Cox Communications recently announced that seven of its office locations nationwide achieved zero waste to landfill status. One of the seven locations is right next door in Phoenix, and has been on the forefront of conservation through its TWIG program (turning waste into growth) that recycles used materials and donates the funds to local youth based non-profit organizations. Through the efforts of the TWIG program, Cox has donated more than $60,000 to date to local youth-focused non-profit organizations. Join us to find out how the Phoenix office achieved zero waste to landfill status, and how other local businesses can do the same.
SHOW NOTES:
Cox Enterprises launched Cox Conserves, their national sustainability program, in 2007 (way ahead of the times!). Cox Conserves was their formalized commitment to sustainability with a goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2017. Here’s some highlights of the awesome things they’ve accomplished:
Operational Leadership
Cox Conserves met its initial carbon goal and has expanded to include waste and water goals, as well as initiatives to engage suppliers, customers and peer businesses. Since 2007, Cox Enterprises has invested more than $100 million in sustainability and conservation initiatives. Through these investments, the company has offset 82,000 tons of carbon, diverted 97,000 tons of waste from landfill and conserved 57 million gallons of water. These projects are helping the company reach its goals to send zero waste to landfill by 2024 and become carbon and water neutral by 2044.
Seven Islands Environmental Solutions, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, was created to incubate and replicate sustainable technologies. The company’s first large-scale initiative, the Golden Isles Conservation Center, will focus on recycling and have the capacity to remove five tons of tires from landfills and water systems.
Cox also seeks to share best practices and encourage sustainability through supplier programs and the Cox Conserves Sustainability Survey, a national survey that examines sustainability opportunities and challenges for small and medium-sized businesses.
Community and Employee Engagement
Beyond business operations, Cox seeks to inspire environmental action in communities and employees. The Cox Conserves Heroes program, created in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, has honored nearly 200 environmental volunteers across eight states and has donated nearly $1 million to nonprofits on their behalf. In Atlanta, Cox has been driving force behind the Atlanta BeltLine, a national blueprint for urban renewal, and Food Well Alliance, an organization bolstering Atlanta’s local food movement to build healthier communities.
Through national partnerships with American Rivers and Ocean Conservancy, Cox volunteers help clean up their local communities, which has resulted in more than 25 tons of materials being removed from waterways. Cox also offers employees incentives to utilize renewable energy at their homes through the Employee Solar Program.
Employees are recognized for their sustainable ideas at work through the Cox Conserves Chairman’s Cup, which collects, rewards and replicates sustainable practices across the company. Cox Conserves and You, an internal digital platform, enables employees across the nation to track their eco-actions and share ideas.
Good stuff!
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