Environment and Sustainability news and comment CCB 104
March 25, 2009
Green group raps supermarkets over impact of HFC refrigeration
Supermarkets have been slammed by a report released on February 1, for the massive global warming impact of their refrigeration. The Environmental Investigation Agency ranked retailers according to their efforts to modernise their equipment and prevent damaging leaks. Marks & Spencer came out top in the survey, while Aldi, Lidl and Iceland came last. Tesco was the best of the big four supermarkets and Morrisons the worst. Contact: Environmental Investigation Agency www.chillingfacts.org.uk
Green business travel at risk in the recession
Certain aspects of CSR, such as “green” forms of business travel, are beginning to suffer in the recession as companies prioritize cost-saving over supporting sustainable travel, according to the latest opinion poll by the Association of Corporate Travel Executive. The study of 329 travel managers and business travelers from around the world found that 61% of organizations now have a CSR charter, compared with 59% in 2008. Moreover, almost 30% of corporate travel departments are required to report carbon emissions performance to management. However, almost 80% of companies rated cost-cutting as the top business travel concern, while environmentally sustainable travel is a high priority for only 17%. Contact: Association of Corporate Travel Executives www.acte.org
Marks & Spencer inks UK retail’s biggest renewable energy deal
Marks & Spencer signed a six-year renewable energy contract on February 16, with npower. The deal is being touted as the biggest of its kind in the UK retail sector. Under the contract, npower will provide the retailer with 2.6 terawatt-hours of wind and hydro electricity from April. That is enough to power all of the retailer’s stores and offices in England and Wales. The contract also allows for a significant amount of the supply to be purchased directly from independent small-scale generators of renewables. Marks & Spencer has pledged to purchase enough renewable electricity to power its entire UK portfolio of stores and offices. Contact: Marks & Spencer corporate.marksandspencer.com
Co-operative bans chemicals as it aims to save British bees
The Co-operative Group has launched a major campaign to understand – and reverse – the devastating decline in the British honeybee colony. Under its new 10-point Plan Bee, The Co-operative Group will make a donation of £150,000 towards honeybee research. It will place a temporary embargo on eight chemicals thought to be detrimental to honeybee health that are used to grow its own-label fresh produce. And it will also show a preview of a new film on the global demise of the bee to members of the group at 40 locations across the country. Contact: The Co-operative Group www.co-operative.coop
Energy efficiency can save £1 million per day
A campaign was launched on February 5 to urge UK businesses to save £1 million a day during the recession by being more energy efficient. The Carbon Trust’s One Million a Day campaign is encouraging businesses of all sizes to join up and begin making immediate savings on their energy bills – simultaneously reducing their carbon emissions. It is hoped that the campaign will save the UK economy £1billion over the next three years and reduce carbon emissions by at least 17 million tonnes. The trust said businesses could save up to 20% on their energy bills through changes that cost little or no money. Contact: The Carbon Trust www.carbontrust.co.uk
Foreign pressure driving China’s “green ink” industry
Market pressure and foreign regulations are driving China towards more eco-friendly printing practices, according to consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Though regulations against petroleum-based inks on food packaging are non-compulsory in China, they are mandatory in the western market China sells to. These regulations and the appeal of “Green Packaging” are pushing the Chinese ink industry forward. Printing ink is one of the most polluting materials used in packaging, but Chinese companies do not have budgets for R&D. So it is regulations prohibiting aromatic and solvent-based inks, like EU’s REACH, that are accelerating the transition to greener inks, and will eventually eliminate ink-makers who do not comply, the firm predicts. Contact: Frost & Sullivan www.frost.com
Wal-Mart Foundation donates $5.7 million to support the creation of green jobs in the US
The Wal-Mart Foundation announced on February 3 that it will award to the US Conference of Mayors grants totaling $5.7 million to support the creation of green jobs in the US. The announcement coincided with newly released Global Insight study revealing that 10% of job growth in the US is likely to be green by 2038, the fastest growing sector in the country. In the spring of 2009, through a competitive selection process led by the US Conference of Mayors, six grants will be awarded to non-profit organizations that have a history of working with mayors to train people for green jobs. In early 2010, three additional grants will be given to cities with newer commitments to providing green workforce training. Contact: Wal-Mart www.walmartstores.com
B&Q helps make UK gardens greener
Home improvement retailer B&Q is helping householders make their gardens greener and more sustainable by discontinuing the sale of 100% peat bales in its stores. Peat takes thousands of years to form, at a rate of 1 millimetre a year. The reality is that 90% of peat bogs in the UK have been destroyed and peat-lands have been designated a priority habitat for protection. Due to the extremely slow growth of peat it cannot be considered sustainable. If peat is continued to be used at the current rate it will disappear completely by 2040 which could spelling the end of the wildlife that live in naturally occurring peat bogs. Contact: B&Q www.bandq.co.uk
