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...

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.

Last night in New York, Christie's hosted a star-studded eco-auction and green fashion show, A Bid to Save the Earth. How star-studded? Try a surprise performance by Nicki Minaj, for starters.

In partnership with charitybuzz.com, Christie's event drew celebrities, non-profits, and philanthropists eyeing a host of tempting items for a good cause.Continue reading...

YouTube is celebrating the WWF's global Earth Hour event today with a visual twist. All video-watchers today will see a light switch above each video player, to the left of the video name and beneath a special Earth Hour logo. Click the switch to view the video in the dark via a black background, just as Earth Hour is asking consumers to switch off for their light for an hour tonight, starting at 8:30pm.

Below, how Coca-Cola is supporting Earth Hour.Continue reading...

8:30pm on Saturday, March 26th marks the fifth Earth Hour, an annual switch-off eco-event that was started as a single-city event (Sydney) by the WWF and the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper in 2007.Continue reading...

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, President Obama today announced he will be visiting Ireland in May. His trip will include a visit to Donegal, where his great-great-great-great grandfather was born.

In keeping with its annual tradition, the water in the White House fountain is bright green today, but that's not America's most famous annual green dye job pegged to St. Paddy's Day.

That honor goes to McDonald's, which every year since 1961 has dyed the Chicago river green to promote its limited-edition Shamrock Shake and raise money for its Ronald McDonald House charity — a move that isn't perceived as entirely green, even as the chain itself adopts more sustainable practices.Continue reading...

When it comes to climate change, consider the conversion of Admiral David Titley, Chief Oceanographer and Navigator of the US Navy. The former climate skeptic is now a climate crusader, convinced that this issue is the greatest challenge of the 21st century.

According to one estimate, about two-thirds of Interbrand's latest ranking of the top 100 best global brands could step up on the climate change front.

The research firm's new "Cool Brands versus Hot Brands" report (here's a .pdf) assesses the world's leading brands on their current and long-term policies around sustainability, carbon emissions, and specifically climate change.

An estimated 69% lack adequate policies, management systems and reporting, according to the analysis by EIRIS, which is short for Experts in Responsible Investment Solutions.Continue reading...