Executive Round Up: Advice for Companies Trying to Be More Environmentally Conscious

We asked executives in our industry for one piece of advice they have for a company trying to become more environmentally conscious. Here’s what they had to say. 

Mike Bell
SVP/GM
Corning Optical Communications

Sustainability should be everyone’s job and not just a new initiative. At Corning, for example, we are embedding sustainability into our product development processes. Our manufacturing teams take responsibility for reducing greenhouse gases, water, waste, and energy in our operations. Our supply chain teams work with our partners to find environmentally friendly solutions. And our colleagues all around the world collaborate with local organizations to help their communities thrive.

Sara Cronenwett
SVP, Corporate Strategy and Environmental Sustainability
Comcast Corp.

Sustainability can mean many different things—reducing emissions, increasing recyclability, conserving resources, the list goes on. My advice is to clearly identify the sustainability priorities for your business, measure your current state, and then focus on the associated strategies that will deliver unique and meaningful impact for your company.

Teresa Elder
CEO
WOW!

At WOW!, remaining diligent in our commitment to environmental stewardship is a top priority. Many of the steps we take can be easily replicated in other businesses. The first thing is not to get overwhelmed by the thought of having to make dramatic changes. Small things can have a significant impact on reducing a company’s carbon footprint. It can be as simple as replacing fluorescent lights with LEDs, removing all plasticware from breakrooms and kitchens, avoiding unnecessary printing, unplugging less-used equipment to decrease power consumption, using the internet wisely to decrease the need for large data storage and reducing miles driven by field technicians.