ENVIROPORT 2007
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Our Green Leadership







Click to Meet a Conservation Hero

Environmental champions exist at every level and every location of the Company, all striving toward a common goal: protecting the planet for future generations. To accomplish this goal, individuals have formed environmental groups, or "green teams," to significantly affect Disney's global operations and generate a call to action.

The Environmental Council

In early 2007, Disney formed the Environmental Council, a group of senior level executives from every business segment who are enhancing Disney's global environmental strategy. Moving forward, the Council will be responsible for unifying Cast Members and employees under the common strategy, mobilizing resources within business units, and championing the strategy from the top down. The Council will also support long-term initiatives to meet strategy goals.

The Walt Disney Studios Green Teams

The Walt Disney Studios have established green teams in every area, aiming to reduce operational impacts and encourage employees to get involved. These green teams have succeeded in the following areas:

  • Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production has led the way in developing Green Production guidelines in conjunction with other studios, TV partners, and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In addition, the division has worked closely with filmmakers to champion numerous green efforts including recycling glass, steel, set flats, and scrap lumber on all movie sets and eliminating the use of exotic woods in set construction.
  • Motion Pictures Marketing and Distribution employees conducted a self-audit of all marketing materials and operational procedures. They are currently determining the carbon footprint of all activities and will develop plans to reduce this footprint.
  • The Walt Disney Studios led the transition from standard 35mm film to a complete digital theatrical release. The Studio played a role in creating the digital industry equipment standards and was the first company to sign a digital deployment agreement with exhibitors. This agreement significantly accelerated the entertainment industry's transition to digital cinema.
  • The Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS) green team worked with Corporate Operations and Real Estate (CORE) to replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. They also began using chlorine-free paper containing 100 percent post-consumer waste, 100 percent biodegradable and compostable coffee cups, rechargeable batteries, and other various office products containing recycled content. Additionally, the WDSHE Green Team and WDAS are working in conjunction to create an "Eco-Friendly Workplace Planner," a guidebook to help employees implement environmental initiatives in their areas.
  • The Pixar green team is small in number, but big on action. Members performed a recycling check-up to identify and fix many recycling inefficiencies at Pixar's Emeryville campus. They also implemented a very successful compost system, and to date, they have composted enough food waste to completely fill six school busses every month. In 2008, the team will introduce an electronics recycling program for all Pixar-owned equipment and, on occasion, will invite employees to bring personal electronics to recycle.
  • Miramax Films continues to implement green practices in day-to-day operations. On a recent production, Miramax banned disposables from their catering operations. In addition, cast drove only midsize and hybrid cars during production.
  • Disney Music Group and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment also made substantial strides in making packaging more environmentally friendly. Click here to read more.

Individual Contributions

Walt Disney World hosts an annual awards ceremony and program, The Environmental Excellence Awards (EEA), to recognize Cast Members who go above and beyond to protect the earth. At the ceremony, Cast Members who have shown consistent leadership and commitment to Environmentality over a period of several years receive the Jiminy Cricket award, the most coveted honor.

Meet the 2007 Jiminy Cricket Award Recipients:

Christy Conk
Disney's Animal Kingdom (DAK), Animal Keeper

Christy lives and breathes Environmentality. She always represents Disney's environmental commitment to the utmost as the DAK Environmental Circle of Excellence Co-Leader. Whenever possible, Christy shares environmental information with Guests and other Cast Members.

Mike Fitzgerald,
Chief Steward, Grand Floridian Resort

Mike is the Environmentality Champion at the Grand Floridian Resort. He has helped develop recycling and waste reduction guidelines for the Grand Floridian and he has organized many Earth Day Cast and Guest awareness days.

Jim Miller
Attractions Guest Service Manager, DAK

Jim is the Strive for Five Environmentality Champion for DAK and is the DAK Environmental Circle of Excellence Co-Leader. In 2007, he was responsible for producing environmental displays to remind Cast Members to take action.

Sherry Yerger
Senior Relocation Consultant, Team Disney

Sherry is the Team Disney/Casting/Suntrust Environmental Circle of Excellence Leader and the Strive for Five Environmentality Champion. She consistently keeps up environmental communications and initiatives for her three buildings.

Disneyland Resort Paris took a different approach by awarding teams that implemented innovative, energy-saving ideas into their operations. In a January ceremony, the 7th Annual Energy Trophy Awards recognized the Disneyland Resort Paris maintenance team, which contributed to improved bottom-line results through energy and water conservation initiatives. These teams have set incredible examples to reduce the environmental impact of business activities.