The Walt Disney Company balances environmental stewardship with business development to produce significant efficiencies and financial savings. In fact, business units have implemented a series of environmental programs that have collectively produced savings of more than $31 million.

One such example is the Disneyland Resort in California, which continues to stand out as a model of how environmental action can positively impact the bottom line. In 2003, the Resort became certified by the California Department of Conservation (DOC) as an official state recycling “Collection Center.” In addition to generating income through the sale of recyclables, this certification has also enabled the Resort to receive processing and redemption payments from the DOC. Today, nearly $500,000 in revenue is generated by this program each year.

Similarly, Touchstone Television has realized significant financial savings through the evolution of a soundstage set reuse program. This year, a 135,000-square-foot warehouse was opened to facilitate easy access to thousands of previously used set walls, fixtures, cabinets, facades, and props that television productions can rent for use in their own programs rather than construct new sets from scratch. Partial and whole sets are accepted into the program and old materials are donated for reuse to local schools and colleges. The program has produced consistent annual revenue of $500,000 and reduced disposal fees by more than $110,000.