‘Climate Risk Profiles’ released for top companies
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a coalition of faith-based investors representing over $100 billion, announced on February 11 that they have compiled ‘climate risk profiles’ of over 150 corporations, using data from independent environmental data company Trucost. The profile notes whether a company reveals their greenhouse gas emissions, the percentage they deviate from their closest industry peers, and over 700 environmental indicators including water use, waste disposal and pollutants. Examples of the top and bottom performers in two sectors include: Chemicals – Chemtura Corp. (top) and Dow Chemical Company (bottom). Financial Services – Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (top) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (bottom). Contact: Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility www.iccr.org
Canon launches green calculators
On February 18, Canon announced that it is taking steps at being more eco-friendly by taking the plastics from their recycled copiers and using it to make their new calculators. The LS-120TSG and the F-502G are made from 100% recycled plastic from the copiers, and the LS-120TSG is solar powered. By using materials sourced from recycled Canon copiers, the company can ensure that quality, durability and sustainability is assured. Contact: Canon www.canon.com
O2 first mobile network certified with carbon trust standard
On February 18, O2 became the first mobile network to be certified under the Carbon Trust standard. O2’s mobile network covers 90% of the UK’s population. The Carbon Trust Standard requires an organization to quantify its carbon footprint and demonstrate plans for reductions on an annual basis. O2 has implemented a range of initiatives over the past three years to improve energy efficiency included a £1.4 million investment in smart metering technology to accurately monitor real-time energy consumption across cell sites, retail premises and offices Contact: O2 www.o2.com
Marriott: Green your hotel stay for $1 per day
Marriott International announced on February 17 a new environmental initiative in a five point plan to improve the planet, giving customers a chance to ‘green’ their hotel stay. The plan, called ‘Green Your Marriott Hotel Stay for $1 a Day,’ allows customers who book online the option of contributing money to preserve a Brazilian rainforest as a way of offsetting the carbon generated during their stay. Two years ago, Marriott announced an environmental strategy that aims to safeguard the environment by; protecting the rainforests, reducing water, waste and energy in its operations, improving its supply chain through eco-friendly products like recyclable key cards and coreless toilet paper, using green materials in hotel construction and engaging guests and employees in practices that benefit the environment. Contact: Marriott www.marriott.com
Cadbury partners with farmers to reduce emissions
On February 17 Cadbury announced the launch of a pilot program and a guide to help dairy farmers reduce emissions in Selkley Vale in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. The emissions targeted by the ‘Cadbury Guide to Low Carbon Dairy Farming’ are CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, which contribute 23%, 25% and 52% of emissions from the average dairy farm, respectively. The guide aims to reduce these emissions by improving herd health and welfare so more milk can be produced and greenhouse gas production per liter reduced. Cows will also be given a special diet with cuts in fibre level and increases in starch level. Additionally, fertilizers will be timed to minimize waste and excess use of inorganic fertilizers will also be avoided. Contact: Cadbury www.cadbury.com
Comment
The latest report from the Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) provides an interesting angle on corporate transparency. The ICCR and Trucost have created a listing of the ‘climate risk profiles’ of more than 150 leading companies. The idea is to provide shareholders with a clearer picture of the actual environmental performance of the companies in which they invest, rather than relying solely on green claims made by these businesses.
The climate risk profiles are drawn-up from hard data companies publish about their greenhouse gas emissions. Where there is no disclosure of GHG emissions, Trucost calculates this using its own research. Importantly, the data also allows for an analysis of how a company is performing relative to its sector average.
In seeking to provide this analysis, the ICCR is underlying two fundamental truths of corporate life today. First, stakeholders don’t accept what you say about yourself at face value – they want to verify claims you make. Second, they are not only interested in what you are doing, but want to compare and contrast your company with its peers and competitors.
I expect that readers will agree that the push for greater transparency is generally a good thing. Most would also accept that there is a need for clear, accessible and comparable information on the contribution individual businesses make to climate change.
At the same time, this latest addition to the plethora of indices, rankings and ratings adds weight to the minority who argue that a company which publishes data on its environmental impact is simply exposing itself to additional scrutiny. There are a few who say, quietly and behind closed doors, why should we open ourselves to further criticism?
Wherever you stand in this debate one thing is certain. Companies need to be prepared for ever closer examination of the claims they make on emissions, carbon neutrality and all aspects of environmental performance. The need for accuracy and honesty in reporting has never been greater.
COMMENTS