British clothing retailer Primark has today announced a commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its supply chain. Primark follows retailer Burberry in signing up to Greenpeace‘s global ‘Detox’ campaign, which recently revealed the presence of hazardous chemicals in children’s clothes made by 12 major brands. As part of its commitment, Primark has agreed to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its products and across its production processes by 2020, as well as ensuring supply chain transparency by requiring manufacturing facilities to upload data on hazardous chemical discharges via a publicly accessible platform. Greenpeace International detox campaigner Ilze Smit, said that, “Primark’s commitment shows that it refuses to be left behind as toxic-free clothing becomes a fashion trend in the industry… This commitment is great news for Primark’s customers, its workers and the local communities affected by toxic-water pollution. ” (Edie)
Employees
UK diversity deficit robs top firms of business opportunities
Britain’s biggest companies have been warned that they are missing out on business opportunities because of the “diversity deficit” at the top of their organisations, where only a handful of senior roles are held by women or ethnic minorities. According to new research by head hunters Green Park, two-thirds of FTSE 100 companies still have an all-white executive leadership. The study found that just ten people from ethnic and cultural minorities hold the top posts of chairman, chief executive or finance director – equivalent to 3.5 percent of the 289 jobs at that level. Trevor Phillips, a former chair the Equalities and Human Rights Commission who backed the report, said the results supported the view that the UK’s business elite is too narrow in its outlook. Phillips said that businesses should tackle the issue as they would any other business problem and do their own audits of their diversity; “they have to come up with an explanation and a remedy to it and treat it like any other business problem,” he said. (Guardian, FT*)
Environment
China leads international wildlife crime bust
Tonnes of illegal endangered animal products have been confiscated and more than 400 suspects arrested in a China-led campaign against international wildlife crime. The operation reportedly captured more than three tonnes of ivory, over 1,000 hides, 36 rhino horns and a large number of other wildlife products. The operation was co-organised by China, the United States, South Africa, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, and the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network. China’s authorities including, customs, police, judiciary and quarantine departments, reportedly uncovered over 200 cases involving more than 250 suspects. China also sent enforcement staff to Kenya for the first time, to arrest an ivory trafficking suspect as well as host lectures on wildlife protection. Speaking about the results of the operation, John Scanlon, secretary-general of CITES, highlighted the significance of multinational operations and said that, “intelligence-led operations are essential in the fight against transnational organized wildlife crime.” (Eco-Business, CITES)
UK’s environmental consultancy sector grows for second consecutive year
The UK environmental consultancy sector continues to expand, increasing by 6.1 percent in 2012 to £1.3 billion, according to a new report by market research firm, Environment Analyst. The report finds that three core practice areas stand out for their strong growth in 2012: contaminated land; ecological and landscape services; and environmental impact assessment. According to government figures, there are currently more than 646 such projects in the pipeline, worth more than £375 billion. However, government spending cuts mean that the government sector is worth 19 percent less to consultancies than it in 2009. Author of the report Liz Trew said that, “consultancies that are strongly reliant on public sector sourced work continue to come under significant pressure and will need to diversify in order to survive.” (Edie)
Chinese factories ordered to release data on real time emissions levels
China’s central government has ordered 15,000 large and small factories to make real-time data about air and water pollution public for the first time. Streaming data about individual factory emissions levels is said to be critical for identifying, and reducing the emissions of, heavy polluters. The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, an environmental non-profit, and Renmin University’s Institute of Environment and Planning have begun to jointly analyse available emissions data. A statement from the two groups they said that, “significant progress has since been made in how China publishes information and provides emergency warnings,” but they added that, “a group of major emitters, including thermal power plants and steel factories, are seriously exceeding pollution discharge limits.” (Eco-Business)
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