The management systems community
– 8th Dec 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Food and Drink Europe article talks about the new set of criteria and standards for sustainable fruit and veg production that BASF Corporation is developing for German supermarket chain Rewe. Named Crop Protection, the new standards aim to give sustainability assurances throughout the food chain, right through to consumers.
– 3rd Dec 2008
The Guardian reports that, tomorrow Ed Miliband, secretary of state for energy and climate change, will meet with ministers in Brussels to finalise new EU legislation on climate and energy.
– 3rd Dec 2008
A recent article on Manufacturing & Logistics IT website talks about the rapidly rising energy costs and environmental concerns have driven ‘green’ issues ever higher on the business agenda.
– 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.”
– 11th Nov 2008 by Alex Briggs
Frances Way, Supply Chain Project Director for the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), talked to us about the CDP’s Supply Chain Project. This is the second episode in a four part series. The interviews for this video podcast series were conducted at the Ethical Supply Chain Summit in Berlin.
Frances shared some of the key supplier insights that the CDP have gathered in their work with the world’s leading global brands, as well as the role that verification plays in the data that the CDP collect on global supply chains.
The video can also be found here via link.
– 6th Nov 2008
World Food Day 2008 addresses what has been categorised by many as one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change and its impact on food security.
– 6th Nov 2008
A new 3PL Logistics study says ‘green’ supply chains are essential for future business success yet the majority of logistics executives are unwilling to spend the money to make it happen.
– 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.
– 11th Sep 2008
APX and the Gold Standard Foundation are pleased to announce today that the Gold Standard Registry now includes more than 200 valid greenhouse gas reduction projects in various stages of approval representing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in over 30 countries. This dramatic growth — well ahead of expectations — represents a total potential [...]
– 8th Sep 2008
In this episode, we hear from Katherine Symonds, Tesco’s Sustainability Manager, about Tesco’s carbon labelling pilot project.
– 2nd Sep 2008
A survey just released by eyefortransport tells us what for most green-minded professionals seems obvious: High fuel prices are causing the country’s manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers to rethink their transportation strategies.
– 2nd Sep 2008
The British Contract Furnishing & Design Association is aiming to set a benchmark in environmental standards with a new code of best practice which includes looking at ISO 14001.
– 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.
– 20th Aug 2008
Carnegie Mellon University researchers are urging companies to embrace new methods for following the trail of dangerous carbon emissions that are responsible for much of the world’s global warming threats.
– 20th Aug 2008 by Alex Briggs
Paul Dickinson, the CEO of the Carbon Disclosure Project, is the focus of this interview from the Low Carbon Innovation Bulletin.
– 7th Aug 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Food Business Daily article looks at the ever increasing amount of labels on food products. Are consumers paying attention to these claims and understanding what the claims mean? Or are there better ways to reach consumers?
– 1st Aug 2008
Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE:CCE), the world’s largest marketer, distributor, and producer of Coca-Cola products, has published its third company-wide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) Report, Shape Tomorrow…Today.
– 1st Aug 2008
Many Americans, including those who are enduring financial hardship, are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, according to a survey conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.
– 1st Aug 2008
The past decade has seen significant improvements in environmental performance by many businesses in England and Wales. But there are still lots of companies that need to do more - and what progress has been made should not stop just because of a slowdown in the economy, the Environment Agency warned today.
– 1st Aug 2008
A recent study of such environmental policies shows they are more likely to be successful if people are treated as active partners in the process of change and not as passive subjects.
– 1st Aug 2008
These terms make it meaningful for companies disclosing any data and information rather than the scientific principles all the schemes use e.g. materiality, faithfulness, etc.
– 29th Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
The attached report is the result of Eye For Transport’s recent survey of Supply Chain experts, with both current and future trends being evaluated.
– 23rd Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
The high price of energy and oil are driving brands to “green” their supply chains. This Climatechangecorp.com article highlights some of the ways that logistics providers are taking steps to improve fuel efficiency, increase payload and better manage their environmental and economic performance.
– 13th Jul 2008
Apex Inc., today announced that the company has been selected by the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Association, a leading international standards organization, to develop and manage a greenhouse gas transaction registry.
