Often people think that being environmentally friendly means recycling. And, yes recycling is important, but it is not the only change companies can adopt, in order to conserve resources and to reduce pollution. Famous brands have understood that being environmentally friendly means reducing the amount of waste generated by their operations. Why did these companies decide to go green? They have multiple reasons:

-          They know it is good for the planet

-          They want to conserve resources

-          They want to cut down their waste

By doing this they will manage to save money, and as everyone already knows, the main goal of businesses is to increase their revenue. Companies are in a constant search for methods they can use to go greener. The following brands are known worldwide and they are taking the lead into transforming their operations into more sustainable practices.

McDonalds

Not long ago McDonalds was one of the negative examples, when we were thinking about the impact companies have on the environment. However, they decided to shift their perspective and to opt for greener strategies. They decided to be the ones who send a signal to the other popular fast-food brands. Nowadays we can refer to McDonalds as one of the leaders in the eco-friendly movement. All their restaurants use energy-efficient appliances, because they considered crucial to reducing the overall energy consumption.

Also, McDonalds is presently collaborating with PETA, because they want to transform the brand into one that has humane and friendly practices. Multiple restaurants offer green parking lots available only for hybrid vehicles, so their buyers are encouraged to change the cars they use for ones that do less harm to the planet. The parking space has permeable concrete.

Home Depot

Home Depot is the true example of a company that struggled a lot to change their practices into greener ones. Home Depot was hit by numerous protests and demonstrations after it was designed as the world’s largest retailer of old-growth wood products, by Rainforest Action Network. But not the protests and demonstrations were the ones that convinced Home Depot to change their actions, the more than 45,000 letters and calls are the ones that forced them to change their perspective. They adopted a no old-growth sales policy and this was only the first step in the long process.

Google

Google does its best to support green energy projects, because it is the type of company that is known for the enormous amount of energy it consumes. Google designed the world’s most efficient data centres, and it is a leader when it comes to creating campaigns that promote energy conservation and the usage of renewable energy sources. Google is one of the biggest sponsors of projects that focus on green energy. It invested in solar panels and windmills to create more green energy sources.

Starbucks

Starbucks is proud to share with the world their bean-to-cup approach. It improves their efficiency at all levels in the supply chain. Everyone considers this program a success, because Starbucks is using coffee cup sleeves made from recycled paper. Their initiative saves around 80,000 trees every year since 2006. Starbucks has also started multiple collaborations with environmental organisations, because they want to make sure that help the communities it operates in.

Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors is a well-known brand for its eco-friendly cars. The company became famous because they managed to produce eco-friendly cars that meet the same levels of speed and power, the other vehicles do. Tesla Motors manufactures electric powered vehicles sold around the world. People prefer this brand because the overall maintenance and care costs are lower compared with the ones from other cars.

Honda

Auto companies have difficulties into becoming eco-friendly businesses, but Honda gets involved in a process composed of multiple steps that transformed it into a green business. They managed to find a way to manufacture fuel-efficient vehicles, and they do not stop here. They are in a constant search for improving their vehicles and they are presently seeking for a way to create a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle.

Auto companies not only that do their best to produce eco-friendly vehicles they also have to make sure that they recycle their waste. Miltek recommends auto companies to establish collaborations with businesses specialised in recycling trash in safety conditions.

Honda states that they are also working on reducing carbon dioxide emissions and they want in the future their cars to be powered by hydrogen fuel instead of gasoline.

Toyota

Everyone around the world has heard about Toyota, because it is the largest car producer. They are also famous for manufacturing cars that reduce the carbon footprint. Prius is the world’s first hybrid vehicle, and it is considered one of the most amazing vehicles people were ever able to drive. This car is worldwide acknowledged for its efficient consumption, and it occupies leading places in the top of cars that emit the least amount of carbon.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has a bad reputation when it comes to companies that do efforts to become greener. But, in the present they have started an ambitious project, they want to use renewable energy sources to power all their stores. And they want to use only renewable energy for doing it. Wal-Mart declared that they want to organise all their operations according to a waste-eliminating policy. Not only that their stores will be 100% fuelled by renewable energy, but they will transform all their operations into more eco-friendly ones.

Coca Cola

Coca Cola has established three main goals they want to achieve, regarding to environment preservation. They focus on preserving water supplies, climate and energy protection, and sustainable packaging. All these initiatives are ambitious, and it implies all their operations to be conducted according to sustainable rules. But the efforts Coca Cola is making to protect the planet do not stop here. They are getting involved in projects that promote recycling, green packaging designs and energy efficient production of supplies.

The above companies are examples of how businesses can become leaders in the green revolution. They will encourage other brands to include in their operations more eco-friendly and sustainable business practices.