Michael Robinson’s responsibilities at General Motors as the Vice President of Environment, Energy, and Safety Policy run the gamut of eco-themed initiatives. Robinson’s main duty is to ensure that environmental responsibility is embedded in each and every one of GM’s various projects and products. One of GM’s main eco-focuses over the past several years: making half (or more) of its 150 worldwide plants landfill-free. As of 2010, the company met and drastically exceeded its goal, allowing it to aim higher down the line. Of those 75-plus facilities, none are transferring any waste to landfills. “[GM uses] more renewables than virtually anybody in manufacturing right now,” Robinson says. “We use more landfill gas than anybody else we know of; we use wind; we use solar; we use hyrdo. It’s a relentless pursuit.”

Pitney Bowes’ Director of Business Development Green Products, Adam Lewenberg, and Director of Environmental Affairs, Ellen Huang, share the software and hardware manufacturer’s secrets to recycling prowess. The company utilizes much of the equipment customers drop off to its recycling program to create newer, better products. Factory-certified refurbishing and rebuilding helps Pitney Bowes save resources, and in turn, their customers save money on new, dependable units. The company designs all of its products with recyclability and end-of-life solutions in mind. “Over 95% [of the machines Pitney Bowes produce] is recyclable in terms of commodity materials when it does finally reach its end of life,” Huang explains. “We scrap and recycle the equipment, and those parts can be broken down into commodity materials easily.” Podcast: Play in new window | Download (46.6MB)