The management systems community
– 26th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
According to this FoodNavigator.com article, Danisco’s new sustainability chief, Jeffrey Hogue, will look to build more value from company policies and seeing results on the bottom line – as well as for the environment and local communities.
– 24th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
Follow Business Assurance at our YouTube! page, on our Twitter page , on the video sharing site, Vimeo and another video sharing site, Veoh .
– 16th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
Here is a collection of notes and thoughts from Guardian Climate Change Summit 2009 in London yesterday, most of which were posted yesterday on our www.twitter.com/lrqa page.
First session thoughts and notes
Quote from Gavin Neath, Senior VP Unilever “Organisations need to learn humility.For the past 30 years, environmental groups were right, businesses were wrong.”
Mars looking to work with PAS 2050 the carbon Footprinting for products, according to Fiona Dawson, Managing Director, Mars, UK
– 16th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
ISO 14001, the environmental management systems standard, is increasingly being seen as a tool to help organisations engage with their stakeholders.
VWS has been working since 2006 with a project team drawn from all of the their divisions to implement ISO 14001 and achieve certification. This was awarded following a detailed audit of all five of VWS’s UK sites by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).
– 12th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
We will be attending the Guardian Climate Change Summit in London on next Monday (June 15th) as an official media partner.
Here is a list of speakers scheduled.
The complete agenda and further information can be found on the event website.
We will be reporting on the event afterwards, including blogs and possibly some podcasts.
– 9th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
The 10 part “Trust and Transparency” podcast series is here! Harriet Lamb of The Fairtrade Foundation starts the series with her insight on what it takes for organisations to rebuild consumer trust. She also talks about Fairtrade and how they have done during the current economic downturn. She also shares her thoughts on the What Assures Consumers in an Economic Downturn report, the latest in a series from AccountAbility, sponsored by the Co-operative and supported by LRQA.
– 27th May 2009 by Alex Briggs
The What Assures Consumers in an Economic Downturn report was commissioned by AccountAbility, sponsored by the Co-operative, supported by LRQA, with the online research being conducted by YouGov. In early June, we will be launching a 10-part audio and video podcast series from interviews and presentations from the launch event. Sign up to our subscription updates or our iTunes podcast link at the top right hand corner of www.businessassurance.com .
– 21st May 2009 by Alex Briggs
Today’s thought of the day comes from one of the world’s leading climate change influencers, Yvo de Boer, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):
Failing to recognise the urgency of climate change and acting on it would be nothing less than criminally irresponsible.
At The Guardian Climate Change Summit on 15 June 2009, Yvo de Boer is just one of the leading thinkers from the climate change community who will be sharing insight, solutions and strategies to ensure your business can actively reduce impact on our climate. Click here for further info and a speaker programme.
– 5th May 2009 by Alex Briggs
We now have 9 sections in total, with the Asia specific section joining Climate Change, Food, Supply Chain, CSR, Product Conformity, Risk, Management Systems and Business Continuity.
– 27th Mar 2009 by Alex Briggs
Today’s Business Assurance link of the day is to a website that sets out to dispel the myths associated with the paper industry, “There are two sides to every paper.”
Today’s Business Assurance thought of the day is
Modern paper mills producing virgin fibre paper, whose energy source is nuclear, hydro or internally bio-fuelled, may well have a lower carbon footprint than a mill making recycled paper, powered by fossil fuels.
– 27th Mar 2009 by Alex Briggs
Today’s Business Assurance link of the day is to a website that sets out to dispel the myths associated with the paper industry, “There are two sides to every paper.”
Today’s Business Assurance thought of the day is
Modern paper mills producing virgin fibre paper, whose energy source is nuclear, hydro or internally bio-fuelled, may well have a lower carbon footprint than a mill making recycled paper, powered by fossil fuels.
– 18th Mar 2009 by Alex Briggs
In this BBC online article, China’s top climate change negotiator, Li Gao, said his country should not pay for cutting emissions caused by the high demands of other countries.
