The Monkey Shack

The Coca-Cola Company's iconic red billboard in New York City's Times Square sits quietly in the background of millions of pictures that visitors take in Times Square. But partygoers at the most recent New Years Eve celebration in New York might not have realized that the billboard has actually gone "green."

Coca-Cola is leading a unanimous eco-friendly shift to wind power among 30 billboards that tower over the world's most recognizable intersection, becoming the first company to select clean, renewable wind power to light up their billboard located at 47th and Broadway. After Coca-Cola made their commitment, all of the neighboring billboards on three buildings around Times Square joined the movement through an electric supply agreement with ConEdison Solutions and the building management company.

Coke also debuted a new "green" ad on New Year's Eve themed, "Refresh. Recycle. Repeat." The ad touts the beverage giant's goal to recycle or reuse 100 percent of the aluminum cans and plastic bottles it sells in the U.S., part of the company's "Live Positively" operating philosophy. Coca-Cola is also planning a recycling education event in New York City's Bryant Park next week, helping consumers learn about recycling, play trivia and interactive games, and view items made from recycled bottles. The company has also rolled out a new fleet of 142 hybrid delivery trucks, the largest such fleet in the world.

John Brock, chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, recently had this to say in an interview with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania: "First of all, we believe sustainability is critical, absolutely key. It's center of play. It's not niche anymore. It's not just something you kind of do when you're thinking about it. It's something we take seriously, and it has to be done all the time."

Nice to see a company not just talk the talk, but walk the walk and lead by example.

http://www.livepositively.com/