– 10th Jul 2008
BT has announced plans to cut its carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2020 and published a “Climate Stabilization Intensity Target”.
– 8th Jul 2008
The Carbon Trust says its standard will only be issued to UK organisations that show “real reductions year-on-year.
– 6th Jul 2008
As critics accuse carbon labels of confusing customers, supermarket giant insists initiative has proved “encouraging” and cheaper than expected, reports James Murray, BusinessGreen.
– 6th Jul 2008
More than three quarters of consumers want higher environmental product standards from government
– 3rd Jul 2008
A report this week from Danisco on its waste and energy saving initiatives and a US dairy industry-wide action plan on carbon emissions.
– 3rd Jul 2008
Carbon credit brokers have sprung up across the nation. It is the environmental cottage industry we had to have in the long wait until 2010 when Australia finally gets a national emissions trading scheme.
– 3rd Jul 2008
Check-out Carbon, published by sustainable development charity Forum for the Future, also reveals that 77 per cent of consumers want the government to set higher environmental product standards.
– 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
Forum for the Future’s new report, sponsored by Lloyd’s Register, entitled Check-out Carbon, released.
– 2nd Jul 2008
Carbon Trust to open office in Beijing as UK government steps up plans to address supply chain emissions.
– 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.
– 30th Jun 2008
A new guide from the Canadian Competition Bureau of the Canadian Standards Association provides the business community there with green marketing guidelines.
– 30th Jun 2008
The UK Government’s climate change adviser, Sir Nicholas Stern, helped launch an emissions reduction initiative.
– 30th Jun 2008
WWF and a small number of factory owners in Hong Kong and southern China are developing a carbon labeling system
– 30th Jun 2008
Manufacturers today are undergoing one of their most drastic shifts ever in the major green movement.
– 3rd Jun 2008
California legislators say they just want to make sure voluntary carbon offsets purchased by individuals deliver the promised benefits, but one of two bills on the table has offset providers nervous.
– 15th May 2008
Both the mandatory and voluntary carbon markets saw significant growth in 2007, though the voluntary market experienced the biggest boost, tripling in value with even more expansion expected.
The voluntary carbon market is still a small part of all carbon buying and trading, with a value of $331 million in 2007. The two major mandatory markets [...]
– 9th May 2008
Unilever has pledged to use only palm oil certified as sustainable by 2015, while also supporting calls for a moratorium on further deforestation for palm oil in Indonesia.
– 9th May 2008
Corporate emissions reporting protocols should go further to link GHG emissions to corporate financial performance – concludes new Ethical Corporation Institute report.
– 9th May 2008
Products are increasingly being designed, manufactured and packaged with a new focus on the end of their life cycle – and beyond
– 8th May 2008
A different approach to assessing green corporate investments in energy efficiency, whether it is upgrading equipment or replacing the inefficient lighting in a facility.
– 6th May 2008
Scientists also warned that there will be other effects of global warming that could also have a serious impact on tropical regions, particularly on food crops.
– 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?
– 23rd Apr 2008
90% of Americans say that companies need to prove their green claims, 80% say they should have independent third-party certification of those claims.
This Environmental Leader article highlights the Green Gap Survey from Cone and The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship surveyed US consumers on a range of topics regarding environmental products and the companies selling them.
– 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
The Minister will discuss how the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the new mandatory carbon cap-and-trade scheme, will impact businesses operating in the UK.
– 1st Apr 2008
Just the sheer complexity of today’s long and global supply chains might be enough to daunt any thought of where to start to implement green strategies and technologies. But there is a lot of help available out there to make the journey an easier one.
– 20th Mar 2008
In this episode we talk to the Vice-President of Ryerson, Master and Associates, (RMA), about the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR), a non-profit public/private partnership headquartered in Los Angeles that serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas registry to protect, encourage, and promote early actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
– 18th Mar 2008
More than half of U.S. consumers would give up all forms of packaging provided for convenience purposes if it would benefit the environment.
– 17th Mar 2008
The Chancellor has fallen a long way short of his promise to put sustainability at the heart of today’s Budget, says Friends of the Earth.
– 17th Mar 2008
This set of guidelines, accompanied by case studies from five businesses, explains the steps a business should take to identify what ecosystems it depends on and the risks and opportunities related to changes in those ecosystems.
