Ecomagining the Future

GENERAL ELECTRIC'S OPERATIONS span the globe, and though people are most familiar with products from its Appliance & Lighting division, GE’s products infiltrate just about every sector, from transportation to health care. The company has earned a reputation for its commitment to sustainability in recent years.

“We think of our initiatives as being in three big buckets: product design, manufacturing and recycling,” says Kelley Kline, global product stewardship program manager for GE.

Clean Energy for Everyone

SOLAR CITY REACHED A MAJOR MILESTONE earlier this year: the company’s customers generated one billion kilowatt-hours of clean solar energy.

“The most significant thing we’ve done is making clean energy affordable and accessible to more people,” says Jonathan Bass, SolarCity’s vice president of communications.

Pink Is the New Green

Owens Corning has come a long way since adopting the Pink Panther as its mascot over 30 years ago. As the world’s largest manufacturer of fiberglass insulation products, the company has a huge impact on the energy performance of buildings. A typical pound of insulation saves 12 times as much energy in its first year in place as the energy used to produce it. Many other Owens Corning products, including sealants, housewrap and asphalt roofing shingles, also contribute to energy efficiency.

The Bold Look of Water Conservation

The Kohler Co. started offering farm implements in the late 19th century. Today, Kohler is most recognized for making high-quality plumbing fixtures, but the company has three other areas of focus: power, which includes diesel and gas engines and generators, home interiors and a line of resort hotels.

Kohler’s three-part sustainability strategy focuses on reducing the company’s footprint, developing innovative products that save water and energy and increasing awareness and education around water and energy conservation.

Planning for the Entire Life Cycle of Products

GLOBAL GIANT PANASONIC has set the standard for many electronics; today, the company employs people in 170 countries and makes over 300,000 products. The company’s ambitious sustainability agenda is encompassed in an Environmental Action plan called Green Plan 2018, in anticipation of the company’s 100th anniversary.

The Confluence of Science and Sustainability

DuPont started out making gunpowder over 200 years ago; in the 20th century it developed products like Nylon, Kevlar and Tyvek, which have since become generic for their ubiquity. You can trace the company’s evolution through its slogans­—from “Better Living Through Chemistry” to “The Miracles of Science” to today’s: “Welcome to the Global Collaboratory.”

“As needs have evolved, our focus has shifted,” says Laura Dwyer, Building Knowledge Center manager. “Now we’re applying our scientific approach to solving global problems.” These include climate change, energy security and sustainable food production in the face of a growing population.

Delivering Water and Energy Efficiency

IN 1994 UPONOR disrupted the plumbing industry with the introduction of AquaPEX, its cross-linked polyethylene alternative to copper pipe. Because of its durability, flexibility, ease of installation and resistance to corrosion, AquaPEX quickly gained ground on its competitors.

A Legacy of Environmental Protection

PATAGONIA DESIGNS AND SELLS high-end outdoor apparel, but its initiatives, past and present, inspire companies across all industries to do better.