US supermarket Walmart has announced a commitment to improving farmed animal welfare across its global food supply chain, with one of the most comprehensive animal welfare policies of its kind. The change in policy comes after six hidden-camera videos taken by animal welfare group Mercy For Animals (MFA) at Walmart pork suppliers across the country exposed extreme animal abuse. In its policy, Walmart has committed to end the intensive confinement of pregnant pigs in gestation crates, baby calves in veal crates, and egg-laying hens in battery cages. It also announced it is working to end the needless mutilations of animals without painkillers, and is moving toward more humane slaughter methods. Upon uncovering the abuse, MFA led a fierce campaign against Walmart, including more than 150 protests at stores across the country; full-page newspaper ads; mobile billboards; 640,000 petition signatures; and support from celebrities. (Sustainable Brands)
Corporate Reputation
Amazon begins paying sales tax in Europe amid ongoing investigation
Amazon this week confirmed that it will start paying taxes in individual European countries, rather than running nearly all of its sales revenue through Luxembourg. The decision, reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes amid ongoing investigations into the tax practices of Amazon, Apple, and other multinationals in Europe. An Amazon spokesman told the newspaper that the policy change went into effect on 1st May2015, and that the company will begin reporting revenue in the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Until now, Amazon has funneled nearly all of its European sales revenue through Luxembourg, under a low-tax agreement. European regulators opened an investigation into the tax arrangement last year, and in January announced that the deal may give Amazon an illegal advantage over its competitors. Earlier this month, Europe’s antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager announced that investigators would not announce a decision by the June deadline they had previously announced, citing a lack of data. (The Verge)
UK regulator to investigate ‘forcibly installed’ pre-pay meters
More than half a million pre-payment energy meters have been forcibly installed in people’s homes in the UK over the last six years, according to figures obtained by the BBC. The energy watchdog Ofgem has said it will investigate the practice, saying it should only be used as a last resort. Energy suppliers can gain a court order to install a pre-pay meter when customers run up debt. Industry body Energy UK said pre-paying helped some people manage a budget, but Citizens Advice said pre-pay customers got a “raw deal”, paying £80 a year more on average than direct debit customers. The figures, supplied by Ofgem in response to a Freedom of Information request, showed about 97,000 pre-pay gas and electricity meters were installed in England, Wales and Scotland last year, compared to 36,000 in 2009, the first year for which figures were made available. (BBC)
Policy & Research
Top energy firms tied to almost a third of greenhouse gases
A study by Thomson Reuters has found that thirty-two energy companies led by Russia’s Gazprom account for almost a third of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions, if the burning of all the coal, oil and gas they produce is taken into account. Total emissions linked to the companies rose 1.3 percent from 2010-13, despite efforts for curbs. Including final use of fossil fuels, Gazprom was the single biggest emitter, producing 1.26 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2013. Coal India followed on 820 million tonnes, ahead of Glencore, Petrochina, Rosneft, Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil. Overall, emissions by the 32 firms, including the final burning of coal, gas and oil, accounted for 11.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2013. (Thomson Reuters)
Half of UK businesses expect ESOS to cost more than it saves
Almost half the businesses covered by the UK Government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) expect the scheme to cost them more money than they will save on energy bills, according to a new survey. ESOS requires all companies with more than 250 employees or a turnover of more than €50 million to produce detailed reports on their energy use and efficiency every four years, but there is no obligation to implement any of the efficiency measures identified. The survey of 205 businesses, carried out by energy, carbon and water consultancy firm Utilitywise, revealed a lukewarm response to the impending mandatory legislation. Just one in five businesses said they will implement the recommended energy savings measures regardless, and 31 percent will only make changes to their energy usage if they can be guaranteed to see significant savings. (Edie)
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