Sustainability

Minneapolis -- Target on Wednesday outlined a series of comprehensive sustainability commitments. The retailer set several key milestones for resource use, waste elimination and carbon footprint reduction, which the company aims to achieve by 2016, including earning the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star designation for at least 75% of its buildings.

Target’s other 2016 goals are:

San Diego -- Sudberry Properties has broken ground on the first phase of Civita, the 230-acre mixed-use development that will turn a 70 year-old quarry in Mission Valley, Ca., into a walkable community with attainable housing options, village shops, businesses, access to San Diego’s Light Rail System and abundant acres of park space all within a 15 minute walk of one another.

By Steve Williams,[email protected]

Orange County, Calif. -- The District at Tustin Legacy, a 1 million-sq.-ft. lifestyle and entertainment center located in Orange County, Calif., has been awarded the 2010 CalRecycle Waste Reduction Award for being a regional leader in recycling and waste reduction. 

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Co. and International Paper, with Mississippi River Pulp, LLC, have completed a six-week pilot project that -- for the first time -- proved Starbucks used paper cups can be recycled into new paper cups. This advancement brings Starbucks one step closer to its goal of ensuring 100% of its cups are reusable or recyclable by 2015.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties announced Wednesday it is implementing its EcoStance of environmental responsibility to the malls’ kiosks, located throughout all the shopping centers’ common areas.

Over the last few months, GGP converted over 50,000 incandescent lights to energy-efficient LED lights in over 135 malls. The new LED lamps produce brighter light levels, last longer, lower carbon emissions, and reduce energy consumption by at least 85%, according to the mall owner.