– 18th Mar 2009 by Alex Briggs
In this BBC online article, China’s top climate change negotiator, Li Gao, said his country should not pay for cutting emissions caused by the high demands of other countries.
– 18th Mar 2009 by Raz Chaudary
The impact of natural disasters was estimated at US$200 billion. China and USA accounted for 90%, globally positioning them most susceptible to economic losses.
– 19th Jan 2009 by Alex Briggs
Following on from the Climate deliberations at Poznan, Keith Jones of CropLife International talks about the contribution of agriculture to climate change mitigation and need to achieve better collaboration among all food chain participants to achieve ever more sustainable productivity.
– 13th Jan 2009 by Alex Briggs
BT Germany has just become the 5th BT country to be certified against the global environmental management system standard, ISO 14001, following a four-day external audit by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).
Jens Krause, BT Germany’s quality manager commented on the value of ISO 14001 certification, “As well as helping to retain business, we believe the improvements will save more than €900,000 each year, and cut our carbon footprint by 12 tonnes.”
– 20th Nov 2008 by Alex Briggs
PAS 2050 - the new carbon footprinting methodology for products (goods and/or services) sponsored by DEFRA and the Carbon Trust has now been published by BSI. The document is now available for implementation by organisations looking to determine and verify the carbon footprint of specific products.
In this video interview, Paul Smith, Project Leader for Carbon Labelling and Footprinting at Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), talks about how PAS 2050, the new Carbon Footprinting methodology for products can benefit organisations.
– 12th Nov 2008 by Alex Briggs
TNT UK/Ireland and their use of ISO 14001 as the key to their overall environmental strategy was the focus of a Sustainable Business Magazine article in the October edition.
TNT uses management systems to underpin their business, currently holding four certifications in the UK/Ireland: ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) and Investors in People. TNT has reported significant competitive advantage from the achievement of verifiable environmental performance.
Neil Griffiths, director of health, safety and environment at TNT Express Services says: “In terms of business assurance, this is not just a tick in the box.”
– 27th Oct 2008 by Alex Briggs
Chris Harrop, Group Marketing Director for Marshalls in the UK is on the cutting edge of CSR, ethical supply chain initiatives, carbon labelling, workers rights and stakeholder engagement. In the first episode of our Ethical Supply Chain Video Podcast series. Chris talked to us during the recent Ethical Supply Chain Summit in Berlin.
Chris shares his thoughts on some of the key topics that are facing global brands today, with the conversation ranging from competitive advantage for businesses embedding CSR as part of their business practice to Marshalls work with the Carbon Trust in becoming the first brand to carbon label their entire product range.
Chris shares his thoughts on some of the key topics that are facing global brands today, with the conversation ranging from competitive advantage for businesses embedding CSR as part of their business practice to Marshalls work with the Carbon Trust in becoming the first brand to carbon label their entire product range.
– 29th Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
Food manufacturers have begun a massive repackaging effort to address the environmental concerns of consumers. This article takes a look at the way that some global brands are addressing the issue, as well as how they are attempting to balance environmental concerns with consumer health concerns.
“Good for you” will increasingly be faced off with “good for the environment,” and food companies will find themselves redefining how their food products will retain appeal, according to Mintel International in Chicago.
– 18th Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
Brands making green claims about their products need clarity on what they can and cannot say. This Ethical Corp. article highlights the difficulty for corporations in proving their green claims. The use of language, including sustainability and “low-carbon” were highlighted as terms that are difficult to prove and could potentially leave global brands open to criticism.
– 15th Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Gallagher Review, commissioned by the UK government and released in July, concluded the EU’s biofuels target of 10% of all fuels by 2020 could not be met sustainably and advised that targets be scaled back.
The report concluded that, while the current targets are not realistic under the existing regulations,
if robust, comprehensive and mandatory sustainability standards are implemented now, a genuinely sustainable industry could evolve.
