Here are a few examples of tangible actions by Macy's, Inc. in the drive to improve sustainability:

• In fall 2008, Macy's replaced its laminated handled shopping bags with new ones made from kraft paper with 30 percent recycled materials. The new handled shopping bags are recycled and recyclable. (Macy's uses 63 million handled shopping bags each year.)
• By the end of 2009, the company is expecting to replace its clear plastic garment hangers with black ones that are lighter, require less material and are 100 percent recyclable. (The company uses about 300 million hangers each year.)
• Solar panels have been installed on the roofs of more than 30 Macy's stores, primarily in California. The installation of solar panels in these locations has the environmental impact over 30 years of planting 21,000 acres of trees or providing power to more than 7,800 homes during the day.
• In 2008, nearly 75 percent of the paper used in our advertising catalogs or direct mailers was recycled or certified.
• We have asked our private label vendors to look for alternatives to PVC in their products and packaging. We are continuing to explore alternatives to PVC and are phasing out private label PVC shower curtains.
• The company's online businesses - macys.com and bloomingdales.com - began in 2008 to use loose fill in-the-box packing material that is 100 percent biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. The material is used to prevent damage to fragile merchandise as it is shipped to customers. Previously, the company used "packing peanuts" (synthetic, non-biodegradable material) for this purpose. The new material is made from raw ingredients including pure corn and potato starch. It breaks down in water in nine minutes and will not harm the environment. (Each year, Macy's, Inc. uses approximately 3.1 million cubic feet of in-the-box packing material.)
• Macy's stores and macys.com continue to use recyclable folding gift boxes and wrapping tissue made from 100 percent recycled material. Each year, Macy's uses approximately 48 million folding gift boxes and 255 million sheets of wrapping tissue. Bloomingdale's wrapping tissue (75 million sheets used each year) converted to 100 percent recycled material in spring 2008. In addition, Bloomingdale's offered a 100 percent recycled paper and ribbon gift-wrapping option for holiday 2008.
• Macy's, Inc. is accelerating adoption of energy-savings technologies in its stores through two design products - one related to a new building and one for a retrofit of an existing store - now being conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy National Technology Laboratory. Through these projects, we will develop a new commercial building design that will reduce energy consumption by 50 percent and retrofit an existing building design that will have a 30 percent energy savings.
• We have engaged customers in supporting the environment through a Turn Over A New Leaf campaign that was initiated in 2008 and repeated in 2009. In addition to providing education and sustainability tips, Macy's invited customers to Shop For A Cause, which raised $2.9 million in 2008 alone for the National Park Foundation.
• The company has built a culture of energy conservation, including significant capital investments in energy assets such as HVAC and lighting upgrades, as well as energy management controls. Among the tools is a companywide Energy Management Information System, a Web-based portal that allows management to pinpoint energy waste.