Fast-growing levels of prosperity and urbanisation could lead to spiralling volumes of waste, according to a report by independent research group the Worldwatch Institute. Unless cities and businesses adopt a ‘closed loop’ approach whereby waste is reclaimed or recovered, global municipal solid waste (MSW) could double by 2025, to 2.6 billion tonnes per year, according to the report. As people grow wealthier and move to cities, the proportion of inorganic materials in the waste stream such as plastics, paper and aluminium tends to increase. Organic waste accounts for more than 60% of MSW in low-income countries, but only a quarter of the waste stream in high-income countries. According to the UN Environment Programme, greening the waste sector would require a 3.5-fold increase in MSW recycling globally, including near complete recovery of all organic material through composting or conversion to energy. (Edie)
Supply chain sustainability standards lacking, companies say
62% of executives surveyed said a lack of measurement standards impairs their efforts to track supply chain sustainability performance, in a study released today by Green Research. The firm surveyed 30 senior sustainability and procurement executives at major companies globally and found that poor data quality also hinders efforts to improve sustainability in corporate supply chains. According to the study, Sustainability in the Supply Chain: Best Practices, Tools and Trends, 81% of companies surveyed said they plan to ask suppliers for more information in the coming year. The report also identifies supply chain sustainability best practices that include setting specific goals, educating and supporting suppliers, and leveraging emerging standards to collect and analyse sustainability data from the supply chain. (Environmental Leader)
Reporting
UK publishes new guidance for corporate sustainability reporting
The UK government will today unveil new proposals designed to make it easier for businesses to demonstrate their sustainability performance to customers and investors, while also complying with soon-to-be-introduced carbon reporting rules. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is to launch two consultation exercises on new guidance for corporate sustainability reporting and mandatory emission reporting requirements, which were announced by the government at last month’s UN Rio+20 Earth Summit. Defra said that for the first time the voluntary guidance would provide “detailed advice on how firms can measure and report on their impact on wildlife and natural services such as clean air, clean water, food, timber, flood protection and welfare benefits”. Meanwhile, the draft regulation on mandatory carbon reporting requirements confirms that from April next year listed companies in the UK will have to report on their greenhouse gas emission each year in line with government standards. (BusinessGreen)
Environment
EU moves to shore up price of carbon emissions
The European Union has moved to shore up the faltering price of carbon dioxide emissions, amid widespread concern that the current low price is failing to encourage companies to reduce their greenhouse gas output. But the changes announced to the emissions trading scheme are relatively minor, resulting in changes in the timings of auctions of carbon permits, rather than the large-scale reforms that campaigners and green businesses had urged. The current carbon price stands at about €7 (£5.40) per tonne of carbon, which is well below the price of €25-40 per tonne that analysts say is needed to encourage companies to change their behaviour. Connie Hedegaard, climate chief at the European Commission, promised that further, more sweeping reforms would be examined: “After the summer recess, the commission will also finalise the options for long-term structural measures.’’ (The Guardian)
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