This ClimateChangeCorp.com article goes on to discuss existing standards, as well as introducing the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels “Version Zero” proposed standard.
– 31st Aug 2008 by Alex Briggs
Japan is the latest country to commit to carbon labelling retail products. According to this Guardian article, about 30 companies will display their labeled items at an eco-products fair in Tokyo in December, and the first batches are expected to appear in shops at the beginning of April 2009.
– 11th Jul 2008
The 3 Keys To CSR Reporting Are Materiality, Materiality And Materiality by Alex Hausman, CSR Reporting Manager, The Timberland Company.
– 7th Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
A new IT survey from Rackspace has revealed that corporations are less likely in 2008 than in 2007 to base decisions on the environmental impact.
– 3rd Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
Blog posts on events are supposed to be written immediately following the event or not at all. I am going to break that rule and write about a great Carbon Labelling event that took place on Monday, June 30th at the Lloyd’s Register HQ in London.
Forum for the Future, the sustainability charity in the UK, [...]
– 3rd Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
Six years ago, not many of us were discussing climate change, carbon footprinting, carbon labelling. Global warming was starting to be discussed, and a few cutting edge companies were promoting their CSR activities.
Scientists reports, celebrity efforts and government/corporate commitments have significantly changed that landscape.
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has also played a major role in [...]
– 2nd Jul 2008
Has the credit crunch begun to affect what you put in your shopping basket? How about the Carbon crunch?
– 2nd Jul 2008
Telling customers about your environmental targets is all well and good but, as Paul Thomas argues, they are meaningless if you do not know how they are to be achieved.
– 19th May 2008 by Alex Briggs
Stonesfield Primary School in my village in the UK recently celebrated Eco-week, a week of activities centred around environmental issues, ranging from recycling to greenhouse gases. When I heard about it, I approached the lead teacher in the campaign, Miss Eastwood about getting more information. On this site, we have podcasts, as well as articles [...]
– 24th Apr 2008 by Alex Briggs
Through the hard work and creativity of Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, and his Grameen Bank, Bangladesh is leading the way on solar energy. This ClimateChangeCorp article explains how Bangladesh is reducing its carbon footprint and creating jobs in the process.
Is anyone watching or listening?
– 15th Apr 2008 by Alex Briggs
With the new Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) coming into force today, oil companies are required oil companies to ensure all petrol and diesel they sell in the UK contains a minimum level of biofuel. This article in the Independent takes a closer look at the debate over the use of farm land as a transportation fuel source.
– 8th Apr 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Neville Hobson blog post highlights Timberland’s CSR efforts, including the strongest sustainability information on product packaging out there.
– 14th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
With climate change dominating headlines around the world, this Wall Street Journal article takes a look at the efforts of nine cities to reduce their carbon footprint and their energy bills.
– 11th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Co-operative Group, have announced transparent, detailed plans on addressing stakeholder concerns. They will ban the sale of eggs from caged hens, convert its entire own-brand hot beverage range to Fairtrade, reduce the weight of its wine packaging and add a further 66 pesticides to its prohibited list.
– 5th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
A team of global climate change experts has ranked the most fragile and vulnerable regions on the planet, and warned they are in danger of sudden and catastrophic collapse before the end of the century.
In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists identify the nine areas that are in gravest danger of passing critical thresholds or “tipping points.”
– 4th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
Lee Scott, CEO and President of CEO commented,
“The drive will see the retailer favour - and in some cases even pay more - for suppliers that meet our standards and share our commitment to quality and sustainability”.
“Paying more in the short term for quality will mean paying less in the long term as a company. Higher quality products will mean better value, fewer problems, fewer returns and greater trust with our customers,”
– 13th Jan 2008
TerraPass joined industry experts, environmental and consumer groups, and academics at a Federal Trade Commission hearing on carbon offsets, reports a blog written by Adam Stern.
