Environmental Sustainability

Bad news: your cherished denim might not be so great for Mother Nature. Levi Strauss released a statement saying the typical pair of blue jeans consumes 919 gallons of water during its lifespan, or the equivalent of 15 spa-size bathtubs.

For the second year in a row, Office Depot was recognized in Newsweek magazine’s annual “Green Rankings” as the greenest large retailer in the U.S. Across all industry sectors, Office Depot was ranked as the U.S.' 8th greenest large company, a move up of 10 spots from last year, and was the only retailer in the U.S. Top 10 list.

Outdoor equipment and clothing retailer REI and warehouse club operator Costco are among five companies that are using new voluntary recycling labels on some of their products beginning next summer. They've committed to participate in the pilot of the Package Recovery Label System developed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

Ikea officially plugged in two Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its Portland, Ore. store as part of its partnership with ECOtality. The initiative is the first such project for Ikea in the U.S.

American Eagle Outfitters and Cotton Incorporated are partnering on a denim recycling program called “Cotton. From Blue to Green.” Through Oct. 18, more than 850 American Eagle Outfitters stores are participating as well as 47 college campuses across the U.S.

Cardboard boxes are out as part of Office Depot’s GreenerOffice Delivery Service. Customers will now receive supplies in paper bags protected during transportation in reusable plastic totes.

Wal-Mart announced a plan to install solar panels on up to 60 additional stores in California, expanding the company’s solar portfolio to more than 75 percent of its stores in the state. The move would make California the first state in the nation where Wal-Mart has devoted this level of commitment to renewable energy, it said.

Amid a climate of economic uncertainty, Americans now place a higher value on their own financial stability over environmental responsibility. However, they're still looking to make sensible environmental choices, according to the 2011 Green Gauge US Report from GfK Roper Consulting, a division of GfK Custom Research North America.

Apple, Nordstrom and other retailers are beginning to use paperless receipts not only to achieve quicker checkout lines and create less waste but also to gain additional customer email addresses, according to Pam Danziger of Unity Marketing, a market research firm.

A group of environmental organizations issued a report reprimanding Apple for the pollution allegedly caused by the company's Chinese suppliers. "We require that our suppliers provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made," Apple's Steve Dowling said in response to the report.