Companies are increasingly realizing the environmental and economic benefits of effective waste management - fewer methane emissions from landfills, reduced waste hauling costs and new revenue streams from reuse and recycling among them. Several new tools aim to help companies and other organizations achieve these goals and receive recognition for their work.

Leaders from global shipping firms, freight forwarders, brand owners whose products are counterfeited and organizations representing both industries recently signed a joint Declaration of Intent to Prevent the Maritime Transport of Counterfeit Goods in Brussels.

A group of prominent religious leaders recently urged Australia to introduce laws to ensure forced labor is not used to produce goods sold in the country, saying ending slavery needed to be a national priority.

The EPA will stay the course on vehicle emissions and fuel efficiency standards that the agency says will halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. The standards require automakers to double passenger cars and light trucks' fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Amnesty International has published a report into the practices of major consumer goods multinationals that unpicks the palm oil supply chain and finds evidence of forced labor, child employment and dangerous working conditions.