Continuing its role as an industry leader in promoting sustainability, NBCUniversal's Green is Universal initiative will celebrate its eighth annual Earth Week with an exciting new slate of environmentally themed programming, employee activities and public awareness initiatives.
This Earth Week, Green is Universal will zero in on the elimination of food waste, an issue that is a major sustainability challenge in the U.S. and around the world. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the average American family spends more than $2,000 on groceries a year that are wasted. NRDC estimates the cost savings associated with wasting just 15 percent less food waste would be enough to feed 25 million people.
"Conversation about the environment continues among NBCUniversal audiences, customers and our employees, from climate change to the ways we can personally affect change in our daily routines," stated Beth Colleton, SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal. "NBCUniversal is in a unique position to
LEVERAGE our platforms to promote an environmentally responsible and healthy future to millions of families. We look forward to using our reach to educate people on the positive impact they can make by adopting sustainability practices in their everyday lives."
Green is Universal is working with NBCUniversal networks, digital properties and operations to actively promote food waste elimination through a campaign called #NoFoodWasted. The campaign will help inform consumers how to shop wisely, make their food last longer and find creative ways to use leftover food.
The #NoFoodWasted campaign will educate consumers through television programming, digital and social media, and even in select communities via custom green food trucks. An educational animated motion graphic, food-saving tips and other information will be shared by NBCUniversal digital properties. And NBCUniversal will help food trucks dish information and complimentary waste-free meals to customers in New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami and Chicago. Click here for a full food truck schedule.
NBCUniversal's commitment to sustainability also will be on display in programming throughout Earth Week. One especially notable highlight is
MSNBC airing the U.S. television premiere of the award winning documentary, "Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story" on Earth Day at 10:00 pm ET followed by a panel moderated by
MSNBC Food Correspondent and Chef, Tom Colicchio. In addition, other NBCUniversal network and digital properties will incorporate environmental themes, including TODAY,
NBC Nightly News,
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON and Late Night with Seth Meyers, Telemundo,
USA Network, Bravo, Sprout,
CNBC and others.
NBCUniversal's award winning The More You Know campaign also will run a new slate of environmentally themed public service announcements. The spots will allow viewers to enjoy Al Roker, Reverend Al Sharpton, Alison Sweeney, Andy Cohen, Ian Ziering, Jim Cramer, Kaitlin Becker, Maria Menounos, Mark Feuerstein, Rebecca Lowe, Sam Champion, Vanessa Hauc and others sharing their favorite conservation tips.
In addition to creating awareness through programming and green themed activities, NBCUniversal facilities are working to reduce food waste. Last year NBCUniversal film & TV productions donated more than 28,000 meals worth of recovered food - over 36,000 pounds. Universal Orlando prioritized food waste reduction by diverting 594 tons of organic food material from the resort away from landfills in 2014.
These efforts complement operational strategies and facility features that allow NBCUniversal to reuse and recycle materials, conserve water, utilize efficient lighting and manage controls to facilitate energy efficient operations.
Finally, NBCUniversal employees will be active at dozens of sites in the U.S. and in countries around the world to do their part for the planet by participating in environmentally-related community volunteer projects in connection with Comcast Cares Day, the company's signature day of service. Last year Comcast Cares Day brought out nearly 95,000 Comcast NBCUniversal employees, family and friends to improve their communities.
About Green Is Universal
Launched in 2007, Green is Universal is NBCUniversal's ongoing green initiative dedicated to raising environmental awareness, effecting positive change to the environment, and making its own operations more sustainable. Through the year, NBCUniversal uses it numerous media and entertainment platforms to educate the public on the environment, with green-themed content airing across more than 50 NBCUniversal brands.
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