Clothing giants slammed for use of ‘hazardous’ chemicals
Major clothing brands have been named and shamed in a new report which reveals that hazardous chemical residues in textiles are being released into public waterways. Adidas, Calvin Klein, Converse, H&M and Ralph Lauren are among those listed in the Greenpeace report as using harmful chemicals in their materials, which when washed by consumers enter rivers, lakes and seas.
McDonald’s: new chief executive and investing in greener farms
The appointment of Don Thompson as the next chief executive of McDonald’s will make the 22-year veteran of the fast food industry one of the most powerful black businessmen in the United States. Mr Thompson will join a number of black chief executives in America’s boardrooms as the corporate glass ceiling that civil rights campaigners argue has held back many minorities finally appears to be breaking. In the UK today, the restaurant chain will launch Farm Forward, a new programme designed to boost the sustainability of British and Irish farming. The three tiered scheme will help McDonald’s source more of its food locally, while reducing the carbon footprint of suppliers.
FedEx agrees to pay $3 million to settle a bias case
The United States Department of Labor has reached a $3 million settlement with FedEx to resolve allegations that the company discriminated against 21,635 job seekers at two dozen FedEx facilities in 15 states. The Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs reached the agreement with FedEx Ground Package Systems after saying that it had found evidence of discrimination in hiring on the basis of sex, race and national origin.
Supply Chain
BP increases monitoring of high-risk suppliers
BP is strengthening its monitoring of suppliers involved in high-risk activities in a bid to raise the safety and quality standards to which they work. The oil giant said it had launched a review of its contractor management practices following the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. In addition to existing monitoring processes such as internal audits, third-party verification and executive visits, BP said it would introduce safety performance indicators into contracts across 70 categories for suppliers performing high-risk activities.
Why responsible advertising to children should be top of the agenda
Unilever explains why a new set of Children’s Rights and Business Principles created by UNICEF, Save the Children and the United Nations Global Compact, urges business to use marketing and advertising responsibly. The principles state companies need to recognise children’s greater susceptibility to manipulation, and the effects of using unrealistic or sexualised body images and stereotypes.
P&G and CARE announce commitment to provide 100 million litres of clean drinking water through innovative partnership
The Procter & Gamble Company and CARE have announced a plan to provide more than 100 million litres of clean drinking water in Kenya and Ethiopia through an investment of over $1 million. The organisations came together on World Water Day to announce the grant and to celebrate the milestone of the 100th school in Kenya provided with clean drinking water through their partnership, which focuses on enabling students to be agents of change.
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