green is universal

Odds are you've come into contact with a plastic jewel case, whether at work or at home. Each month over 100,000 pounds of CDs and DVDs become obsolete in the U.S., with a majority headed for the landfill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While reusing the cases for future CDs and DVDs has traditionally been a good way to divert the pesky plastics from being thrown out, NBC Universal is now using an innovative closed-loop recycling process to make 100 percent post consumer recycled paper cases from the 30 Rockefeller Plaza office trash.

So how does it work? With the help of the NBCU facilities team, a compactor in the basement of 30 Rockefeller Plaza has been isolated specifically for NBC Universal paper trash. One week yields approximately 10 tons of paper, which is then picked up by NBCU's recycling company, IESI, and brought to Pratt Industries on Staten Island. While at Pratt, the paper is sorted, bailed, and pulped. The pulp then enters warm water where it will be deinked, drained, dried, and wound onto a reel. Pratt then takes the material and uses their on-site box plant to create NBCU's customized DVD cases.

At Briscoe Elementary School in Fort Worth, students are learning the importance of protecting the environment.

"Today we are learning to help the environment," said Broshayla Mosely, 4th grader.

They are also learning about how important it is to volunteer and give their time back to their community to help others.

All over the world, NBCU & GE volunteers are getting together to make a difference this week.

In Los Angeles, employees returned to Griffith Park on Earth Day to plant trees and clear weeds and brush. Ron Meyer, President and COO of Universal Pictures, announced a long-term commitment to support a specific canyon in the park, in partnership with the NBCU Foundation grant organization, Los Angeles Conversation Corps (LACC), and the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks. NBCU will be responsible for providing service to the area at least twice each calendar year.

Just in time for spring and straight to your iPhone Green is Universal is proud to present our latest digital application (and first iPhone application): iBloom.

With iBloom, you can virtually plant a seed and watch it grow. You'll water, feed and protect your seedling from pollution to grow your sprout into a happy flower and make it to the next level.

An added Earth Week bonus: Green is Universal will be donating 10,000 trees to local parks and schools throughout the U.S. in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.

Download iBloom now at

The folks at iCue.com have been asking just that!  They were even kind enough to create a fun "quidget" to see where you stand.  The small quiz below will link through to our larger quidget and if you are a total quiz junkie like myself, you'll move on to play What's Your iCue? on facebook and smack talk all your friends as you climb up the trivia ladder.