From improved efficiency to more advanced fabrication possibilities, specialized 3-D printing sub-sectors are emerging that cater to an array of enterprise buyers with money to inject into the field. Machines can now produce materials with potential health applications, such as human cartilage, plus batteries, LEDs and motor components. But what is the environmental impact of 3-D printing?

Nik Delmeire, the newly appointed secretary general of the European Shippers' Council (ESC), has said it is time for businesses to measure, monitor and reduce emissions by freight transport. At the same time, the new European Commission should reduce existing trade barriers in the European Union. "Together these innovations can spur economic growth and create jobs," says Delmeire.

The Carbon Trust is developing a new certification for organizations seeking to reduce carbon emissions across their supply chains.

Managing carbon emissions in your supply chain is a constant challenge. You may have control over your own facilities and operations, but it's hard to influence the sustainability practices of third-party carriers and 3PLs. Your request for proposal (RFP) process provides a powerful (and frequently untapped) lever. By including language about registering with EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership, you can use your RFPs to encourage truck, rail, logis-tics, and multimodal carriers to participate in SmartWay and help you quantify your supply chain’s carbon footprint at the same time.

Wide-scale deployment of emerging technology that converts used, non-recycled plastics into oil could generate up to $9bn in annual U.S. economic output and create upwards of 40,000 domestic jobs, according to a report released by the American Chemistry Council.

The Carbon Trust, which promotes a sustainable, low-carbon environment, is developing a certification for organisations taking effective action on carbon emissions across their supply chains. The Trust is looking to work with a number of organisations across different sectors in an initial pilot phase running through to early 2015.

"Don't 'greenwash' because you will be caught out," is the message from IKEA UK's environment and sustainable development manager Charlie Browne.

Novelis, a leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, has opened what it calls the world’s largest aluminum recycling center. Located adjacent to the company’s rolling mill in Nachterstedt, Germany, the $258m (€200m) recycling center will process up to 400,000 metric tons of aluminum scrap annually, turning it back into high-value aluminum ingots to feed the company’s European manufacturing network.

Delivery drones are on their way to your doorstep. And regulators are right on their tail.