NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" Initiative (original) (raw)
Elizabeth Colleton, Jane Evans and Susan Haspel - 2009 Rachel Carson Award Honorees
Green is Universal Launched in May 2007, Green is Universal is NBC Universal's ongoing green initiative dedicated to raising awareness, effecting positive change to the environment, and substantially greening its own operations. Spanning the company's numerous business units, including its television, theme parks, film, and studio divisions, Green is Universal is committed to providing hundreds of hours of green-themed content and activities across all platforms during both its dedicated "Green Weeks" and throughout the year, as well as providing funding to environmental non-profit organizations from the NBC Universal Foundation. Beth Colleton, VP of Green is Universal; Jane Evans, EVP, Physical Production, Focus Features; and Susan Haspel, Vice President of NBC Universal's Corporate Community Affairs are key facilitators for the platform, spearheading an e-waste collection drive culminating in over 400,000 lbs. of material; overseeing a film pilot program to implement the reduction of carbon emissions; and providing over $300,000 in green grants to underserved public secondary-education programs, respectively.
Elizabeth Colleton (Middle)
Vice President, Green is Universal
Beth Colleton, Vice President of Green is Universal since June 2008, manages the day-to-day business of NBC Universal's green initiative as the company continues to both inform and entertain audiences with Green content across multiple platforms. In addition to coordinating division-wide Green programming and activities for both Green Week and Earth Week, she serves as a strategic interface between Green sales, marketing, and communications. She also oversees NBCU's ongoing efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by implementing more energy efficient practices across the company's operations and facilities. In her tenure, Colleton successfully organized a consumer marketing recycling program, collecting over 400,000 lbs in electronic waste. She has also played a lead role in navigating and advancing an alliance of film industry peers to develop green production standards, create green operations in several NBC shows including SNL, Nightly News, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Before working with NBC, Colleton was head of corporate social responsibility for the National Football League for 15 years. She currently lives in New York City.
Jane Evans (Left)
Executive Vice President, Physical Production, Focus Features
Jane Evans oversees physical production and post-production on all in-house film productions and outside acquisitions for Focus Features. She joined the company in December 2004. A member of the City of New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting's Task Force on Diversity, Ms. Evans oversaw the pilot program to implement the reduction of carbon emissions on Focus productions. For Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes' Away We Go, which was filmed last spring and which will be released worldwide by Focus Features this summer, everything was separated into five categories - bottles, cans, plastic, compost, and paper - during production. The production office observed the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)'s Best Practices Guide for Green Production and was advised by Green Media Solutions [f/k/a Earthmark Green Production Consulting]. Ms. Evans coordinated the environmental effort on behalf of Focus at every phase of the extensive location filming in three U.S. cities. She has since implemented Green practices on Focus' productions of Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock and Joel and Ethan Coen's A Serious Man; and spearheaded the Green Production Alliance (GPA) with colleagues at other studios and production companies to encourage and support an industry standard of sustainability strategies and resources. The GPA is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of the industry while promoting responsible, eco-friendly practices.
Susan Haspel (Right)
Vice President, Corporate Community Affairs, NBC Universal
Susan Haspel serves as Vice President of NBC Universal Corporate Community Affairs, where she spearheads the company's corporate citizenship strategy, including public education, community-building, philanthropy and volunteer efforts. She co-created, launched and continues to serve as Executive Producer of NBC's Emmy award-winning The More You Know PSA campaign. Celebrating twenty years, The More You Know continues to raise environmental awareness and encourage viewers to make a difference in connection with Green is Universal. Haspel also oversees the NBC Universal Foundation, which supports environmental education programs in underserved communities. In addition, Haspel also manages the company's volunteer initiatives, which include tree planting and conservation/restoration projects across the U.S.