Recyclebank Launches Sustainability Advisory Council

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) NEW YORK, NY - TUESDAY, FEB. 8, 2011 - Recyclebank®, a sustainable action platform that motivates individuals to make a collective impact on the environment, announced today it has established the Recyclebank Sustainability Advisory Council to advise the company in its mission to realize a world where nothing is wasted. The group, with members representing an intersection of environmental, sustainability, business and nongovernmental organizations, will counsel Recyclebank on the latest environmental issues and how to evolve the company’s products, partnerships and sustainability programs to help realize its mission. 

In conjunction with the formation of the Council, Recyclebank has also appointed previous Chief Marketing Officer Ian Yolles to the newly formed role of chief sustainability officer. Yolles comes from a long history of assisting brands such as Nike, Nau and Patagonia differentiate themselves on their strong commitment to sustainability. In his new position, Yolles leads the Sustainability Advisory Council and ensures Recyclebank initiatives continue to exemplify the company’s commitment to being an authentic green lifestyle brand.                                                                     “Through partnerships with local communities and some of the world’s leading brands, we’ve expanded our vision to encompass motivating a broad range of environmentally preferred behaviors—all with the mission of creating a more sustainable future,” said Ian Yolles, chief sustainability officer at Recyclebank. “As we continue to forge innovative partnerships, expand our digital reach, and venture into new conservation and sustainability arenas, it’s critical that our long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability be integrated into our governance, management and daily business operations. We’ve assembled a truly top-notch group of individuals to serve on our Sustainability Advisory Council, and believe with their guidance and the collective experience they bring to Recyclebank, our environmental impact and business growth will be even more profound.”   Founding members of the Recyclebank Sustainability Advisory Council include:  

• Aron Cramer: President and CEO of Business for Social Responsibility. Cramer is recognized globally as an authority on corporate responsibility by leaders in business and NGOs. At BSR, a global business network and consultancy focused on sustainability, Cramer has doubled the organization’s staff, significantly expanded its global presence, and also advises senior executives at BSR's 250 member companies. Cramer is co-author of the book “Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World,” which highlights corporate responsibility strategies that drive business success. 

• John Elkington: Founding partner and executive chairman of Volans, and co-founder and non-executive chairman at SustainAbility. Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. In 2004, BusinessWeek described him as “a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades.” In 2008, The Evening Standard named him among the 1000 Most Influential People in London, describing him as “a true green business guru.” In 2009, a CSR International survey of the Top 100 CSR leaders placed Elkington fourth after Al Gore, Barack Obama and the late Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, and alongside Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank. 

• Wendy Gordon: A leader in the green consumer movement having in 1989 founded Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet, a pioneering consumer outreach organization, and Green Guide, the go-to resource for the eco-conscious consumer, acquired in 2007 by National Geographic. Mothers & Others was conceived at the Natural Resources Defense Council, where Gordon was a senior project scientist in the Health Program. She is back at NRDC as a consultant for the Communications Department, guiding the development of three new action portals – Smarter Living for consumers, Smarter Cities for urban activists and Smarter Business for entrepreneurs. 

• Kevin Wall: Co-Founder of Live Earth and managing partner of Craton Equity Partners, a clean technology investment firm. Wall co-founded Live Earth in 2007 with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. An Emmy Award-winning producer, Wall conceived and executed Live Earth: the Concerts for a Climate in Crisis, a groundbreaking musical event that sought to deliver an urgent yet hopeful call to action on climate change. Wall is a member of the board of directors for a variety of environmental organizations including the Alliance for Climate Protection and Global Water Challenge.

“Recyclebank’s ability to motivate individuals to engage in more sustainable forms of consumption has already made a material and positive impact on the well being of local communities and the environment,” said Aron Cramer, president and CEO of Business for Social Responsibility. “In conjunction with the my fellow inaugural members of the Sustainability Advisory Board, I look forward to assisting Recyclebank as it furthers its mission and, in doing so, broadening its positive impact on diverse communities.”   Recyclebank began by partnering with municipalities, waste haulers and their citizenry to increase household recycling rates through incentives. Now, seven years later, Recyclebank has a proven record of accomplishment, helping to double—even triple—recycling rates in hundreds of communities across 29 states and in the United Kingdom, and is rapidly expanding its digital platform to introduce new ways to incentivize environmentally preferable behaviors to make a profound collective impact on the environment.    ABOUT RECYCLEBANK Recyclebank® is the leading environmental social platform that realizes the collective impact of individual action. Through its digital offerings and partnerships with municipalities, haulers, small businesses and corporate brands, Recyclebank incentivizes green actions with points that can be redeemed for discounts and rewards. By educating, engaging and empowering its community online and offline, Recyclebank aims to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle by increasing household recycling, reducing household energy usage and motivating individuals and communities to take environmentally preferred actions. Recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme, and for Outstanding Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Recyclebank is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.Recyclebank.com.   # # #