeared to express support for California in its battle with the U.S. EPA to get a waiver it needs to implement its greenhouse-gas emissions standards for vehicles. The Bush administration denied the waiver in December, arguing that recent changes to federal fuel-efficiency standards in the energy bill eclipsed the need for California's tougher rules. But at the debate, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee all said they supported California based on the conservative ideal of states' rights trumping federal concerns. Romney also used the opportunity to take more digs at McCain's climate bill and slipped in an apparent disclaimer about his own support for California's waiver, saying, "I side with states being able to make their own decisions, even if I don't always agree with the decisions they make." Ron Paul also voiced support for California, though on characteristically libertarian grounds, making sure to toss in an appeal to strengthen property rights. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to officially endorse McCain today. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: CNN.com see also, in Gristmill: All four Republican candidates support California's right to a waiver from the Bush EPA |
| Stimulating Indeed Senators include clean-energy incentives in economic stimulus bill More than 40 senators, of both the Democratic and Republican persuasion, yesterday got behind a successful effort to include green-job provisions and renewable-energy incentives in the Senate version of an economic stimulus package. The legislation passed out of the Finance Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote. Then the Senate, the House, and the prez will have to hammer out a final version of the bill before they send out those much-touted "tax rebate" checks. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Sierra Club, Associated Press |
| They Have Spooken New CIA campus goes green The CIA has apparently been green for years -- yet somehow, nobody managed to find out. But the notorious agency's new campus in Chantilly, Va., was just outed as neerg gniog (that's code for "going green"). The new campus has earned LEED green-building certification and features a green roof, preferred parking for carpoolers, energy-efficient equipment, and waterless urinals. We'd tell you more, but then we'd have to kill you. Or kidnap you and fly you to secret prisons offshore to be tortured. Or maybe, just maybe, we'll go old-school and support a coup against you. (But don't worry, we'll buy carbon credits to offset everything.) [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Computerworld, GreenerBuildings, CIA website (if you dare) |
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GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
 On Pigskins and Vegans A noncarnivorous path to Super Bowl-snack nirvana Roz Cummins doesn't know a first down from a tight end. But she does know what boys (and girls) want while watching the Super Bowl: salty, gooey grub that soaks up beer. Like a quarterback embarking upon a "sneak," Roz has a trick up her sleeve: animal-free fare for the pigskin classic. Vegans, break out your pom-poms. This one's for you. And carnivores, hold your boos until you try it -- you just might like it. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] new in Grist: A noncarnivorous path to Super Bowl-snack nirvana |
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