Some of Europe’s biggest companies will today respond to political pressure by publishing their
targets and timetable for increasing the percentage of women in senior corporate roles. The initiatives – under the umbrella of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) – come just days before Viviane Reding, European Union justice commissioner, is set to give her assessment of corporate progress in bringing more women on to boards. Thirty-one companies have so far agreed to sign up to one or both ERT initiatives including Siemens, Total, Telefónica, BASF and Philips.
Textiles
Fashion industry puts sustainable couture under the spotlight
Carbon-friendly couture will come under the spotlight today at a green fashion event, ‘Sustainable Luxury’, organised by the University of East Anglia (UEA) with fashion students from London’s Kingston University. Designers, scientists, branding experts and environmentalists will come together in London to exchange ideas about the future of fashion – and how the industry can reduce its carbon footprint. The fashion industry has a high environmental footprint and according to reports, more than one million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, of which only 25% are recycled.
End of “easy water” forces businesses to adapt
Companies must acknowledge the age of “easy water” is over and adapt to the increasing likelihood of shortages by moving to innovative new business models, the president of the World Water Council (WWC), Loic Fauchon, has cautioned. He said many utilities are already looking to collaborative working practices and building closer relationships with clients as demand for water increases with population growth. “The time of easy water is over. Businesses must be more audacious and develop innovation, on the technical side and also the institutional. We need to have more adaptation capabilities.”
Apple joins forces with university to offer free e-waste takeback
Apple has entered into a partnership with a Canadian university to offer a free public takeback scheme for electronic waste in the first initiative of its type for the software giant. The Memorial University of Newfoundland will act as a drop-off point for items such as used keyboards, monitors and mobile phones which Apple will collect and send on for reprocessing with its e-waste contractor Sims Recycling Solutions. The joint venture is part of Apple’s plans to extend its recycling programme, which currently operates out in the United States into other countries.
Oil and gas sector taps into sustainability, as new reporting guidance launched
Oil spills, carbon emissions and safety can now be reported on by companies in the oil and gas sector, thanks to new guidance published by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The new guidance will help companies in the oil and gas sector to report their sustainability performance – including around issues such as environmental management, health and safety and emergency preparedness. The Oil and Gas Sector Supplement can be used by companies and organisations involved in the exploration, extraction, production, refining, and transport and sale of oil, gas and petrochemicals.
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