The Mouse Cleans House

The Walt Disney Co. has unveiled a slate of ambitious environmental goals, including cutting companywide greenhouse-gas emissions in half during the next four years, and reducing electricity consumption by 10 percent over the next five. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the company also stated its intention to achieve zero solid waste production.

The announcement comes as part of Disney’s comprehensive “Corporate Responsibility Report,” and will primarily impact the company’s theme parks, resorts and cruise ships, which, according to internal figures, account for 91 percent of the company's total greenhouse-gas emissions and 73 percent of its electrical use.

Among the most substantial pledges Disney makes are its environmental commitments. In addition to reducing or offsetting greenhouse-gas emissions and cutting electricity consumption, Disney says it aims to reduce the amount of solid waste it sends to landfills by 50 percent by 2013 and to increase support for the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund each year for the next five years. (Disney donated $500,000 to the fund in 2008.)

Disney says the reductions are interim steps toward long-term goals of achieving zero net direct greenhouse gas emissions, reducing indirect emissions through electricity consumption and eliminating all solid waste.

Are these goals actually achievable, or is this just posturing to get the company in line with the green trend? Should other companies follow Disney’s lead?