Pulling away at a "go" light, plug-in hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt have a big advantage over all-electric cars like the Nissan Leaf — because they have a gasoline engine on board that can provide the required performance punch.

That's sort of what is happening in sales of Volt versus Leaf as well. While the Chevrolet sold nearly 1,700 vehicles in June and, at 8,800, has more than tripled the number it sold last year, Nissan could only report sales of 535 Leafs in the U.S. last month. For the year to date, Leaf sold only about 3,400 units, down 19 percent from last year.

A Nissan spokeswoman told the Detroit News that the main reason for the decline in Leaf sales is that Nissan has been moving away from a "web-driven, build-to-order system that was designed to handle initial sales to more of a traditional dealer-based model."

As for Volt, "We're still trying to manage the production to demand," Chris Perry, Chevrolet's CMO, told brandchannel. "We still haven't totally filled the inventory needs growing in California and some other markets. We're still not sure how high is high with this product."Continue reading...

It's been a year since we profiled Recyclebank, and a lot has changed since then. Green activism is now officially social as Greenopolis and Recyclebank have merged to create the largest social recycling system to date.

Greenopolis is the social arm of Waste Management, a leading provider of waste and environmental services, which just made a strategic investment in Recyclebank. WM's stake in Recyclebank gives it access to a community-based green rewards program for its nearly 20 million North American customers.Continue reading...

Those of a certain age will remember S&H Green Stamps, a rewards program at the height of popularity in the 1960s where stamps were redeemable for goods and the S&H rewards catalog was the largest publication in the United States.

Now they’re back, as Procter & Gamble revs up the green bandwagon by rewarding consumers for learning and blogging about environmental sustainability in addition to helping fund eco-efforts in the company's Cincinnati backyard.

Leveraging P&G's Future Friendly initiative, when people sign up with RecycleBank, they receive electronic "Green Stamps" redeemable for local merchants or merchandise if they recycle through curbside collection programs.Continue reading...

Nature Made, Kashi, LeapFrog and Nestle Purina have just joined green rewards organization RecycleBank in preparation for America Recycles Day, this November 15. Together, these brands represent four major areas of recyclable materials: plastic, paper, electronics and metal. The companies, in collaboration with RecycleBank, are planning to educate and incentivize consumers to recycle, through digital and social media campaigns.
 
“There is no doubt that sustainability is a top priority for brands today, and we are thrilled to have Nature Made, Kashi, LeapFrog and Nestle Purina join our movement,” said Ian Yolles, CMO of RecycleBank. “Consumers realize that one of the easiest ways they can positively impact the environment is through their purchasing decisions and are increasingly looking to corporations to be the ones driving environmental change.”Continue reading...

Comcast today unveiled Tunerfish, a social discovery platform for video content created by John McCrea at Plaxo, which Comcast acquired in 2008. It's now tweeting, and opens to the public next month in beta (sign up here), with iPhone and iPad apps in development. Robert Scoble, who calls it Foursquare for TV, shot the above video with McCrea.

Other brands in the news:

Apple may introduce new iPhone next month.

After delay, BP plans plug attempt as Gulf oil leak costs rise.

Coca-Cola is partnering with RecycleBank in the UK.

Dish Network and Weather Channel signed a new US TV pact.

Ford is investing $135M to boost electric car production.Continue reading...