Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility

Americans Prefer Ethical Brands, Dominate Online Shopping, Report Says

November 7, 2016

American consumers prioritize risk-taking, adventure and living an exciting life when it comes to making purchases, according to global research by HSBC. This structural shift among U.S. consumers' purchasing habits is prompting companies to rethink existing marketing and business strategies.

Clean Ships to Jump the Queue at Panama Canal, Officials Say

November 4, 2016

Maritime Executive

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has unveiled a new recognition program for clean operators that will help them to get ahead of the pack for transit bookings. The ACP calls the new system "environmental premium ranking."

Tesla Announces Commercial Solar Roof Tiles

November 3, 2016

Computerworld

Tesla has announced four different solar roof tiles that the company plans to tie tightly into its manufacturing and sales of household and commercial battery systems, that will be able to store the energy while at the time making it available to charge Tesla electric cars

Scotland Councils Club Together to Grow Local Supply Chains

November 2, 2016

Supply Management

Three councils in the North of Scotland say they hope by combining their procurement operations, they can incentivise key suppliers to invest in local supply chains. Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Highland Council will be encouraging primary suppliers to increase their local footprint and help deliver social value.

Target Passes Walmart as Top Corporate Solar Customer

October 28, 2016

Computerworld

Target has surpassed perennial champion Walmart as the U.S.'s top corporate user of solar power, according to a new report. Target has installed 147 megawatts of solar capacity on 300 stores, according to the 2016 Solar Means Business Report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Retailers Say They Are Increasingly Turning to Sustainable Cotton

October 26, 2016

Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Cotton, the most widely used natural fiber, is considered the world's dirtiest crop because of its heavy use of pesticides - its cultivation accounts for 17.5 percent of global insecticide sales. So in recent years, several apparel and home-goods companies, including Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, and Nike, have used organic cotton, grown by farmers who eschew pesticides and enrich their soil with compost. That's good for the environment but raises another big problem: Organic cotton is too expensive for average shoppers.

Chemical Industry Joins Fight Against Climate Change in Landmark Deal

October 25, 2016

The New York Times

Negotiators from more than 170 countries have reached a legally binding accord to counter climate change by cutting the worldwide use of a powerful planet-warming chemical used in air-conditioners and refrigerators.

Global 500 Companies Report Finding Business Opportunities Resulting From Climate Change

October 24, 2016

Environmental Leader

As corporations look to cut their environmental costs, evaluating total cost of ownership - or the total direct and indirect costs of owning a product or service - may provide a way to achieve greater environmental accountability, better resource management and financial savings, according to a report by the Carbon Disclosure Project.

DB Schenker, Lufthansa Reportedly Halfway to 2020 Emissions Reduction Target

October 21, 2016

Air Cargo World

A five-year plan from Lufthansa Cargo and logistics provider DB Schenker to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is on track to meet its goal of reducing 20,000 tonnes of CO2 output by 2020, both companies say. To date, Lufthansa and Schenker have reduced their CO2 output by more than 10,000 tonnes, combined, under their joint Carbon Reduction Agreement.

Study Shows Profit But Low Priority in Sustainable Supply Chain

October 20, 2016

Industry Today

According to a 2015 World Economic Forum study, organizations can increase revenue up to 20 percent and boost brand value up to 30 percent by investing in supply chain sustainability. But are organizations taking action to realize these benefits? And if so, how?