– 17th Mar 2008
The Maine lobster industry is seeking to have its lobster certified as sustainable by the London-based Marine Stewardship Council.
– 17th Mar 2008
In the current wave of the environmental movement, there is quite a bit of talk. But research from Natural Marketing Institute shows that there is also quite a bit of action.
– 13th Mar 2008
To help shoppers make green choices, companies are slapping carbon labels on products. But even if the public can interpret the information, will it help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
– 13th Mar 2008
The Stockholm Environment announces the release of a comprehensive
new report on the voluntary carbon offset market.
– 10th Mar 2008
It introduces the GreenBiz Index, a set of 20 indicators of progress, tracking the resource use, emissions, and business practices of U.S. companies: carbon, materials, energy, and toxics intensity, clean-tech investments, e-waste recovery, paper use, employee commuting, and more.
– 10th Mar 2008 by Sarah Whitworth
Although large companies continually grab the headlines with far-reaching announcements about carbon reduction, recycling and eco-friendly products, small businesses have just as much ability to affect the environment.
– 10th Mar 2008
Millions more of the world’s most vulnerable people are facing starvation as food shortages loom and crop prices spiral ever upwards.
– 6th Mar 2008 by Alex Briggs
This CSR NewsWire story takes a look at the increasing role that certification is taking in sustainability and CSR.
– 28th Feb 2008
The Center for Resource Solutions has launched Green-e Climate, what it says is the nation’s first independent certification for carbon offset products.
– 27th Feb 2008
Japan and Russia have agreed to start talks on fighting global warming, including possible greenhouse gas emissions trading that would help Tokyo to meet its goals under the Kyoto Protocol, media said on Sunday.
– 27th Feb 2008
Rogers is opening the two-day summit which focuses on how manufacturers can reduce their climate impact at every stage of the production process – from product design through to waste.
– 27th Feb 2008
Businessassurance.com subscribers are encouraged to take advantage of a 15% discount off Corporate Climate Response - London, which takes place May 20-21st at the CBI Conference Centre.
– 25th Feb 2008
Only months after releasing its Voluntary Carbon Standard for carbon offsets, The Climate Group has revealed that it will soon begin work on a guide for auditors to follow when calculating the carbon footprint of business and households.
Event: 20th May 2008 – 21st May 2008
This event will cover the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the UK’s new mandatory carbon trading scheme and Climate Change and the Food Industry, by looking at the climate impact across the food supply chain from agriculture through to waste.
Event: 8th Apr 2008 – 9th Apr 2008
Country: USA
City: Chicago
Event website: Corporate Climate Response – Sustainable Manufacturing Summit
Organized by Green Power Conferences this conference will contain sessions focusing on climate-friendly product development, operational response, and sustainable supply chains, this event covers carbon reduction at every stage of the manufacturing process.
Over 50 companies are speaking including representatives from Dell, GE, HP, Johnson [...]
– 21st Feb 2008
Greenbang reports, ‘After good old Mr (Hilary) Benn gave out Defra’s voluntary code of conduct for carbon offsetters this week, offsetters are now keen to give Mr Benn a warm round of applause.’
– 21st Feb 2008
BusinessGreen takes a closer look at the government’s controversial attempts to clean up the carbon offset market.
– 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
Ethical Corporation have just launched a business intelligence report on how the Global FT500 are calculating and verifying their greenhouse gas emissions.
Event: 24th Jun 2008 – 25th Jun 2008
Taking you from step one to step ten to achieve a green supply chain
– 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.
– 7th Feb 2008 by Sarah Whitworth
The Clean Sky joint technology initiative was launched in Europe.
The JTI, a EUR 1.6 billion public-private partnership, aims to make aircraft cleaner and more efficient. It will select technologies for development between 2008 and 2010, leading to full-scale demonstrations between 2013 and 2014.
– 7th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) will be sending out their questionnaires to over 3,000 companies globally. Their seventh report will see them extending their work into China, Korea and the Netherlands, among others.
– 6th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said GFSI standards provide real-time details on where suppliers fall short in food safety on a plant-by-plant basis, and go beyond the current audit process required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or U.S. Department of Agriculture.
