Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is looking for potential solutions to one of the world’s most pressing challenges: climate change.
The Vermont-based company has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from nonprofit organizations working to change climate change, with specific focus on four areas: transportation-related emissions, threats to coffee-growing communities, building political will, and individual empowerment. GMCR will award four $200,000 grants, each payable over five years. The grants will be presented to four organizations–one for each of the four focus areas.
The grants are part of Changing Climate Change, GMCR’s company-wide initiative that also includes operational initiatives, employee incentives to reduce carbon emissions, and the purchase of carbon offsets.
“Climate change is not a problem that can be solved by a single entity, whether it’s government, business, civil society or individuals,” says Michael Dupee, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. “We believe the long-term solution will come from the combined efforts of all. We don’t need to wait for government direction to take steps to understand, reduce, and mitigate our share of greenhouse gas emissions.”
The RFP will be promoted through JustMeans.com, the fastest-growing online community focused on corporate social and environmental responsibility. Progress on the RFP can also be monitored by following GMCR’s corporate social responsibility efforts on Twitter: @BrewBetterWorld.
Applicants must first submit a synopsis of their proposal to the Changing Climate Change micro-site available on JustMeans.com at www.justmeans.com/challenge/climate, and then submit a formal application to GMCR. Submission guidelines and RFP details are available at www.gmcr.com/ccc-rfp.
The synopses of each submission will be available for public review, comment and expressions of support by JustMeans.com users until March 20.
Finalists for each focus area will be reposted on the micro-site and available for additional comments and expressions of support from March 28 to April 3. Winners will be notified by April 8 and announced publicly on Earth Day, April 22, 2009.
