Samsung Electronics has admitted breaches of labour regulations at its plants in China, as well as at those of outside suppliers. A four-week survey of 105 Chinese suppliers to the South Korean electronics manufacturer showed breaches including excessive working hours and the failure to supply labour contracts, Samsung said on Monday. The internal study followed research compiled by undercover investigators and published in August and September by China Labour Watch, a New York-based group, which alleged labour law breaches at eight factories supplying Samsung, of which six are owned by the company. CLW also alleged repeated use of child labour at HEG, another supplier, but Samsung says it has no evidence of this. In response to the findings, Samsung has said it is conducting a widespread programme of review and corrective actions to deal with the problem. (BBC, Independent, Financial Times*)
Environment
Ofgem invests £45m in low carbon networks
Gas and electricity regulator Ofgem has released £45.5m of funding for five low carbon electricity distribution projects. The funding, which is designed to make distribution smarter and deliver financial benefits to consumers, comes from the ‘Low Carbon Networks (LCN) Fund’, now in its third year. Aimed at encouraging and enabling companies to trial new technology which can aid the transition to a low carbon energy sector, the fund will make available up to £500m over five years. Projects that have been awarded the funding this year include one by Western Power Distribution which will investigate, measure, monitor and mitigate ‘Fault Level’, an issue that can limit the connection of distributed generation. The £13.5m project could help make the connection of distributed generation, such as local solar panels and wind turbines, cheaper and faster. Southern Electric Power Distribution and EA Technology also won funding to trial a UK-wide technology that will allow a cluster of electric vehicles to recharge without stressing the distribution system. (Edie)
Social Investments
Micro-donation scheme signs up more retailers, including Monarch Airlines and DFS
Monarch Airlines and the furniture chain DFS are among the latest retailers to sign up to the micro-donation scheme ‘Pennies’. The initiative, run by the Pennies Foundation, allows people who pay by card to make small charitable donations, usually by rounding the amount they pay up to the nearest pound. The donation goes to the retailer’s chosen charity. Other firms to join the scheme, include Evans Cycles; the London-based bar group, Drake & Morgan; the Savile Row tailor, Gieves & Hawkes and Adnams Cellar and Kitchen stores. Alison Hutchinson, chief executive of the charity, said the scheme was starting to take off. "The movement is being unlocked by new payment providers, meaning we have doubled the growth we have predicted this year." (Third Sector)
Policy & Research
Friends of the Earth’s campaign for better reporting
Friends of the Earth is planning a major push for the introduction of more demanding European environmental reporting rules that cover corporations' supply chains and material use, as part of its newly launched ‘Make It Better’ campaign. The campaign was kicked off this weekend by an investigation revealing how leading smartphone manufacturers are sourcing tin from Indonesia that has almost certainly been extracted using illegal, dangerous and environmentally damaging mining techniques. Friends of the Earth campaigner Julian Kirby said that the new campaign would seek to increase pressure on consumer goods manufacturers to embrace more sustainable product designs, increase the lifespan of their products, and reduce their use of raw materials. (Business Green)
Consumers
Sustainability a key factor for consumers, survey finds
Two thirds of consumers in six countries recognize the need to consume less and purchase products that are good for the environment and society, according to an online survey. The Regeneration Consumer Study, a joint project by GlobeScan and SustainAbility with support from BBMG, surveyed 6,224 consumers across Brazil, China, India, Germany, the UK and the US. The study is part of The Regeneration Roadmap, an initiative designed to advance sustainable development in the private sector. Consumers in developing markets such as Brazil, China and India are particularly inclined towards sustainable consumption, according to the survey. For example, 51 percent of consumers in developing markets report purchasing products because of environmental and social benefits, compared to just 22 percent of their counterparts in developed nations, such as Germany, the UK and the US. (Environmental Leader)
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