– 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,”
– 31st Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
Coca Cola has announced that they will build two new power plants, with each plant set to reduce CO2 emissions by 40%.
– 30th Jan 2008
While investors believe the environment is a serious business issue, they also believe that many companies have yet to view it that way.
– 29th Jan 2008
Food and Drink manufacturers, who currently account for 10% of global industrial water usage, have signed up to a voluntary agreement to slash their water usage by up to 20%.
Cadbury Schweppes, Premier Foods, Tate & Lyle and Nestlé UK, among others, have signed up to a Food and Drink Federation initiative to reduce their impact on the environment.
– 25th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
CHR Hanson has published their environmental report, with the focus being around sustainable business.
We need to improve our monitoring capacity further to ensure that our baseline measurements are correct and comparable,” the company stated.
– 21st Jan 2008
The emissions trading system that has been criticised for giving power generators a £9billion windfall is likely to be swept away in 2013, the TIMES ONLINE reports.
– 21st Jan 2008
Biofuels have a limited ability to replace fossil fuels and should not be regarded as a “silver bullet” solution to reducing transport emissions, British scientists warned today.
– 21st Jan 2008
Organizations that wish to grow profitably in the future must focus their efforts to benefit shareholders, society and the environment simultaneously, according to a paper published today by a group of academic experts on corporate responsibility and sustainability.
– 21st Jan 2008
Virgin Money is launching a green fund which will invest only in companies committed to high environmental standards.
– 21st Jan 2008 by Sarah Whitworth
Hewlett Packard, L’Oreal, PepsiCo, and Reckitt Benckiser have joined the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration, which wants to create a single standardized approach to measuring the carbon footprint of supply chains.
– 21st Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
An article in The Observer brings home the harsh realities that consumers, business and government have to face in dealing with climate change.
– 21st Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
A new report to be released is creating a lot of debate in the shipping industry. The report, conducted on behalf of the International Association of Tanker Owners (Intertanko), estimates that emissions from the shipping industry might be as much as double as previously assumed.
– 18th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
Alcoa is the latest organisation to sign up for the California Climate Registry (CCR), making their carbon emissions available to the public.
The CCR is awarding founding reporter status to companies that sign up to the scheme before May 2008, as an incentive for early membership.
Companies that sign up commit to voluntarily measure, independently verify and publicly report their industrial gas emissions.
The CCR’s Gary Gero is interviewed in this Voluntary Carbon Standard podcast.
– 16th Jan 2008
There remains a huge untapped potential in the voluntary carbon markets waiting to be explored. Year 2008 could very well be the tipping point for the voluntary carbon markets
– 15th Jan 2008
Little or nothing is being done to develop the low-carbon infrastructure that would secure us a competitive advantage when the price of carbon rises - as it inevitably will, a recent article in The Guardian reports.
– 15th Jan 2008
The UK government’s support for biofuels risks failing to deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and could be environmentally damaging, the Royal Society, the UK’s leading scientific academy, said yesterday, writes Ed Crooks . The society called on the UK and the EU to reform biofuels policy to give more support to fuels that delivered greater cuts in emissions.
– 14th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
Organic or fairtrade? Sustainable or certified? With so many labels on food, clothes and white goods, it’s a miracle that we make it to the checkout before closing time. This article in the Observer takes a look at some of the labels out there. Which ones live up to their eco credentials?
– 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.
– 9th Jan 2008
Aurora Organic Dairy will join forces with the University of Michigan to measure and reduce its carbon footprint across the lifecycle of its product line.
– 7th Jan 2008
Plans to tighten European anti-pollution legislation could force the closure of swathes of industry in the UK, business leaders have warned.
– 7th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
LRQA’s Dr Anne Marie Warris was interviewed by the leading climate change website. She talks about some of the key issues facing the voluntary carbon market and how the VCS is uniquely positioned to offer the voluntary market credibility.
– 2nd Jan 2008
The UK’s biggest polluters will reap a windfall of at least £6bn from rising power prices and the soaring value of carbon under the new European carbon trading scheme that critics say fails to correct the flaws of the system it replaced.
