Cox Enterprises celebrates a decade of sustainability

Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises has announced the 10th anniversary of Cox Conserves, the company’s national sustainability program. 

The company launched Cox Conserves in 2007 with a goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2017 as well as to engage its employees and community partners in sustainability efforts.

Since the program’s inception, Cox says it has diverted 97,000 tons of material from landfill, among other accomplishments.
 
“Cox Conserves is a story about taking action and inviting everyone to join us on our sustainability journey,” says Cox Enterprises Chairman Jim Kennedy. “While the world has seen drastic changes over the last decade, our commitment to sustainability has been unwavering. In fact, it’s grown and will continue to do so. We know that efficiency is good for the environment and for the bottom line, but Cox Conserves is much more than just an operational program. It’s a part of our culture that brings positive change to the communities around us.”

Cox Conserves met its initial carbon goal and has expanded to include waste and water goals, as well as initiatives to engage suppliers, customers and peer businesses. Since 2007, Cox Enterprises has invested more than $100 million in sustainability and conservation initiatives. Through these investments, the company has offset 82,000 tons of carbon, diverted material from landfill and conserved 57 million gallons of water. These projects are helping the company reach its goals to send zero waste to landfill by 2024 and become carbon and water neutral by 2044, Cox says.

Seven Islands Environmental Solutions, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, was created to incubate and replicate sustainable technologies. The company’s first large-scale initiative, the Golden Isles Conservation Center, will focus on recycling and have the capacity to remove 5 tons of tires from landfills and water systems.

Cox says it also seeks to share best practices and encourage sustainability through supplier programs and the Cox Conserves Sustainability Survey, a national survey that examines sustainability opportunities and challenges for small and medium-sized businesses.

Beyond business operations, Cox says it seeks to inspire environmental action in communities and employees. The Cox Conserves Heroes program, created in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, has honored nearly 200 environmental volunteers across eight states and has donated nearly $1 million to nonprofits on their behalf. In Atlanta, Cox has been driving force behind the Atlanta BeltLine, a national blueprint for urban renewal, and Food Well Alliance, an organization bolstering Atlanta’s local food movement to build healthier communities.

Through national partnerships with American Rivers and Ocean Conservancy, Cox volunteers help clean up their local communities, which has resulted in more than 25 tons of materials being removed from waterways. Cox also offers employees incentives to use renewable energy at their homes through the Employee Solar Program. Employees are recognized for their sustainable ideas at work through the Cox Conserves Chairman’s Cup, which collects, rewards and replicates sustainable practices across the company. Cox Conserves and You, an internal digital platform, enables employees across the nation to track their eco-actions and share ideas.

Cox says it will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Cox Conserves program throughout the year by encouraging conservation among its employees and the communities it serves.

Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company.