Apple, Facebook and Google named as top green internet leaders
New research by Greenpeace has praised efforts by Apple, Facebook and Google to run a clean energy revolution on the internet. Unlike Amazon, which is being left behind for its reliance on fossil fuels, the three top companies have all made huge investments to power their tools and facilities with renewable energy. The reportClicking Clean: How Companies are Creating the Green Internet said that if the internet were a country, its electricity demand would be ranked sixth in the world. This means that IT companies have a real chance to promote renewable energy for their operations. Gary Cook, Greenpeace senior IT analyst, commented, “Apple, Facebook and Google are powering our online lives with clean energy, and building a greener offline world for everyone in the process. These companies have proven over the past 24 months that wind and solar energy are ready and waiting to power the internet, and the rest of our economy, with clean electricity.” (Blue and Green Tomorrow)
Supply Chain
Ecover to replace palm oil with algae
Ecover has developed the first laundry liquid in the world to use oil sourced from algae as an alternative to palm oil, demand for which has widely blamed for rainforest clearances and the loss of crucial habitats. The liquid, set to be available from August, is to be the first of a range of products that Ecover says will help reduce dependence on palm and palm kernel oil by replacing it with innovative new natural oils produced from algae. Ecover said that using algal oil instead of palm oil safeguards biodiversity and, because it can be produced locally, results in lower CO2 emissions and improved supply chain transparency. “The problem with palm oil comes in how it’s been grown and harvested,” said Philip Malmberg, chief executive of Ecover, “rainforests are being cut away and they’re being replaced with palm trees and that’s the major concern.” Algae is being widely trialled as an alternative transport fuel, particularly for aviation, with Qantas piloting algae-powered flights and Lufthansa planning an industrial-scale green jet fuel plant. (Business Green)
H&M, Inditex join campaign to eliminate endangered forests from viscose clothing
The world’s two largest clothing retailers, H&M and Inditex (owner of Zara), have announced commitments to eliminate ancient and endangered forests from their clothing. The companies have developed new purchasing commitments in partnership with forest-conservation NGO Canopy as part of an initiative to address the growing impacts of the clothing industry on the world’s forests, biodiversity and climate. Canopy research has found fabrics derived from wood pulp, including rayon, viscose and modal, are increasingly made from the world’s most endangered forests. Canopy says today’s commitments by these brands will help curtail the problem and build solutions. “These clothing sector leaders are showing that being stylish doesn’t have to cost the earth,” said Canopy executive director Nicole Rycroft. “Canopy is excited to see two of the largest brands, both major trendsetters, stepping up to ensure fabrics are no longer sourced from the world’s endangered forests.” (Sustainable Brands)
Corporate Reputation
HSBC has ‘much work’ to do on anti-laundering fixes, U.S. says
Banking multinational HSBC has made some progress in improving its anti-money laundering program as required by a 2012 deferred prosecution agreement with the US Justice Department, but there remains “much work to be done,” federal prosecutors have said in a court filing. The British bank paid nearly £1.2 billion in penalties in December 2012 to resolve charges that it failed to stop hundreds of millions of dollars in drug money from flowing through the bank from Mexico, and promised to fix the problems. The government selected independent monitor and former New York prosecutor Michael Cherkasky to monitor HSBC’s compliance with the agreement. The new report describes Cherkasky’s conclusions that many of the bank’s actions to correct anti-money laundering deficiencies “did not begin in earnest until early 2013,” after it entered into the agreement. (Reuters)
‘Culture of cover-up’ at GM, senator claims
The chair of a US senate committee investigating the recall of a faulty ignition switch by General Motors has accused the company of “a culture of cover-up,” saying an engineer lied on oath about how a critical design change came to be made. The redesign of the ignition switches in 2006 has emerged as a key issue, since it suggests that GM knew the old switches were defective. The redesigned switch was, unusually, given the same part number as the old one, which has been described as part of a “cover-up”. GM has said 12 people died in crashes related to faults with shifting ignition switches, which would cut engine power and prevent airbags from deploying. The company has recalled 2.6m vehicles worldwide to fix the ignition switch problem, which was suspected as long ago as 2001. The company was also criticised for the nine month delay between last year’s legal action and the first product recalls. Mary Barra, GM’s chief executive, declined to comment on the accuracy of claims that the engineer, Ray deGiorgio, had lied, or on who in the company knew about evidence that had emerged during the legal action. (Financial Times)*
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