Posts Tagged ‘corporate social responsibility’

Wal-Mart Fights Hunger

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

America’s king of low low prices shares some of their profit with the poor.

  • Wal-Mart and the Wal-Mart Foundation announced a plan to donate $250 million in cash and $1.75 billion worth of food to fight hunger in the United States.
  • Because of the recession, food banks in the United States have been struggling to keep up with demand.
  • Wal-Mart remains committed to reducing hunger nationwide, including providing healthy food for schools.

Facts and Figures

  • About 49 million people in the U.S. don’t get enough healthy food to eat (up 36% from last year).
  • Wal-Mart’s plan will provide enough food for more than 1 billion meals.
  • Wal-Mart donated $423 million in 2008 and $512 million in 2009 (in both cash and products).

Best Quote

“Increasingly, we see opportunities to use our scale and reach to solve challenges in our communities. This is one of those times. By working together, we believe that we can reach a day where no individual in this country has to go to bed hungry or worry there will be food to put on the table tomorrow.” – Eduardo Castro-Wright, Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart

Disney Goes Green

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

In an effort to capitalize on environmental conscientiousness and help curb global carbon emissions, Walt Disney Co. will impose a carbon tax on itself, effectively killing two birds with one stone.

  • On Wednesday March 3, 2010 Walt Disney Co. president and chief executive let it be known that the company will impose an internal tax based on how much carbon they use.
  • The proceeds from the tax will go towards “green” initiatives, such as the preservation of tropical forests and planting trees.
  • Disney has also endeavored to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills, assess every new capital project from an ecological standpoint and convert vehicles to use cleaner, energy-efficient fuels.

Facts & Figures

  • The carbon tax is calculated based on a unit’s projected increase in carbon emissions over a five year period—if the emissions are less, the tax is less, and vice versa if emissions are greater.
  • Disney would like to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfills by 50% of what it was in 2006, and is already three years ahead of schedule.
  • Disney is trying to convert 2,000 vehicles to use cleaner fuels, and is even switching the steam engines that run in their amusement parks to vegetable oil from diesel.
  • Through its program “Friends for Change,” which has enlisted 1.5 million children to do its “green” bidding, the Disney Channel is doing its part to effect change.

Best Quote

“It’s the right thing to do, but it’s also the right thing to do for shareholders” – Roger Iger, President and CEO of Walt Disney Co.