With so-called environmentally responsible products everywhere, it’s become fashionable to be “green,” but is the fashion world confronting the realities of climate change? While boutique green fashion companies (that espouse sustainability as a key value) are growing, have the large companies that dominate the landscape improved their scores in the past year?

Climate Counts scored a total of 16 different Airlines and Hotel companies in 2009 and came up with some interesting results. When scored on a scale of 0 – 100 points, each sector began to establish clear leaders committed to combating climate change.

The Copenhagen climate talks are off and running! To stay current on the negotiations, we’d like to introduce you to a great widget developed by MIT’s Sloan School, the Sustainability Institute and Ventana Systems. The widget simulates the impact of proposals on global climate change. You can get the widget here: Climate Interactive — the Blog and here: The Climate Scorecard.

And be sure to join Climate Counts ED Wood Turner for live, on-the-ground interviews with Copenhagen correspondents, broadcasted Dec. 7-18th at 9:00am PST. For more information on Expedition Copenhagen, created by the Will Steger Foundation and Stonyfield Farm, and to find out how to tune in, click here: Expedition Copenhagen.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2009
Contact: info@climatecounts.org, (603)216-3788

Third Annual Climate Counts Scores Show Economic Downturn Doesn’t
Detract from Deepening Corporate Commitment to Climate
Nike Tops List, eBay Surges and Study Shows Innovation
Driving Top Businesses as Copenhagen Talks Near

MANCHESTER, NH – Despite a sustained economic downturn, leading corporations appear to be strengthening their voluntary response to climate change. With the release of its third annual corporate climate scores for 90 well-known consumer companies, the non-profit organization Climate Counts pointed to a 22% increase in scores by 81 of the companies, as well as significant gains among those previously in the index’s lowest tier.

For the second straight year, Nike’s score of 83 points (out of a possible 100) topped the list. For the first time all of the 12 companies scored in the electronics sector and the four companies evaluated in the consumer shipping sector have now earned a score above 50 points, or what Climate Counts considers “striding” companies (in contrast with those “starting” companies earning 13-49 points and those “stuck” companies with 12 points or less). In recent years, these two sectors each have seen significant competitive energy around corporate sustainability, which appears to have had the effect of elevating scores – and substantive innovation efforts.

“Competition – the most fundamental tenet of a thriving global marketplace – will define the future of corporate climate action and sustainability,” said Climate Counts Executive Director Wood Turner. “Our scores show that companies are motivated to act when they may not measure up to other companies on their response to issues that matter to people. Climate change is certainly one of those issues, and companies in every major consumer sector have dialed up their efforts in an evolving economy to make the reduction of global warming pollution a competitive advantage.”

Climate Counts also found that the improved scores of a number of the companies it evaluates were more than just incremental. Scores surged for previously low-scoring companies like eBay (a jump of 48 points), US Airways (up 43 points to match most of the top scorers in a relatively low-scoring sector), Apple (up 41 points), and Levi Strauss (up 36 points) when many such companies became much more engaged in quantifying and reducing their impact on climate change and in supporting public policy on climate (or opposing the climate positions of groups like the US Chamber of Commerce). Climate Counts uses a 22-criteria scorecard to track corporate climate action in four key areas: measurement of impact; reduction of impact; engagement on public policy related to climate change; and openness and transparency with consumers on corporate climate activities.

“Climate Counts is one of the key external benchmarks we consider in evaluating our progress to address climate change,” said Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist from Microsoft, up 23 points in the latest round of scores. “We appreciate the work they do to provide the marketplace with a framework for assessing companies’ actions to address the pressing issue of climate change.”

John Donahoe, CEO of eBay Inc. said: “At eBay, we believe that solving the climate crisis requires business ingenuity and increased transparency. The leap in our Climate Counts score is a direct reflection of the focus we are giving to this issue as a business.”

“Our new scores show that many, many companies have begun to take their responsibility for climate action seriously,” said Turner. “But the onus is also on consumers. It’s time now for them to show business that corporate climate action does not go unnoticed. Companies will continue to see climate protection as an opportunity when consumers tell them in no uncertain terms that inaction is simply not an option.”

To augment consumer action tools on its website, Climate Counts will release an iPhone application later this year to help consumers not only access company climate scores while shopping but also send messages to those companies about their scores.

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About Climate Counts
Climate Counts is a non-profit organization bringing consumers and companies together in the fight against global climate change. Launched with financial support from organics pioneer Stonyfield Farm, the Climate Counts Company Scorecard was developed with oversight from a panel of business and climate experts from leading non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. Criteria were chosen for their effectiveness at accomplishing a single goal – solving the global climate crisis. Since 2007, Climate Counts researchers have used these criteria to now rate the climate actions of nearly 150 companies (representing approximately 3,000 brands) in 16 industry sectors. Companies are given the opportunity to confirm or provide public data sources. Information on all scored companies is available at www.climatecounts.org.

