IBM's recent campaign goes well beyond mere image -- and beyond green -- to envision a "smarter" world in which problems as wide-ranging as health care costs, energy and resource shortages, climate change, and traffic congestion can be addressed by systems thinking, technological innovation, and computing power.

In a year when the economy was all the business world could talk about, our readers dug in deep to stories about creating change, overhauling the ways business gets done, and yes, how going green can save big money.

New Yorkers who only skim their electric bills probably don't notice that it contains a charge for something called SBC/RPS. And why would they? The Systems Benefits Charge only averages out to $1.08 per month for most New York City residents.

SALEM, Ore. and OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A new "E-Cycling" program passed into law in Oregon and Washington takes effect on New Year's Day, requiring electronics manufacturers to recycled old hardware, and promising to spur the growth of responsible e-waste disposal.

Oakland, Calif. -- The drive to create communities that balance environmental, economic and social responsibilities through planned development is growing as shown by projects in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee.

In December 2008, GreenBiz.com Executive Editor Joel Makower talked with IBM Corporation's Rich Lechner, Vice President of Energy & Environment, and John Kennedy, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications, about the company's "Smarter Planet" advertising campaign.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Twenty grants are being given to increase the amount and quality of recycled materials, create jobs and provide more recycled-content products and packaging.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Environmental and agriculture groups, growers and some of the world's biggest food buyers -- Wal-Mart, Sysco and Sodexo among them -- have developed a new coalition to incorporate sustainability from the field to the table for specialty crops.

A week before a recessionary Christmas, a new report urges companies to move beyond simply greening their products and services to making it a core of their operations. It's a tall order -- and is it one that companies are ready to hear?

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Councils in Vermont and British Columbia are the latest to adopt framework principles for developing product stewardship policy; Los Angeles has declared support for product stewardship and will integrate it into purchasing decisions.

Living in burrito-rich San Francisco, I rarely find it necessary to visit Chipotle Mexican Grill. However, those unfortunate souls who don't live in my neck of the woods will soon be able to feel good about their choice to visit the chain.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- In its 2008 North American Environmental Report, Toyota shows where it's making progress and where it's lagging towards its goals for 2011.

GENEVA, -- The human race's current rate of consumption is unsustainable; a new report looks at the roles businesses and consumers must play to counteract negative trends.