Greenpeace: APP's deforestation policy working despite breaches
According to a new report from Greenpeace, there are “encouraging signs” that Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) is committed to driving the delivery of the company's Forest Conservation Policy (FCP), which was launched in February 2013 to end forest clearance. Since the introduction of the policy, APP has come under heavy scrutiny from NGOs following two cases of forest clearance in breach of the FCP moratorium. Despite this, Greenpeace said that key people within the company’s senior management were “genuinely committed” to making it work and has agreed to put its campaign against APP on hold to give the company time to put the policy in action. However, the report did highlight potential areas of concern including future suppliers and expansion plans and has cautioned companies that intend to resume trade with APP to include stringent conditions in commercial contracts that require continued progress to be made. (Blue & Green Tomorrow; Edie)
Technology and Innovation
Motorola announces plan to build “modular” smartphones
The US manufacturer Motorola has developed a new open source hardware initiative which means that mobile phone parts can be easily swapped, meaning that fewer phones may end up in landfills. Project Ara allows consumers to customize their entire phone, down to the specific components and display, and to swap out malfunctioning or obsolete parts. Dave Hakkens, who designed the original Phonebloks concept, said that the aim of Project Ara was to produce “a phone worth keeping.” Motorola aims to lower barriers to entry for new companies and consumers alike while helping to build an ecosystem of “more sustainable and democratic” smartphones. (Inhabitat; The Verge)
Employees
Goldman Sachs to ease workload of junior workers
The US investment bank Goldman Sachs has announced that it will ease the workload of its junior bankers in its London offices to discourage employees from working “all nighters” to impress their managers. The move follows increased concern about the working culture of investment banks in London when a 21 year old German intern, Moritz Erhardt, died from an epileptic fit after working for 72 hours with minimal sleep at the London office of Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Goldman Sachs has pledged to hire a larger number of graduates next year, expanding its intake by 12 percent in order to spread the workload. David Solomon, Goldman Sachs’ co-head of investment banking, said that “this is a marathon, not a sprint. We want graduates to be challenged, but also to operate at a pace where they’re going to stay here.” (Financial Times*)
Consumers
UK Carbon Trust to design eco-labelling scheme for Mexico
The UK Carbon Trust, which helps organisations to become more resource efficient, has announced that it will develop an environmental labelling scheme for products and services in Mexico to promote sustainable purchasing and procurement. The Carbon Trust will be working with SEMARNAT, the Mexican government’s secretariat of the environment and natural resources, as well as representatives from Mexican businesses, NGOs and the public sector. In delivering the project, the Carbon Trust will develop a methodological framework to quantify the carbon footprint of Mexican products and services, along with a mechanism for certification and labelling. Martin Barrow, head of footprinting at the Carbon Trust, said that "we need to be realistic, and remain aware that we need to make this work against a backdrop that many companies and individuals do not see this as a priority right now. We plan to build a scheme where the business value exceeds the cost of participating for as many companies and as many products as possible.” (Sustainable Brands)
Corporate Reputation
UK energy firms accused of overcharging by £3.7 billion a year
Some of the UK’s largest energy companies have been accused by the UK Government of raising household bills without reason and for systematically overcharging customers by £3.7 billion a year. British Gas, RWE npower, SSE and Scottish Power attribute the price rises to a combination of rising wholesale prices, green levies and network costs. However the UK regulator Ofgem showed that network costs have risen by just £15 per customer since last year, wholesale costs by £10 and green costs by £10. The UK Government has criticised the companies' executives for accepting large bonuses while putting up prices and failing in their duties to protect poor households who have to choose between heating and eating. Stephen Fitzpatrick, the chief executive of the smaller UK energy supplier, Ovo Energy, accused the four companies of being “the best filibusters in the business.” (The Guardian; Financial Times*)
Sainsbury's threatens court over Tesco price comparison
The UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has announced that it is requesting a judicial review after the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rejected its complaint about the Price Promise campaign of its rival supermarket chain, Tesco. Sainsbury’s is arguing that Tesco’s promotion, which compares the price of goods its customers buy and refunds the difference if comparable goods are cheaper in a rival supermarket, does not take into account differences between Tesco and Sainsbury's own brand products and is therefore misleading customers. Mike Coupe, Sainsbury’s commercial director, said that "more than ever, customers want to let their values guide them and in price-matching its products with ours, Tesco is, when it sees fit, choosing to ignore factors such as ethical or provenance certification or even country of origin." However Tesco’s marketing director, David Wood, said that the "Tesco Price Promise offers customers reassurance on the price of their whole shop, in store and online, not just the big brand products. When family budgets are under pressure that is the kind of help customers want." (The Independent; BBC)
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