Cox Enterprises Announces Expanded Sustainability Goals

National sustainability program focuses on waste, water and carbon

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Feb 11, 2014, 09:05 ET

ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises today announced expanded goals for Cox Conserves, the company's national sustainability program. The program originally focused on carbon reduction and now includes waste and water goals.

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The program's expanded goals include:

Sending Zero Waste to Landfill in the next 7-10 years
Becoming Carbon and Water Neutral in the next 25-30 years

Since Cox Conserves launched in 2007, the company and its affiliated foundations have invested more than $100 million in sustainability and conservation through operations projects and grants to environmental nonprofits.

"Through Cox Conserves, we're lessening our impact on the environment by managing our waste stream and conserving carbon and water. We're incorporating sustainability into every aspect of our business by harnessing today's technology while anticipating tomorrow's innovations," said Cox Enterprises Chairman Jim Kennedy. "Greening our operations and supporting environmental nonprofits creates long-term environmental and fiscal sustainability. We all have a responsibility -corporations, nonprofits, public sectors and individuals - to create a sustainable environment for future generations."

Operations
Since the program's launch, the company has completed 26 alternative energy installations and hundreds of energy conservation projects across the nation that annually prevent more than 41,000 tons of carbon emissions from entering the environment.

The company embraces multiple forms of alternative energy such as fuel cells, photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal. Lighting, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and building efficiency projects have been completed across the nation. Cox recently received LEED Gold certification for a new facility on its headquarters campus.

The company operates two water conservation centers that contribute to Cox's annual savings of 32 million gallons of water.

Cox's fleet of more than 13,000 vehicles also contributes significantly to its carbon goal. According to Green Fleet magazine, Cox operates one of the nation's largest and greenest fleets.

Cox has a materials management partnership with Rubicon Global to implement and track programs that help divert materials from landfills.

Partnerships
As part of its national partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), Cox created the Cox Conserves Heroes program to recognize volunteers who create, preserve or enhance outdoor places in local communities. More than $380,000 has been donated to local environmental nonprofits and more than 100 volunteers have been recognized.

Through a national partnership with American Rivers, Cox employees have removed more than 16 tons of trash at river cleanups in Ga., Fla., N.C., Ohio and Pa.

Cox also partners with its 50,000 employees to make a difference. The Cox Conserves Chairman's Cup is an internal, company-wide program that recognizes its regional locations for implementing sustainable business practices. A winner is selected from each of the company's major subsidiaries (Cox Communications, Manheim, Cox Media Group and AutoTrader Group).

Employees have led the creation of several projects, including:

Project TWIG in Arizona: Cox found a way to use recycling to improve the lives of those in need. Project TWIG (Turning Waste Into Growth) recycles materials such as trash and coax cable from its Arizona operations. The proceeds are given to Cox Charities to help fund youth-oriented education and development programs. To date, Project TWIG has donated more than $60,000.
Composting in New England: Cox employees created a composting program that turns waste into fertilizer for company landscapers. The program has also diverted more than 90 percent of the company's cafeteria waste from the landfill.

Cox's supplier sustainability program encourages its vendors to engage in eco-friendly practices. As part of the program, Cox hosted a Sustainability Summit to share best practices among its vendors.

About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. With revenues of more than $15 billion and more than 50,000 employees, the company's major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications, Inc. (cable television distribution, high-speed Internet access, telephone, commercial telecommunications and advertising solutions); Manheim, Inc. (vehicle auctions, repair and certification services and web-based technology products); AutoTrader Group (automotive media and software solutions); and Cox Media Group, Inc. (television and radio stations, digital media, newspapers and advertising sales rep firms). The company's national consumer brands include AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book, Savings.com and Valpak.

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