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This fall, our friend Colin Beavan a.k.a. No Impact Man brought his experiment of carbon-free living to the big screen. Now with the holiday shopping and entertaining season upon us, the NIM message is more relevant than ever. To keep the consumer/consumption conversation going, the No Impact Project is hosting a screening spectacular in towns and cities across the country. If you haven’t seen the documentary already, check out the Screening Spectacular widget here: http://noimpactproject.org/movie/spectacular/ or pass it along to your friends.

Climate Counts is thrilled to be supporting No Impact Week, a new campaign launched by our friends at the No Impact Project with support from the The Huffington Post. Our Executive Director Wood Turner was featured on last night’s No Impact Week webcast with “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan. Tonight, be sure to catch the 9 pm Eastern webcast with 350.org’s Bill McKibben.

Consumerism. It’s a term that, like it or not, defines our culture. And to an extent, it should. So many of our basic needs are tied to consumption; we need food, we need water, we need oxygen, we need basic clothing and shelter. For that reason, the concept of “living without an impact” doesn’t really assume we’re opting out of all consumption completely. Instead, it’s about being more thoughtful about how we consume and considering whether we might be able to consume less and, as the No Impact Project suggests, whether that change in consumer habits might actually contribute to a happier, more connected way of life.

Yesterday’s No Impact Week challenge was for us to think differently about the way we shop. For some of us, that means finding alternative options to buying items that are brand new and honing in on what it is we truly need. Today’s challenge focuses on part two of that process: reducing our trash. I like to think about Day 1 and Day 2 of No Impact Week in terms of our own personal input/output: if we input less into our lives (stuff), we have less to output (trash).

But, back to those basic consumer needs – the things we need to buy to get by. Some of those things will result in trash, in the form of packaging or food wrappers. (Check out NIM’s helpful list of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle here). Our weekly trash might be a negative output, but what if our negative output could also have a positive impact? Meaning, what if we could use our necessary consumer choices to send a message to companies that we care. We care about our impact, and we want big business to care too. We’re working to reduce our own impact on climate change and the natural systems that support us. Certainly, corporations can do a better job reducing theirs.

Climate Counts scores companies on their climate action – what the world’s largest corporations, which own and operate thousands of the brands we interact with on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, are voluntarily doing about the climate crisis. The scores let you see which of the biggest companies are doing the most to lead their sectors and the marketplace on this issue. So when it comes to those necessity purchases, you have the power to use your dollars to support those companies that reflect your own concerns about climate change. Climate Counts gives you the power to “raise your voice” directly to these global corporations through e-mail and Twitter. (Visit company pages on the Climate Counts site to start e-mailing or tweeting about the choices you’re making).

So while you’re evaluating your weekly purchase and disposal habits, deciding where and how you can reduce your impact to improve your quality of life, remember that paring down your daily pile of trash is really the first step in your high-impact “no” or “low” impact life. If we’re all committed each day to doing one thing, collectively we can do so much more when it comes to influencing better corporate citizenship and more sustainable public policy.

With the recent release of Climate Counts’ Large Appliance and Home & Office Furniture scores, there’s been a number of articles and blog posts about the climate action of companies within these sectors. Below is a few we’d like to share with you:

Check out this post from Riverwired, Whirlpool praised for Climate Leadership, which offers some helpful tips for researching and buying your next home or office purchase.

Mother Nature Network’s Shea Gunther offers some thoughtful commentary on conscious-shopping and being a change-maker. Click here to read his post: Climate Counts release 2009 corporate green scores.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Climate Counts, info@climatecounts.org

September 30, 2009 (603) 216-3788

Strong Climate Business in Michigan?

Michigan-based Steelcase and Whirlpool Have Top Climate Counts Scores Among Furniture and Large Appliance Makers

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Two Michigan-based companies are leading their sectors on climate commitment, according to new scores released today by Climate Counts. The non-profit reviewed 21 of the top companies in the Furniture & Home Furnishings and Large Appliance manufacturing sectors, and Steelcase and Whirlpool came out ahead. Whirlpool (61 points) and Steelcase (56 points) were the only companies in either of the two sectors to receive the Climate Counts “striding” designation (50 points or higher out of a possible 100). With estimates suggesting that 2009 job losses in Michigan may top 300,000, these two companies point to a possible trend: the alignment of corporate climate leadership with future economic stability in a region hard hit by the current recession.

