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Here's how some of the biggest toy brands are making strides toward protecting the planet's natural resources

The paper industry is pushing back against the "paperless" workplace and trying to persuade corporate decision-makers that paper can be greener than you'd think. Sustainably produced paper doesn't harm the planet and is arguably better than technologies that produce electronic waste, industry reps say. "We have to be careful when we pin one product against the other and say it's better. It's a tricky thing to do if you don't have all the data to back it up," says Phil Riebel, president of industry group Two Sides U.S

Greenpeace has launched another massive campaign, this time demanding Procter & Gamble end its role in rainforest destruction through its careless sourcing of palm oil. A yearlong investigation into "P&G's Dirty Secret" shows the maker of dozens of everyday household and personal care products is sourcing palm oil from companies connected to substantial clearance of endangered orangutan habitat in Indonesia

Nissan, maker of the popular LEAF all-electric sedan, is on track to offer a 100 percent electric delivery van next year.

At plants in Wisconsin and Holland, SC Johnson -- maker of cleaning products such as Mr Muscle and Pledge -- is using on-site wind turbines and advanced waste-reduction strategies to reduce its footprint. The aim is to develop a network of zero-waste, 100%-renewable facilities around the world. "Every place should be a better place because we are there," says CEO Sam Johnson.

It may be hard for chocolate makers to guarantee that their entire supply comes from a sustainable source by the 2020 target many of them have set, according to a sustainable sourcing auditing firm has told Confectionery News.

Imagine a toothpaste tube that may be fully recyclable. That possibility is laid out in a series of sustainability commitments personal care products maker Colgate-Palmolive made to environmental nonprofit As You Sow.

Electric car maker Tesla Motors is handing over the keys to its technology in an unusual effort to encourage other automakers to expand beyond gasoline-burning vehicles.

America's Best Coffee Roasting Company has been pulling out all the stops to reduce its waste, sending coffee chaff to animal-feed makers and leftover sacks to gardening companies. Now it's switched to using bulk containers rather than plastic bags that can't easily be recycled. "In hindsight, it didn't really take that much effort. I hope other companies feel inspired and consider similar changes for their businesses," says Vice President Kelly Zeissner.

Deliver Change, a UK-based non-profit focused on sustainable technology projects, launched a campaign this week called "Let's make air pollution visible," which aims to bring together businesses, policy makers and local groups to solve the problem of air pollution in the UK. Deliver Change is also piloting its air-quality monitoring network, AirSensa, to collect data on air pollution in UK cities. 

Consumer goods maker Unilever (ULVR.L) says its brands that most fully embrace its CEO's passion for sustainability perform the best, adding fuel to its oft-repeated argument that social responsibility is good for business.

Airplane engine-maker Pratt & Whitney is going green to attract and keep the best workers, says environmental chief Mary Anne Cannon. The company is aiming for 100% recycling of manufacturing waste, is holding its supply chain accountable for its actions and has curbed factory emissions by 28% since 2000. The company performs life-cycle assessments to measure the effects of its products, Cannon says

The Fashion Footprint app can scan clothing tags and provide ratings information on everything from factory safety to worker health. Fashion Footprint lets shoppers connect directly with the makers of clothes through an interactive, audio-visual experience, and learn how their purchase decisions affect the lives of people around the world.

AT&T and IBM - along with Mueller Water Products, a large maker of pipes, valves and fire hydrants - are working together to try to put more information in water managers' hands. The companies have put together a new service to hook up all those pipes to the internet.

n 2016 and beyond, building owners and key decision makers will invest in an array of smart building solutions that embody the technology foundation of Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, according to a new white paper from Navigant Research.

The 14 companies that issued a joint statement Wednesday endorsing international negotiations include leaders from some of the world's most carbon-intensive industries: coal miners BHP Billiton Plc and Rio Tinto Plc; oil majors Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc; aluminum producer Alcoa Inc.; and the planet's biggest cement-maker, LarfargeHolcim Ltd

Beer maker Carlsberg Group introduced its Together Towards ZERO campaign Tuesday, which aims to eliminate carbon emissions by 2030 and increase its focus on renewable electricity at its breweries. The company will also work to decrease brewery water usage and improve water management in high-risk areas.

A US Navy ship has operated on a 100 percent drop-in renewable diesel fuel - a first, according to the biofuel makers Applied Research Associates and Chevron Lummus Global.

Last year, Michelin announced it no longer would procure rubber from deforested lands. It set about working with suppliers and regional governments to encourage sustainable forestry. Michelin's zero deforestation policy led other tire makers Bridgestone, Goodyear and Continental to also begin working towards zero deforestation in rubber procurement. Now, GM is also adopting a zero deforestation stance in its tire procurement policy. The largest U.S. automaker (in market capitalization) in June declared that it would buy only tires with rubber sourced from sustainably grown forests. In addition, the company announced plans to work with other automakers and tire manufacturers to come up with an industry response