It is without a doubt that Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD) is having an outstanding year. Year to date operating income has approximately doubled over last year and same store sales were showing a 7% increase just prior to November. I'm expecting that year end figures will be right on track with the previous three quarters.

What brought Limited Brands to my attention was their announcement of a new initiative to support the movement to protect endangered forests. It's only right that corporate America shows the government they can do the right thing without it being legislated against them. I live in a region of "working" forests. I have seen responsible forestry practices in action. I've watched as Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin implemented far-reaching and effective sustainable forestry practices. We love our trees, we work them and we protect them. Just last summer there was selected harvesting of mature trees right across the road from my home. I don't know how many thousands of dollars in revenue and income was generated by the project but I'll tell you what, if you stand at the end of my driveway, you can't even tell they were in there.

This announcement by Limited Brands should please environmentalists and the forest products industry alike. Limited Brands has pledged to maintain a high level of post-consumer material in their publications and has vowed to work with their suppliers to find workable options for acquiring the virgin material which quality paper production requires. Based on my experience in the field I think they and their suppliers shall find no shortage of viable options. I think this situation should serve to highlight the movement by corporate America towards environmental sustainability. The more we approve the right moves by our manufacturers, the more they will choose to make those right moves. My thanks to Limited Brands for exhibiting this high level of eco-responsibility.

Oh, and please keep the Victoria's Secret catalogs coming, my wife loves them.

Limited Brands: Doing well and doing good originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.