“We’re certainly pleased to see solid corporate climate leadership coming out of Michigan and are hopeful it bodes well for the future growth of good, green jobs. We will be paying close attention to the efforts of these companies to show continued improvement,” said Wood Turner, Climate Counts Executive Director.

The Climate Counts Company Scorecard gives all consumers concerned with the climate crisis the ability to make informed purchasing decisions. Users can also visit ClimateCounts.org to send e-mail and Twitter messages to companies about their climate actions. Climate Counts plans to release an iPhone application later this year (in partnership with Mobile Feat) to help consumers not only access company climate scores while shopping but also send messages to those companies about their scores.

“It has never been a more important time for consumers to let companies know how concerned they are about climate change,” said Turner. “The only way to ensure coordinated, substantive action from companies and governments worldwide is for people to make their voices heard.”

Furniture Sector

Other companies in the Furniture sector show signs of following the sector leaders, or “starting” in the Climate Counts parlance. Herman Miller, another Michigan-based company, scored a 46, finishing second in Home Furnishing. Masco, maker of the KraftMaid brand of cabinets and other home furnishings, scored 39, while mattress maker Sealy and furniture maker La-Z-Boy both scored 16. Leggett & Platt scored 15 points, and HNI, maker of Allsteel and Hearth & Home products, scored 13. The remaining seven companies scored in the sector were considered “stuck” on climate change by Climate Counts, each scoring four points or below. That group included five of Sealy’s top mattress-making competitors.

Large Appliance Sector

The Large Appliance sector, makers of products responsible for approximately 20% of household energy use and significant household expenses, comprises companies that appear collectively more focused on climate change than furniture companies. Like the previously scored Electronics sector, appliance makers score relatively high. Following Whirlpool in the rankings were LG (49 points), Bosch and Siemens (45), and Electrolux (45). Miele and Emerson had respectively 23 and 21 points, and Kenmore – Sears’ appliance brand – came in at the bottom with 17 points. While all the companies in this sector show efforts to provide energy-efficient products to consumers, their efforts to reduce overall companywide impact on climate change vary significantly. (General Electric, also a maker of large appliances, has been scored previously by Climate Counts and currently scores 71.)

The Climate Counts Company Scorecard

Climate Counts scores companies (by revenue) on their actions to address climate change. The companies are scored on a 0-to-100 point scale based on 22 criteria that measure companies’ efforts to assess their own climate footprint, reduce their emissions, support (or block) progress on major climate legislation, and communicate their efforts clearly and comprehensively to consumers.

The Climate Counts Company Scorecard was developed with oversight from a panel of business and climate experts from leading non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. Criteria were chosen for their effectiveness at accomplishing a single goal – solving the global climate crisis. Since 2007, Climate Counts researchers have used these criteria to rate 143 companies (representing approximately 3,000 brands) in 16 industry sectors. Companies were given the opportunity to confirm or provide information gathered from public data sources. Information on all of the 143 scored companies is available at www.climatecounts.org. Updated scores for previously reviewed sectors are slated for release later this year.

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About Climate Counts

Climate Counts is a non-profit organization bringing consumers and companies together in the fight against global climate change. It was launched with financial support from organics pioneer Stonyfield Farm. Please visit www.climatecounts.org for the full scores and more information.

KLD Research & Analytics, Inc. — one of Newsweek’s Green Rankings primary research partners — discusses green companies vs. products with Climate Counts ED Wood Turner. Check out the Sept. 28th blog post below, written by KLD’s Alan Petrillo.

http://blog.kld.com/kld/wood-turner-on-the-newsweek-green-rankings/

Newsweek’s Green Rankings, featuring the 500 largest U.S. companies, hits newsstands nationwide this week.  Newsweek assessed the pool in three key areas, including: environmental impact, green policy, and reputation.

Hewlett Packard tops the list, followed by a number of other electronic and pharmaceutical companies. Usual suspects - Starbucks and Nike - also made the top ten. On the other end of the spectrum, Peabody Energy finished deadlast, along with fellow energy corporations and ConAgra Foods.

Newsweek pulled in Trustco, KLD Research & Analytics, and CorporateRegister.com to help analyze and compile the metrics. Climate Counts ED Wood Turner was on the initiative’s advisory panel.

The publication cites some obstacles they faced in ranking companies, including company disclosure of metrics. In future years, Newsweek hopes to strengthen their ranking process and gain increased participation on behalf of the companies being ranked.  Nonetheless, the rankings provide another voice for corporate responsibility when in comes to the environment, and another outlet for consumers and investors to participate in this call to action.

Read more about the rankings and methodology here and here.

And check out blog posts from Joel Makower, of GreenBiz, here: Who’s Invested in Newsweek’s Least-Green Companies? (Maybe You)