April 22 marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. At the time, air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. After witnessing the aftermath of a massive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, came up with the idea of “Earth Day.” Senator Nelson realized that if he could raise public awareness of air and water pollution, environmental protection would become part of the national political agenda.
Every Earth Day, USPS® Sustainability team releases its Annual Sustainability Report to share the results of successful initiatives. The report is read by customers, members of Congress, competitors, business owners, and Postal Service™ employees.
By publishing the Annual Sustainability Report, the Postal Service demonstrates leadership and transparency. Stakeholder groups prioritize sustainability efforts critical to postal operations, and these initiatives are featured in the report along with performance metrics to help readers understand the impact of our results.
Consequently, congratulations are in order for both the Great Lakes Area and the Northeast Area. Last year, they were awarded regional WasteWise awards by the Environmental Protection Agency for their achievements in sustainable waste management. For more information, check out the 2017 Annual Sustainability Report, which is scheduled to be posted on the Sustainability team website soon.
— Corporate Sustainability Initiatives,
Office of Sustainability, 4-12-18
