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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
4.19.2005 ET
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CSR News from:
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Future 500
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News Category:
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Environmental Leaders Endorse a Shift From Petroleum to Renewable Resources
(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO - Over 70 environmental organizations and leaders
today endorsed the SEED (Secure, Sustainable Energy and Environmental
Demand) Action Agenda, calling for a broad market shift away from
petroleum dependency, and toward bioplastics and biofuels that can be
produced using renewable resources.
Declaring this "the last century of petroleum," the groups publicly
endorsed a set of technologies that manufacture materials and fuels with
resources from the Midwest, not the Middle East.
"It's time to come clean and admit that American has a problem: oil
addiction. The only solution is for business leaders to develop
alternatives to petroleum-dependent products and make it possible for
people to live petroleum free." said Jennifer Krill, Director of Zero
Emissions Campaign for Rainforest Action Network.
To eliminate petroleum dependence, the groups are calling on companies to
switch to better technologies, including:
Bioplastic, such as poly lactic acid (PLA), a material made by
converting sugar to a special form of lactic acid. Mass produced by such
companies as Toyota and NatureWorks LLC, it can replace petroleum in the
manufacture of plastics, fibers, clothing, and other materials.
Bio-diesel and bio-ethanol, fuels created by the transesterification
of fat or vegetable oil and the fermentation of corn and other grain
products, respectively. These can be used as direct substitutes in
current gasoline and diesel engines. Shell, Archer Daniels Midland, and
World Energy Alternatives LLC are the largest marketers of biofuels
today.
"Research shows that biofuels and bioplastics incur less environmental
impact than conventional plastics and fuels and are becoming increasingly
cost-competitive as petroleum prices rise," said Neil Seldman, President
of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
"These aren't exotic or expensive technologies," said Bill Shireman,
Future 500 President and CEO. "They can be mass produced at prices
competitive with petroleum without the global environmental and security
costs of fossil fuels. This is especially true with oil approaching $56
per barrel and projected demand to increase to meet exponential growth in
China and India."
The SEED initiative, organized by The Future 500, is seeking to drive down
petroleum dependence, and its security consequences, by shifting to a new
generation of bio-based alternatives, such as bioplastics, biodiesel, and
bioethanol.
The initiative finds unusual common ground between often-adversarial
corporations and advocates, leveraging recent technology breakthroughs
that have dramatically reduced the cost and increased the availability of
these alternatives.
"The shift from petroleum-based fuels, fibers, and plastics to renewable
and plant-based products is fundamental to our survival. It must be
accompanied with other systems shifts such as city design, mass transit,
local orientation, and appropriate scale. Together, these system shifts
are the bright light on the horizon that we so desperately need to get
through these dark times," said Randy Hayes, Director of Sustainability
for the Office of Mayor Jerry Brown, City of Oakland.
"I haven't read such an exciting mission vision in years. The objective
of SEED, 'to commit the buying power of the Fortune 500 and government
agencies to build the technology foundation for the future,' speaks to the
real environmental revolution needed today, and that is a revolution in
economics. We want to see the purchasing agents of the world lead the way
and be the next planetary heroes," said Eric Lombardi, Executive Director
of Ecocycle.
SEED endorsers include:
Acterra, AIB Consulting, Bill Coors, Eco-Cycle, Eco-IQ, Edgewood Partners
LLC, Future 500, Future 500 Japan, Gary Liss and Associates, Global
Exchange, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Institute for Local
Self-Reliance, Joseph Rinkevich (Commonwealth Biofuels LLC, JPR LLC),
Kathryn Blume (Accidental Activist), Mark Moulton (Peninsula Habitat for
Humanity), Professor Jin Zhouying (Beijing), Northeast Biodiesel, Propel
Fuels, Rainforest Action Network, Randy Hayes (Office of Mayor Jerry
Brown, City of Oakland), Rory Bakke, Sea Change, The Next Generation
About SEED: Future 500 is collaborating with a number of
organizations, individuals, and companies to coordinate the SEED
initiative. The first SEED initiative is focused on available competitive
technologies that can hasten transition from a petroleum economy to a
bio-economy. Future initiatives will likely focus on renewable energy,
hybrid and fuel cell vehicle technologies and sustainable agriculture. www.future500.org/seed
About Future 500: Future 500 forges links between corporations and
stakeholders to advance global citizenship. We are leaders in stakeholder
engagement, pioneering the tools, strategies and processes that help
disparate parties identify common ground, address society's critical
problems, and effect lasting, positive change. Future 500 is based in San
Francisco and Tokyo, with affiliates in China and Seattle. www.future500.org
About Institute for Local Self-Reliance: ILSR is a non-profit
research and educational organization that provides technical assistance
and information on environmentally sound economic development strategies.
Since 1974, ILSR has worked with citizen groups, governments and private
businesses in developing policies that extract the maximum value from
local resources. ILSR's Carbohydrate Economy program focuses on new
rules, technologies and public awareness of the use of carbohydrates---the
building blocks of plant matter---which are converted into chemicals,
liquid fuels and building materials. This new material base is cost
effective and reduces industrial pollution. www.ilsr.org
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