In case you’re not prone to scanning sidebars (or if you’re only reading Target Green in a RSS reader), I have good news: PRWeek will be hosting a second Target Green conference in Washington, DC in September. More news, as it comes.

The nonprofit group Climate Counts issued global warming scorecards to companies like Apple, eBay and Google this week. The grades weren’t good. Apple got a 2 out of 100, and Google fared a little better with a 17. But these scores came out before this week’s announcement that Google will give $1 million to . Would it have made a difference? Some critics of the report say no.

They say tech companies are easy targets because their followers tend to be environmentally-conscious and are more likely to notice scorecards like these. Not to mention, say the critics, a more digital world is less wasteful. These are good points, but they miss some other perspectives. Some people – including Silicon Valley insiders – like to believe the tech industry doesn’t impact the physical environment because it deals mostly with the virtual world. But reports like this prove the development, production, and distribution of computer technology does have a significant environmental cost.

The hot news issue for Google this month has been the company’s privacy policy. But this week the tech giant got substantial press for announcing that Google.org – the company’s philanthropic arm – will give $1 million in grants to promote plug-in hybrid vehicles. Another $10 million will be allocated to research and development.

If that weren’t enough to give the company green-cred, on Monday it fired up the nation’s largest solar-power installation at its headquarters. Google’s Mountain View office definitely has a green-friendly vibe. Segways and bikes seem more vogue than cars, and groups of employees regularly bike the 35 miles from San Francisco to Mountain View. Even though some have questioned whether the company has stayed true to its “do no evil” mantra – on the green front, its commitment seems genuine.

Disney and the Department of Energy have teamed up for a Ratatouille-themed, energy-savings campaign.

Rolling Stone received plaudits for its green issue.

From the :

Rolling Stone will be printed on what it calls “carbon neutral paper,” because it is made through a process that the magazine claims adds no carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The paper, which is considerably thinner than what Rolling Stone uses now, is made by a Canadian mill, Catalyst Paper, that the magazine says has reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 82 percent since 2005 and been cited by the World Wildlife Fund for its conservation efforts.

But no good deed goes unpunished.

Unfortunately, that’s about as green as the paper gets. The July issue contains absolutely no recycled content; a move that has sparked the ire of several environmental non-profits. Rolling Stone claims that the quality of their publication would suffer since recycled paper does not offer the same treatment for photographs as standard stock. Might they be bluffing? Another publishing company believes so.

It’s a tough slog, changing to a greener business. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t frighten others away from new initiatives.

Received an e-mail today from Sustainable Table, a “a consumer program founded to celebrate the sustainable food movement, educate individuals on food-related issues, and builds community through sustainable food.”

S’ Table is about to embark on an “eat well” tour of America.

Kicking off in Hollywood on August 2nd, we’ll travel across the United States, stopping in towns in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.  We’ll visit family farms, farmers markets, and restaurants that serve locally-sourced, sustainable food.  On some stops, we’ll be hosted by local groups who’ll help us bring together area residents for barbecues and events that will include local food, great conversation, and local music.

Ethisphere Magazine recently released its list of the world’s most ethical companies (via TreeHugger).

Congrats to Target Green presenters Timberland and GE, which made the cut.