Corporate Responsibility

Troy, Mich. -- Oakland Mall is using social networking as a tool to get shoppers involved this Mother's Day to benefit Moms at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), a non-profit agency dedicated to assisting the homeless and getting them back on their feet.

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. met its 2010 goal of purchasing renewable energy equivalent to half of the electricity used in its North American company-owned stores, the company reported in its tenth annual "Global Responsibility Report." The report details Starbucks’  fiscal 2010 performance in environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing and community involvement.

Rose Paving Co., a leader in national parking lot management, has been selected once again as one of the "2011 Best Places to Work in Illinois."

This workplace analysis and competition began in 2006 and is promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Illinois State Council, the Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago, and managed by Best Companies Group.  

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Monday released its "2011 Global Responsibility Report." According to the report, the chain has made steady year-to-year improvement towards its goals of creating zero waste, using 100% renewable energy and selling products that sustain people and the environment.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — As part of Earth Month in Illinois, Gov. Patrick Quinn Tuesday morning toured a Walgreens drug store in Oak Park, Ill., that features the first geothermal energy system used in a chain drug store in the country, Walgreens stated in a release.

The system, which went live when the store opened last October, has reduced the store's expected energy usage by 60%.

Greenpeace has published its fifth annual “Carting Away the Oceans” report examining the retail industry’s seafood practices, and none of the 20 companies featured are where the environmental group thinks they should be in terms of sustainability and responsible harvesting practices.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- In recognition of Earth Day, Publix Super Markets announced that it will donate 50 cents per lb., (up to $40,000), to Sustainable Fisheries Partnership when customers purchase any wild domestic shrimp between April 17 to 27.

According to the company, the Publix donation would assist SFP in providing fisheries along the Gulf with the resources and tools needed to operate in a more sustainable manner.

Target began its in-store recycling program just nine months ago, and some of the early numbers from the program are staggering. Between April 2010, when the program was launched, and December 2010, the company collected and recycled more than 170 million shopping bags and more than 1.4 million pounds of cans and bottles. In addition, the company said it collected roughly two million units of small electronic items such as MP3 players and cell phones.