Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility

Asian Yards Criticized for Substandard Shipbreaking Practices, But China Said to Act Responsibly

April 15, 2015

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has just published its fifth South Asia Quarterly Update re-igniting the on-going debate about the practice of breaking ships on beaches in Southern Asia. In it, China looks pretty good.

Automotive Industry to See Robust Growth in Market for Stop-Start Systems

April 15, 2015

Navigant Research

Vehicles with stop-start capability will account for 55 percent of all light-duty vehicles sold by 2024, increasing from 22 percent in 2015, according to Navigant Research.

Growth of Solar, Wind Industry to Increasingly Rely on IoT-based Technologies

April 6, 2015

ABI Research

ABI Research expects IoT-connected wind and solar installations to grow at a CAGR of 21 percent between 2014 and 2020 with the total number of connections growing from the almost 2 million in 2014 to 6.3 million in 2020.

The Future of Fuels for Commercial Transport

March 27, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

With the current boom in U.S. oil and natural gas production, it might be tempting to put aside the notion of shifting to more sustainable fuels for commercial transport. Why venture into this unknown area when traditional supplies are so plentiful?

Safety Guidelines Issued for Reusing Plastic Packaging for Food, Perishable Products

March 16, 2015

Reusable Packaging Assn.

The Reusable Packaging Association has issued comprehensive protocols to ensure the continued safe use of reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh and perishable products in the supply chain. The guidelines encompass washing, handling, storing, packing, displaying and collecting RPCs. They also include rigorous and defined Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP), and hourly, daily, monthly, and quarterly microbiological testing.

Can We Really Scan Every Container for Terrorist Threats?

March 13, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Is it feasible to scan every one of the 15 million containers that enter U.S. ports each year? With a new technology, the long-term answer might well be yes.

Supply Chain Has to Adjust as 'Center of Gravity' for Recycling Gold Moves from West to Asia

March 11, 2015

The Boston Consulting Group

A report from The Boston Consulting Group and the World Gold Council analyses the economic drivers of the global gold recycling market and highlights important future industry trends, including a shift in concentration of gold recycling from west to east, increased difficulty in obtaining gold from electronic products as less is used in modern devices, and potential consolidation within the recycling industry across the entire value chain.

Waking Up From the West Coast Port Nightmare: Where Do We Go From Here?

March 9, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Assuming that the rank and file of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) ratifies the new five-year contract negotiated with terminal operators, West Coast ports can finally focus on getting container-handling operations back to normal. So is everyone happy?

Supply Chain Sustainability Continues to Drive Business Value

February 25, 2015

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: SCM World's 2014 CSCO Study shows health and safety is the number one sustainability issue for the fourth straight year. With ethical issues and product integrity coming in a close second and third, it is clear that disconnected sustainability efforts have truly evolved into integrated social and environmental responsibility (SER) initiatives. – Matt Davis, SVP Research at SCM World

How Business Can Tackle Deforestation

February 17, 2015

Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility

The latest news, analysis, trends and solutions for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their impact on supply chain management. New customer expectations for green and ethical products and practices are transforming the way companies do business — and requiring more supply chain transparency than ever before. As solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are leveraging sustainability and CSR to stay ahead of the competition in their industries.