Ian Darley, an inventory specialist in the mining industry, tells how he helped to pioneer a new method for storing materials on site - and eliminating a substantial amount of unnecessary packaging.

Just as homeowners are more likely to renovate their current homes rather than purchase a new one when the economy is soft, so too are many manufacturers opting to maintain and repair their existing equipment rather than making substantial capital investments in new systems.

By 2025, annual consumption in emerging markets will reach $30tr - the biggest growth opportunity in the history of capitalism. To compete for the prize, companies must be disciplined.

Frito-Lay plans to put 45 more electric delivery trucks on California roads in the coming months, bringing its fleet of such vehicles in the state to 105 by the end of the year.

MeadWestvaco, a global packaging solutions provider, has identified a number of new markets in which it sees the potential for profitable growth, says Brian McClure, director of global procurement and supply chain. As the company moves into these new markets, it is faced with a lot of decisions about whether to make or buy goods and services.

FirstCarbon Solutions, a provider of software and consulting services to enhance the environmental sustainability of business, has expanded its partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). FirstCarbon will score companies' submissions on their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon-management strategies to CDP Supply Chain. The latter works with global companies to measure and understand the impact of climate change across supply chains. An independent, non-profit organization, CDP helps companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share information on environmental risk and opportunity.

The North American Emission Control Area (ECA), under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), went into effective Aug. 1, 2012, bringing stricter controls on emissions of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter for ships trading off the coasts of Canada, the United States and the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

There are many opportunities to recapture value from returned products and, in the process, strengthen customer relations, says Jeff Jorgensen, vice president of supply chain execution at Spinnaker, a global supply chain and execution company.