– 12th Dec 2007
Investors are already testing the potential of markets in greenhouse gas emissions, but what are the risks and how can they be avoided?
by Charles Longden, December 3rd, 2007.
– 27th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
The new Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) is already starting to raise the credibility of the voluntary carbon market. Clearly stated in the VCS is that a registry will be established to ensure that voluntary carbon units (VCU’s) will not be double counted.
This National Review article highlights the fact that Kyoto Protocol signatory nations will no longer be able to count their carbon credits in both the regulatory and voluntary market.
– 29th Oct 2007 by Anne-Marie Warris
Yet another report about the ‘failure’ of Kyoto Protocol. Whether it is right or not, my concern is that we are so busy complaining and repudiating Kyoto that we forget to look at what are the serious and sustainable options to achieve the reduction in GHG emissions we need.
– 18th Oct 2007 by Alex Briggs
A new consumer research study has reiterated the results of the What Assures Consumers report.
Companies are currently winning interest and admiration (from a distance) but not trust and loyalty (closeness). Again, the need for independent, third-party verification of corporate green claims is a key point for business as it seeks to build consumer trust.
– 10th Oct 2007 by Gail Van Den Bos
There’s a great deal of information available about supply chains. And increasingly, it’s highlighting new areas. No longer limited to product safety recalls and logistical headaches, we’re now hearing more about green supply chains, ethical supply chains, carbon management in supply chains, reverse outsourcing, supply chain security and so on.
– 9th Oct 2007 by Alex Briggs
An Ethical Corp story focuses on the effect the Stern Report has had on UK businesses. The articles describes the issue of the report as a “eureka moment” and provides the example of Cadbury-Schweppes as being a brand that responded to the report at the boardroom level.
– 9th Oct 2007
A new report from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University suggests that US consumers believe that local food is safer than that from further afield.
– 5th Oct 2007 by Alex Briggs
A survey back in June, showed that only 9% of respondents said that a company’s “environmental values” were important, while 58% of respondents stated that a company’s “green credentials” were important.
This begs the question, what is the difference and how was that difference communicated to the survey participants?
And how would those numbers have changed over [...]
– 28th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Those were the key elements of last night’s Powering the UK event in Manchester. Greenpeace hosted the event at Manchester City’s stadium. The club is set to unveil a very large wind turbine just outside the stadium in the coming months, working with Ecotricity and the Manchester City Council to provide power to the stadium as well the surrounding neighborhoods.
– 27th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Only through clear strategies that are informative and transparent to both business and consumers, backed by full government support and pressure, communicated by all types of media can there be a concerted global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Businesses having systems to measure data in place that are credible and verifiable will lead to the consumer trust that will change their buying habits.
– 25th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The key issues of risk management, supply chain and climate change have made their way to the top of media and corporate agendas recently.
A Wal-Mart and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) joint effort will measure the climate change effects across the Wal-Mart supply chain.
– 25th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
A recent CDP study has shown that the majority of large global companies have gotten the climate change message. The report highlighted the actions and views of those companies concerning climate change. 95% of those companies viewing climate change as a risk having already implemented a greenhouse gas reduction programme.
– 24th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
This Times article has raised a difficult topic for organic farmers.
The article reveals that Helen Browning, the director of food and farming at the Soil Association, sends pig shoulders from Wiltshire, England to Germany for processing into sausages and imports pork loins from Sweden to make bacon.
– 24th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The Vegetarian Society has launched a new ad campaign on climate change. The ads are aimed at educating the public as to the carbon emitted by livestock.
This often overlooked issue was addressed by Rowland Hill, the Sustainability Manager at Marks and Spencer, in one of our podcasts as he talked about measuring the carbon footprint of their top selling ready meal, Beef Lasagne:
– 21st Sep 2007 by Anne-Marie Warris
Climate change issues remain on the agenda of major business organisations such as IETA (International Emission Trading Association). In preparation for the upcoming key meetings to negotiate the climate targets and processes beyond 2012, IETA has issued an open letter (see below next paragraph).
