The new Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals has revealed that more animals were being used in tests in 2007. The Home Office report has shown that over 3.2 million animals were used in testing last year which indicates 6% increase on 2006. The increased animal use was mainly due to a rise in the numbers of mice, fish and domestic fowl used.
Energy efficiency has higher priority with employers than redundancies
Employers now rank energy efficiency ahead of redundancies or cutting staff bonuses as a better way to save money, a study by Carbon Trust, a government – funded company, has found. More than half the employers surveyed said they were looking to save money with energy efficiency than redundancies or reducing staff bonuses. The survey of 867 senior managers of small and medium companies also found UK businesses could save nearly £2.5 billion during the next 12 months, simply by implementing cost effective energy efficiency measures. The potential savings for SMEs alone are around £1.3 billion.
Marks & Spencer expands sustainable development capability
Marks & Spencer announced that it is joining the World Environment Center (WEC), a global non-profit organization that advances sustainable business performance. The aim is to increase Marks & Spencer capabilities to implement sustainability initiatives. Through its Plan A the British company has become a leader in sustainable development by working with customers and suppliers to become carbon neutral by 2012, reduce waste, safeguard the natural resources it uses, trade ethically and help people lead healthier lives. Marks & Spencer recently received WEC’s prestigious Gold Medal Award for International Achievement in Corporate Sustainable Development as decided by an independent panel of judges.
Contact World Environment Centre:
+12 0231 21211 www.wec.org
Only 62% of the FT 500 companies reporting emissions have carbon reduction targets
The Ethical Corporation Institute has launched a new report on how the FT 500 companies are reporting their GHG emissions to stakeholders. It shows staggering inconsistencies in how companies calculate and verify their greenhouse gas emissions. The research revealed that companies responding to the fifth annual Carbon Disclosure Project questionnaire were using a total of 34 different public protocols or guidelines to report on their emissions.
FTSE launches broad environmental index as eco benchmarks boom
FTSE, the global index company, has launched the FTSE Environmental Opportunities All-Share Index, made up of over 450 companies in the alternative energy, water and waste management sectors. The FTSE index includes companies from the Global Equity Index Series that have a minimum of 20% of revenues sourced from environmental markets or technologies. The company research is being carried out by Impax, the specialist environmental fund manager, which has partnered with FTSE to develop a range of environmental technology indices.
A UK union of electronics, IT and electrical engineering workers wants executive pay tied to environmental performance and access for its representatives to corporate environmental information, such as carbon footprint data. Unite the Union released the report “How Green Is My Workplace?” with a list of recommendations aimed at improving workplace environmental performance, including statutory rights to environmental data. The report argues that union representatives are ideally positioned to raise awareness of environmental issues to drive greener working environments. It gives examples of corporate partnerships that have worked to promote eco-stewardship, such as Unite members helping to establish green teams at Fujitsu and Cummins.
Some of food industry companies have pledged to reduce the environmental impact of transporting their goods. About 40 food and drink companies have signed up to the Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) Environmental Checklist and Clause for Greener Food Transport. The companies, which include Cadbury Schweppes, Weetabix Ltd and Premier Foods, committed to using a 10-point checklist to reduce the number and impact of food miles.
Contact
Food and Drink Federation
020 7420 7131 www.fdf.org.uk
Bombardier plans for greener aircraft
Canadian aircraft and rail manufacturer Bombardier launched a new family of fuel-efficient, single-aisle commercial airliners. Bombardier, based in Montreal, unveiled its program for the new CSeries family of aircraft on July 13 in England, on the eve of the industry’s prestigious Farnborough International Airshow. In announcing the launch of the 110- to 130-seat airliners that will seat five abreast, the firm signaled that it is positioning its new jets as challengers to the smallest aircraft in the 737 and A320 lines built by Boeing and Airbus.
Nike, Google, Anheuser-Busch and Levi Strauss improve climate performance
Companies such as Nike, Google, Anheuser-Busch and Levi Strauss have taken strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and communicating those efforts in ways that are transparent to consumers, according to the second Climate Counts Company Scorecard released today. The Scorecard, available in a pocket-sized shopping guide, gives consumers the ability to make purchasing decisions based on whether companies are battling climate change. The report found that 84% of the companies improved their climate-related efforts since the first scorecard was released last June. However the food services sector scored the lowest average.
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