CSR Minute: SolarWorld's Award from Toxics Coalition; Slow Money's "Win" Contest

SolarWorld, a German-based manufacturer of solar technology, has been awarded the highest rating for sustainability by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, a high-tech watchdog group. The award noted SolarWorld's sustainability in the use of eco-friendly materials, and the company's transparency and social responsibility in its business practices. SolarWorld expects production volume to rise by 30% at its plants in Germany and Hillsboro, Oregon, and projects sales for 2010 to reach one and a half billion dollars.

Slow Money, a nonprofit dedicated to directing new sources of capital to local food systems, has finished 13th out of more than 2,500 competitors in the national "Ideas to Change America" contest. Called one of the "big ideas for 2010" by BusinessWeek magazine, Slow Money beat out many larger, more established organizations with its sophisticated social media strategy for getting online votes. The nonprofit plans to get one million signatures to its Slow Money Principles by 2011.

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