General Electric

Program: Launched a line of green products, including fluorescent lightbulbs and hybrid locomotives, in 2005.

Benefit: The company expects these products to generate $14 billion in 2007, up 40 percent from 2005.

Starbucks

Program: Has given health-care benefits to part-time employees since 1987.

Benefit: Baristas who stick with their jobs for two to three years have a relatively low turnover rate.

McDonald's

Program: Reduce, reuse, and recycle packaging material.

Benefit: This effort decreased packaging by more than 300 million pounds during the 1990s.

Dow Chemical

Program: Reduce the company’s energy consumption.

Benefit: Dow saved $5 billion in operational costs, in part through energy initiatives like power plants that can produce electricity and heat.