– 26th Dec 2007
The European Commission last week adopted new legislation on industrial emissions to strengthen the provisions already in force and reduce industrial emissions throughout the European Union.
– 21st Dec 2007
Taiwan’s draft bill of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, which was approved by the Executive Yuan in September 2006, has yet to pass the Legislative Yuan, and the country, like the developed economies of the West and Japan is still producing more than its fair share of carbon dioxide.
– 21st Dec 2007
The Bush administration has finally offered the carmakers some protection against California’s harsh new greenhouse gas legislation, a recent article reports.
– 20th Dec 2007
In a long-awaited proposal, presented today, for curbing global warming pollution from new cars, the European Commission has relegated climate change to the back seat and granted major concessions to the car industry, said Greenpeace.
– 19th Dec 2007
Climate change, so long ignored or even denied, can no longer be disregarded, and is forcing companies throughout all sectors to re-evaluate their practices. And as with all ‘obstacles’, companies have started using climate change as a vehicle to promote what they do best: make business.
– 17th Dec 2007
Last autumn, Sainsbury’s announced it was trying something new with the way it sourced its milk.
– 15th Dec 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling, the BBC reports.
– 14th Dec 2007
Greenpeace has called on gamers to persuade Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo to make their consoles greener, the BBC reports.
– 14th Dec 2007
The Carbon Coalition draft activity plan includes the following projects which are planned for implementation in 2008.
– 12th Dec 2007
Could the U.S. significantly reduce carbon emissions by training public transit and truck drivers to “Ecodrive?” If a program in smog-filled Jakarta is any indication, educating commercial drivers about efficient driving habits and proper vehicle maintenance can measurably reduce carbon emissions.
– 12th Dec 2007
Abbott has pledged to reduce its total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by two percent on an absolute basis from 2006 to 2011.
– 12th Dec 2007
“Going Green” awareness continues to be high, according to research from Intellitrends. Relative to recent news regarding the environment and “going green,” close to 60 percent of consumers say they read a newspaper or magazine article on the topic, reports a recent article from environmental leader.
– 12th Dec 2007 by Alex Briggs
According to this Climatechangecorp.com article The US is looking into making CSR reporting on climate change a mandatory element of the information disclosed to investors.
– 12th Dec 2007
Voluntary greenhouse-gas emission offset markets are in need of government oversight, reports a recent article called, Policing the voluntary carbon market, written by leading experts in the fieild.
– 12th Dec 2007
Continental Airlines has launched a voluntary carbon offsetting program that lets customers view the carbon footprint of their booked itinerary and to make a contribution to Sustainable Travel International to fund the purchase of carbon offsets.
– 11th Dec 2007 by Alex Briggs
The International Standards Organisation (ISO), the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainabale Development (WBCSD) have joined forces to jointly promote the ISO 14064 standards and the WRI and WBCSD GHG Protocol standards.
– 10th Dec 2007
A Greenbiz.com article reports on Barclays Capital’s launch of the first index to track the performance of carbon credits issued though major greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes.
– 10th Dec 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
The report - ‘Too Good To Be True? The UK’s Climate Change Record’ - says the implications are stark. Britain has not yet - as ministers claim - broken the link between economic growth and emissions, a Telegraph article reports.
– 6th Dec 2007
The Independant reports from the UN Conference in Bali today about the delegations from some 190 countries began talks on the Indonesian island of Bali yesterday, aimed at agreeing a “road map” for a successor to the Kyoto protocol.
– 5th Dec 2007
A recent Gaurdian article reports on the current United Nations Climate Change event being held in Bali this week.
– 5th Dec 2007
Climate Change 2007”, has now been completed. Its final part, “The Synthesis Report” was released in Valencia, Spain, on 17 November 2007. Earlier this year, the three IPCC Working Groups contributions to the AR4 were released.
– 4th Dec 2007
The country’s two busiest shipping ports are taking steps to also become more environmentally friendly.
– 3rd Dec 2007
BBC News reports, ‘Global businesses have called for a legally binding and comprehensive international deal on climate change. A binding agreement on emissions reductions would encourage business to invest in low-carbon technologies, a statement from 150 businesses said.’
– 30th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
Guardian article highlights the spending habits of ethical consumers, balanced against their lack of spending on renewable energy.