It is a positive to see that member led organisations with a substantial number of carbon emitters in its membership from across the world takes this type of initiative.
– 20th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Successful consumer led campaigns against companies using cheap labour may be the blueprint for upcoming campaigns aimed at brands not paying enough attention to the “greenness” of their global supply chain.
This Supply Chain Digest article once again shows that brands cannot afford to get their supply chain wrong.
It is no longer enough for a brand [...]
– 18th Sep 2007 by Andy Ritchie
Just got back from the two-day Carbon Footprint Consumer Products Summit in Chicago…
– 18th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Dr. Glen Barry, in his Climate Change blog, presents two possible scenarios that could play out over the next 40 plus years.
More proof that business and governments need to change, now. The education level of the consumer is growing and increasingly they are demanding that businesses and governments become more accountable and more responsible. Can [...]
– 17th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Leo Hickman of the Guardian Ethical Living blog has posted an informative, thought provoking article on choice editing. The B & Q story was truly ahead of its time. Have a look at Anne-Marie’s blog posts on choice editing, 1 and 2 .
– 17th Sep 2007 by Anne-Marie Warris
Recent research has indicated, as I think we all knew, that as individuals we are very concerned about climate change and its effects but when asked if we would pay more tax or change our behaviour the research indicate that no we will not. So what can we do?
– 17th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Following on from our Friday post on the VCS market, this article talks of a shrinking of the accepted Voluntary Carbon Standards, with just three expected to survive and thrive. The Voluntary Carbon Standard, currently being written, is one of them.
– 14th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The voluntary carbon market tripled in 2006, according to a comprehensive research paper by Ecosystem Marketplace and New Carbon Finance. The need for a standardised methodology for all voluntary carbon schemes has never been more relevant than now. What is being done to bring a stronger sense of confidence to the voluntary market? The Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) is currently being updated, with version 2 due to be published in the coming months.
– 13th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The climate change debate is remaining firmly on the front pages.
Here are some quotes from industry and government and NGO’s that indicate the seriousness of the situation:
“The global threat from climate change is now clearer than ever. The whole economy has to change.”
Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco Chief Executive
“Climate change and the impact that it will [...]
– 11th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
For those of you who haven’t seen it, ISO has put a promotional video on YouTube! The video is an overview of the environmental management standard, ISO 14001, and has over 5,400 downloads so far!
Further, there are supply chain videos on YouTube!, including this promotional video from Cisco and Ford, as well as Food Safety videos, including this one on Food Safety and China.
– 11th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The Carbon Disclosure Project is hosting a series of global launches to announce the results of their fifth written report.
The first one will take place on September 24, 2007 in New York, with former President Bill Clinton scheduled to speak.
The CPD was launched in Dec, 2000, with the 1st CDP report being launched in early 2003, [...]
– 11th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
A recent Social Funds article analyses the different methods being used to evaluate a company’s carbon footprint. Socialfunds.com is a personal finance site devoted to socially responsible investing.
– 10th Sep 2007 by Anne-Marie Warris
The last few weeks has been full of climate issues on the news front, be it the EC stopping Chinese import of cheap energy efficient light bulbs. How does that square with the need consumers identified in the What assures consumers report for choice editing?
Choice editing is the term used in the report to describe instances [...]
– 7th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
A survey released this week by IPSOS focuses on the financial and image benefits of being the greenest (or percieved as the greenest) in your sector. US Online consumers were surveyed on their views towards the world’s largest tech companies. Over half (57%) said that the Energy Star label was an influencing factor in their purchase [...]
– 6th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
A Greener Choice Blog post has highlighted a recent Consumers Report poll has found that 92 percent of Americans want their food products to be labelled with the country of origin.
In line with the recent What Assures Consumers report which focused on UK and US consumers and their attitudes toward climate change, the Consumers Report poll has [...]
