Green Business Practices

Businesses are clearly moving toward sustainability. Want the proof? Go to GreenBiz.com and read the hundreds of case studies of how companies worldwide are undertaking major initiatives to green up their businesses and products.

How about a few examples?

Toyota Motor Corporation plans to construct a pilot plant for producing polylactic acid, a bioplastic made from annually renewable resources like sugar cane. The new pilot plant, to be built within an existing production facility in Japan, is envisioned to be able to produce 1,000 tons of bioplastics a year.

Toyota has long been actively involved in various fields of research and development toward promoting what it calls "global regeneration" and the creation of a recycling-oriented society. Its efforts have included initiating several practices for reducing environmental impact at every stage of a vehicle's lifecycle -- from development to production, use and disposal.

Maybe those areas targeting the "polymer industry cluster" should be talking with Toyota about bioplastics.

Read about how Vella Cheese is moving forward with solar energy at this Somona, CA plant. Go here.

Office-furniture maker Steelcase Inc. has achieved an environmental milestone in its manufacturing processes by eliminating the emissions of almost all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from its metal-finishing operations in Michigan. VOC emissions can produce ground-level ozone, which contributes to the creation of smog. Steelcase accomplished this goal by developing new technologies to convert solvent-based painting operations to powder-coat finishing. Over the last 25 years, Steelcase has managed to reduce VOC emissions in its Michigan metal-finishing operations by 97%. Further, Steelcase was able to accomplish this milestone for approximately $25 million less than originally predicted. Steelcase is also converting to powder-coat finishing in other manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. When the conversions are complete, the company's VOC emissions will be reduced even further.

Go here to read more abotu how Steelcase did it.