The potential ethical products market is valued at £32.3 billion!
– 28th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
Mainstream corporations are really Going Green. And if you need more proof, it has just been announced that Kodak Eastman has won the highly coveted Green Supply Chains award 2007.
– 28th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
CNET NEWS.COM comments, ‘Carbon offsetting has had some pretty bad press in recent times, with critics questioning just how green or new some offsetting projects are. But with the new Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), launched in London last week, it’s hoped that carbon offsets will win back their credibility and be given a much sought-after framework.’
– 26th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
This smartplanet.com article talks about the potential the new VCS could have on the voluntary offset market.
– 26th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
The GRI announced today that several high profile global food processors have joined their sustainability reporting programme.
Nestlé, Bunge, Danisco, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Tyson Foods are the first food processors to join a programme to develop global reporting standards on sustainability projects in the sector.
– 26th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
According to a groundbreaking report out today, British businesses are committed to do what it takes to tackle climate change but the UK effort will only succeed if it becomes an urgent, shared national priority for companies, consumers and the government.
– 23rd Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
In a recent article, ‘Global voluntary offset marque launched’ it talks about the new VCS standard and how it also soughts to tackle the problematic area of carbon credits for tree-planting activities.
– 23rd Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
BBC News reports on the new rating system which will help customers to compare energy companies’ green tariffs, according to the regulator.
– 21st Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
Voluntary greenhouse-gas emission offset markets are in need of government oversight, says an article titled, ‘Policing the voluntary carbon market’.
– 19th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
The overwhelming majority of environmental marketing claims in North America are inaccurate, inappropriate, or unsubstantiated, according to a comprehensive survey released today.
– 19th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
Measuring a product’s carbon footprint is not as tough as many believe. The real issue is labelling, Emma Clarke investigates.
– 19th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
According to research by Ipsos Mori, four in five Britons believe many firms pretend to be ethical just to sell more products, an increase from two-thirds in 2005. Furthermore, almost 80% want to see companies back up ethical claims with proof.
– 19th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
The Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007 (VCS 2007), a new global carbon offset standard, launches today at the London Stock Exchange.
– 16th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
Billions of dollars set to be invested in projects to reduce carbon emissions could be withdrawn unless global environment leaders promise a successor to the Kyoto Protocol next month.
– 12th Nov 2007
A recent article reports that China has agreed to phase out incandescent bulbs in favor energy-efficient ones.
– 12th Nov 2007
Wal-Mart measures the energy use and emissions of the entire supply chain of seven product categories, and look into finding ways to increase their energy efficiency.
– 9th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
The °Climate Group has launched findings of the UK’s first ever Climate Brand Index which tracks year-on-year consumer perceptions of how brands are performing on climate change.
– 9th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
A new global study was launched today by The °Climate Group and GeSI [Global e-Sustainability Initiative] to evaluate the ICT (Information Communication Technology) sector’s role in climate change.
The ICT sector currently accounts for less than two per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, though this number could more than double by 2020. The independent [...]
– 5th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
‘The world must seek a more sustainable, environmentally-sound way to grow and to help to raise people out of poverty’. This is the message which has been delivered by Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state.
– 5th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
In a recent survey carried out by The Climate Change Group findings revealed that nearly 70% of UK and 74% of US respondents couldn’t name a brand who they perceived as leading on climate change without being prompted.
– 5th Nov 2007 by Sarah Whitworth
Ethical consumers are increasingly using ‘Sustainability Information’ to identify and have trust in their chosen brands.
– 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.
– 18th Oct 2007 by Alex Briggs
China has agreed to phase out incandescent lightbulbs, according to this article.
The switch could mitigate 500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, equal to about half the climate-warming emissions of Germany.
The European Union is scheduled to “choice edit” out inefficient lightbulbs within a decade.
China currently produce 70% of the world’s lightbulbs.
– 2nd Oct 2007
A CNN article has taken a holistic look at the causes and effects of global food waste:
According to the UN Food Programme, US food waste could:
satisfy “every empty stomach” in Africa
Some other key facts from the article:
The US and Japan waste up to 50% of all their food
the entire food supply chain in the [...]
– 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