The Coca-Cola Company is stepping up its efforts as a global leader in sustainability.

It recently introduced its eco-friendly PlantBottle in the US, starting with its Odwalla and Dasani brands. And now, on the cusp of Earth Day, it's asking its US retailers to go green by using its environmentally friendly "Give It Back" racks.

The corrugated racks are designed to be easily recycled at retail outlets with onsite corrugate recycling capabilities, or bottlers can return them to a Coca-Cola facility for recycling via Coca-Cola delivery trucks.

OK, it may not sound sexy, but it's an industry first.

Coca-Cola's free-standing, 100% recyclable display racks are aimed at convenience and grocery stores, and helps the company "close the loop" on an eco-system that gets closer to its sustainability goals.Continue reading...

To celebrate Earth Day 2011, Intel IT Sustainability Program Manager, Bill Guyon, shares how Intel IT is helping to lower Intel's carbon footprint through videoconferencing, laptops, server consolidation and other energy-saving measures.Continue reading...

Going green may not be as easy as a walk in the park, but it may be a picnic if the Nature Conservancy's Earth Day theme pans out. Picnic for the Planet is a "celebration of the planet we live on, the food it provides and the people we share it with. In short, the planet does a lot for us — we should take it out for lunch."

More than just an appeal to foodies and organic eaters, the organization's goal is to encourage people to eat outdoors on April 22nd "to enjoy good food in the company of great people" — and, of course, notice and appreciate nature. Pleasant, but hardly the call to action and eco-rallying that spurred the first Earth Day in 1970.Continue reading...

In this national TV spot, Coca-Cola introduces the US to its new nationally available PlantBottle for Dasani, billing it as"the first 100% recyclable beverage package made from up to 30% made from plants." Dasani was Coca-Cola's pilot brand to test the PlantBottle. It's also being joined by sister beverage brand Odwalla, as announced today — just in time for Earth Month.

Earth Day is a huge draw with brands looking for eco-friendly consumers.

PepsiCo launched an initiative to encourage recycling with nation-wide kiosks.

EBay's creator has designed a subscription online information service for Hawaii.

JC Penney looks to increase sales by focusing on brand collaborations.

CenturyLink is buying Qwest, creating the largest US landline phone company.

Sony's PlayStation will stream Major League Baseball games.

LG Electronics rolls out new campaign in run-up to the FIFA World Cup.Continue reading...

Is it possible it’s been four decades since the notion of green marketing first dawned in America? Indeed it is, and Thursday marks the 40th birthday of Earth Day.

The now iconic Keep America Beautiful "Crying Indian" ad (which you can watch after the jump) debuted in 1971 with a close-up on a single tear traversing the cheek of Iron Eyes Cody. It was the first environmental commercial.

Marketers have been on the green bandwagon ever since, but has it really made a difference? Ad Age recently took a comprehensive look at the noise, the facts, and the scorecard.

It’s a complicated ecosystem of production, consumption, recycling and waste and we are far from getting it right. Consider the single fact that 40 years ago, the notion of a disposable economy fueled by products like baby wipes, diapers, Lysol cleaning cloths, Swiffer, Lunchables and Go-Gurt, was non-existent.Continue reading...

With Earth Day coming up on April 22 and its brand a bit shaky lately among its primary constituency, Whole Foods Market executives determined that the time must be right to mount a new appeal to the chain’s core market of upscale, often liberal-leaning foodies.

So the Austin, Texas-based company is launching a sort of festival of films that rail against the mainstream food industry, as part of an overall initiative it calls, “Let’s Retake Our Plates!” Whole Foods said that it wants to help consumers “understand how the food choices they make have an impact on health and the environment."

“Our goal is to help open people’s eyes to the reality of what’s going on with food in our world,” said Mara Fleishman, global project leader, said in a Whole Foods statement. “Conscious food choices can make a difference."Continue reading...

Public broadcasting, specifically PBS, is making a historic move, premiering “Earth Day” on Facebook. The full-length documentary, chronicling the growth of the environmental movement in the United States, will air April 11th on Facebook, and be broadcast on PBS eight days later.

The reason? A Facebook debut will hopefully generate viral buzz and reach a younger audience attracted to the content but not necessarily devotees of PBS or appointment-viewing television. According to Mark Samels, executive producer of the “American Experience” series, "It's an opportunity, we think, to engage with a new audience, an audience that we may not be bringing to PBS Monday nights at 9 o'clock."Continue reading...