Poll finds sustainability 'harvesting' profits for growing number of companies
70% of companies have placed sustainability permanently on their management agendas, according to a poll conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting group on behalf of software company SAP. Furthermore, two-thirds of the 3,000 executives responding said sustainability is necessary to being competitive in today's marketplace – up from 55% in last year's report. The paper, titled Sustainability Nears a Tipping Point, suggests that the adoption of sustainability in business will begin to pick up speed, because almost a third of companies with established practices reported that they are contributing to profitability.
Over 9,000 employees volunteer across the UK for Give & Gain Day 2012
On Friday, over 9,000 employees across the UK took part in Business in the Community's 'Give & Gain Day', the only global day of employee volunteering. Give & Gain Day connects skilled professionals with vital voluntary sector organisations, from well-known charities such as The Big Issue, Aspire, Broadway and City Farms, to hundreds of smaller local charities, including hospices, schools, autistic societies, women's support units and community groups. Supported by leading employers including Lloyds Banking Group, BT and international law firm Eversheds, the day saw the private sector donate more than £1.56m in time to voluntary groups.
MPs: UK government's lack of vision is 'stalling' the green economy
UK MPs have launched a blistering attack on the government's approach to creating a green economy, saying its lack of long-term vision and failure to set measurable targets has "stalled" the progress of low carbon industries. In a wide-ranging report, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will today warn that there "appears to be little priority in government attached to moving to a green economy", citing the lack of green measures outlined in this year's Budget as evidence the Treasury in particular "sees the environment as a cost or block to economic development". Joan Walley, EAC chair, said mandatory carbon reporting was a key milestone en route to a green economy and therefore was a "key test" of the government's green credentials.
Telecoms giant O2 has undertaken an initiative to calculate and certify the carbon emissions of its voice and data services. O2 is planning to launch tools which enable its customers to calculate the emissions associated with the services they use and provide comparisons with various other daily activities. For example, its report reveals that a five minute call on its network generates carbon emissions equivalent to boiling water to make one cup of tea. O2 head of environment Gareth Rice, said: "Our aim is to develop the UK's most carbon-efficient network, putting our own operations under the microscope and looking for ways to reduce the footprint we leave on the world."
COMMENTS