Authorities in Canada have charged the food giants Nestlé and Mars, together with a network of independent wholesale distributors, in an alleged conspiracy to fix prices of chocolates. The Canadian arms of Mars and Nestlé, along with the Canadian branch of Hershey and the distributor ITWAL, are alleged to have colluded to keep the price of chocolate confectionary artificially high. Mars Canada said in a statement: "Mars intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. However, Hershey said it would plead guilty to one count of price fixing, dating from 2007, blaming previous management. (Independent, Telegraph, BBC)
Chinese criticise Western companies over ‘double standards’
Two speakers at the Fortune Global Forum, held in Chengdu, China yesterday, used the event to launch an attack on Western companies for having double standards in the country. Western companies were accused of treating Chinese consumers unfairly, singling out Apple and Johnson & Johnson for alleged offences including unfair warranty practices and selling inferior products. Criticising foreign companies in China has becoming increasingly common in state media, which has gone after a host of big names including Volkswagen, Google and Hero Group. Executives of Western companies were also attacked for how much lower the salaries paid to their Chinese management were than the packages offered to managers in Europe. (Times*)
Policy & Research
M&S Plan A sustainability savings reach £135m
UK retailer Marks & Spencer's ‘Plan A’ sustainability strategy has racked up £135m worth of savings over the past year, a 29 percent increase on the previous 12 months, according to its new report. The £30m extra net benefit is one of a number of achievements recorded, including confirmation 45 percent of products now come under the Plan A programme, in that they are Fairtrade, organic, carbon neutral, or made from recycled material, up from 30 percent last year. In addition, the retailer revealed it has decreased carbon emissions by 23 percent since Plan A was launched in 2007, after achieving carbon neutral status in 2012. (Business Green)
Environment
Dell pledges waste-free packaging by 2020
Dell, the online computer manufacturer, has announced sustainable packaging initiatives, including goals for a waste-free packaging stream by 2020 and a new wheat straw material that turns agricultural waste into boxes. The company says it will achieve its waste-free packaging goals by ensuring that 100 percent of Dell packaging is sourced from sustainable materials, including recycled and rapidly renewable content, or material that was formerly part of the waste stream. Additionally, it will ensure that 100 percent of Dell packaging is either recyclable or compostable at the end of its life. Currently, more than half of Dell’s packaging meets both these criteria, the company says. (Environmental Leader)
World's largest beer brewer commits to slashing water usage
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, with a portfolio that includes brands such as Stella Artois and Budweiser, has vowed to reduce its water usage as part of a new five-year environmental commitment. The brewer has set a number of goals aimed at building on its three-year global environmental achievements reached at the end of 2012. These include reducing water risks and improving water management in 100 percent of the company's key barley growing regions as well as engaging in watershed protection measures at its facilities located in areas such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and China. (Edie)
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