– 4th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The US government and media have made 2007 the “year of the environment”. To the general US public, it may seem that the US is leading the way on this one. For the majority of Europeans, particularly Brits, the viewpoint is much different. While they clearly welcome the US interest in “green issues” and the environment, [...]
– 3rd Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Renault is going beyond the marketing speak in addressing climate change. Their latest ad campaign, sets out clear and measurable targets for their cars to meet in the coming years. In the ads, “Renault introduces its new Eco2 Symbol, clearly proclaiming its commitment to a product offering that is both Economical and Ecological.
This Ecological [...]
– 2nd Jul 2007 by Tim Kitchin
If we are to trade our way out of climate change, consumers are going to need to make much better environmental choices.
Realistically, they will need a lot more information; honestly produced and simply presented.
– 16th May 2007 by Anne-Marie Warris
We are at the beginning of a new era, of a new exciting place to be. But we’re also facing a huge level of challenge.
We as individuals have to start making carbon choices that we’re not prepared to make yet, but that we’re beginning to think about.
– 16th May 2007 by Anne-Marie Warris
We are at the beginning of a new era, of a new exciting place to be. But we’re also facing a huge level of challenge.
We as individuals have to start making carbon choices that we’re not prepared to make yet, but that we’re beginning to think about.
– 14th May 2007
A letter to the editor of the FT today points out the unnecessary dichotomy which many people perceive between markets and carbon taxing when attempting to fight climate change.
– 10th May 2007 by Alex Briggs
The 4th annual Carbon Expo was a true test of how far up the agenda carbon emissions have come.
An evening roundtable at the end of day one featured Fiona Harvey, the environment editor for the FT and six of the carbon industries leading players discussing the issues facing the credibility of today’s carbon market.
– 26th Apr 2007
Interesting leader in the FT today for anyone who’s active in the ETS or carbon offsetting space - titled Carbon markets create a muddle, it argues that CO2 needs a price, but that taxes are the best way to set it.
– 16th Apr 2007 by Tim Kitchin
UK newspaper, The Times has highlighted a growing scandal as demand for ‘ethical’ and sustainable products outstrips supply, and unscrupulous suppliers are pushing farms.
– 3rd Apr 2007
Under current legislation in the UK, producers of compostable waste may need to apply for a license before they can spread it on land.
According to an article on the IEMA website, he new Quality Protocol proposed by the Environment Agency in England and Wales will mean that compostable products will be easier to dispose.
– 8th Mar 2007
Gareth Hughes, Climate Change Capital’s head of corporate development, outlined today the growing opportunities for corporations in the capital markets if they can prove they have superior environmental performance.
– 14th Feb 2007
RTHK reports about the changes to legislation in Guangdong which introduces emissions trading for large power stations.
– 2nd Feb 2007 by Tim Kitchin
McKinsey has performed its own cost estimate around carbon reduction strategies, and concluded that reforestation and energy saving measures can provide around half of the required adjustments. The analysis significantly downplays perceived threat to economic growth.
– 31st Jan 2007 by Tim Kitchin
A constructive debate is raging over at David Miliband’s blog around the likely effectiveness of consumer carbon credits.
– 4th Nov 2006
Results from a three-year European study into the benefits of environmental management systems demonstrate a link between certified systems and improved environmental performance
– 6th Oct 2006 by Tim Kitchin
Despite acknowledging that it will not hit its emissions targets, Canada has ruled out carbon credits as a mechanism to meet its Kyoto commitments, claiming such credits are of dubious value, offering no assurance that emissions will actually be reduced.
– 20th Sep 2006
The traditional association between organic foods and health is being steadily eroded, and replaced, with greater consumer association with the environmental benefits.
You can subscribe by email or by using feeds. Subscriptions are free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Subscribe to BusinessAssurance.com
Food section only
Subscribe to podcasts with iTunes
Food podcasts only