Category — Kiwi Kudos

Say what you will about soda—but Coke is making big efforts to do some green good.

Since 2007, the Coca-Cola Company has worked with the World Wildlife Fund in an intense effort to help polar bears in the Arctic Circle, whose habitat is rapidly disappearing due to global warming. The beverage giant has donated half a million dollars to support the WWF’s Umky patrol in Russia, which monitors and tracks polar bears in the Arctic. Coke has also helped fund research on climate chance and its effects on marine mammal species. While this is all impressive, the Coca-Cola Company and Coke drinkers can’t do it all on their own. By visiting the Coca-Cola Company Polar Bears Support Fund website you can learn more about the furry white critters, their home, plus how to reduce your impact on the global climate. 

Coca-Cola is working to help the planet in other ways, too. Almost 85% of Coke’s unit case volume (a case containing 24 eight-ounce servings) is delivered in recyclable cans and bottles. What’s more, the Coca-Cola Company is also working to address the greenhouse gas emissions from its refrigeration equipment and limit its energy consumption.

So next time you grab a Coke, you can sit back and relax as you save the planet, one delicious sip at a time—just don’t forget to recycle that bottle when you’re done!

-Angela, KIWI intern

Last year, it was a gluten-free cake. Now, Starbucks is partnering with Dr. Lucy’s Cookies to offer its customers a sweet treat that’s vegan—plus free of other common allergens including wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts.

While positive and negative opinions abound about the coffee giant, Starbucks’ move to offer a snack that’s free of animal products is a good thing for two reasons: Not only does it provide another option for those with special diets, but it introduces said diets more into the mainstream. And since eating less meat and dairy in favor of plant-based foods is better for the environment, here’s hoping the cookie offering will inspire coffee drinkers across the country to eat more vegan meals and snacks.

-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer

As part of our recognition of Organic Harvest Month, KIWI is celebrating pioneers of the organic movement by sharing their inspiring stories, plus their thoughts on healthy, sustainable food.

Seeds of Change

If you’ve ever bitten into a perfectly ripe, heirloom tomato that was so delicious you wondered who to thank for it, here’s your answer: Seeds of Change. Since its inception in 1989, the company has been driven by a singular mission: To promote biodiversity and sustainable, organic agriculture.

[Read more →]

Publix has just made shopping for healthy products a little easier. The grocery chain recently created a shelf tag system for many store-brand and national items that denotes whether or not a product is organic, made with organic ingredients, or natural/earth-friendly.

Seeking to simplify your shopping experience, the program was designed to allow consumers to determine whether or not a product fits their needs simply by glancing at the tag, rather than having to decipher labels, ingredients, or marketing claims. Organic products must contain at least 95% organic ingredients, while products made with organic ingredients must be 70%-94% organic. Natural or earth-friendly products are those that have been minimally-processed and manufactured in an environmentally-friendly way, and contain no natural ingredients.

To learn more about the system, plus see what the tags look like, check out Publix.com.

-Marygrace, KIWI Staffer