Leading multinationals joined emerging companies yesterday to reaffirm their commitments to the Business Call to Action, the global initiative that challenges businesses to develop innovative business models aimed at helping meet the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals. Most notably, Japan-based Panasonic and BASF India yesterday provided key commitments towards meeting the Goals. The Mexican cement manufacturing giant CEMEX, Spanish telecom Telefonica and other major multinational companies have also joined the Business Call to Action and taken concrete steps. “Today’s new commitments bring the Business Call to Action portfolio up to 104 members, each with inclusive business initiatives that will have a positive impact on the lives of poor people,” said Magdy Martinez-Soliman of the UN Development Programme, which is a partner in the initiative. (CSR Wire)
Environment
Cisco, 3M commit to White House plan to promote solar power and energy efficiency
Cisco, 3M, Kimberly-Clark and Jackson Family Wines have announced commitments to deploy onsite solar energy and improve energy efficiency as part of an Obama Administration call to action. In total, 50 companies, states, communities and multifamily housing leaders from across the country have announced commitments representing more than 35 megawatts of solar deployed – enough energy to power thousands of homes – as well as energy efficiency investments that will lower energy bills for more than 400 million square feet of buildings. As part of its commitment, Cisco will increase its onsite solar capacity to 2.7 MW worldwide by 2015. The company says this will help it meet its goal of using electricity generated from renewable sources for at least 25 percent of its global electricity demand every year through 2017. Cisco also is joining 3M, Kimberly-Clark and other industry leaders in committing to provide a significant discount on solar to employees. (Sustainable Brands)
Supply Chain
Sedex launches Data Monitor to drive responsible supply chain reporting
Responsible supply chain specialist Sedex Global has announced the expansion of its responsible supply chain services with the launch of Data Monitor – a new set of data analysis tools designed to increase companies’ understanding of supply chain risks and to track their progress in addressing responsible sourcing issues. The new tool will allow Sedex members to track performance, compare themselves against their peers and see how their suppliers’ standards compare against others. “Across our global membership, Sedex member companies are demanding more advanced supply chain reporting,” commented Carmel Giblin, CEO Sedex. “They realise that greater transparency on sustainability and ethical issues within the supply chain is key to identifying and dealing with risk.” (Sedex)
The Indian Supreme Court has reportedly cancelled 214 coal mining licences that it previously ruled had been awarded illegally. The Indian government had called on the court not to revoke all the 218 licences that it had identified as being awarded in an “ad hoc and casual” manner between 1993 and 2010, but the court today ruled that only four licences would be retained. Coal mine developers who secured licences but subsequently failed to develop the projects will also be required to pay a fine for their “non-operation”. The ruling is the latest in a string of blows to a global coal industry, which is struggling with a slowdown in demand, stringent new environmental regulations, and falling prices. Earlier this week, a major new report from the Carbon Tracker Initiative suggested that a significant number of new coal projects could be left as stranded assets as demand continues to fall. (BusinessGreen)
US water rule pits brewers against farmers
A group of small craft beer brewers, including Sierra Nevada and New Belgium, are actively supporting the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s proposed Waters of the US rule, arguing it will help ensure that they have clean water for their products. However, farmers who supply beer ingredients say the rule will increase costs and cut production. The divide has put trade groups for the beer industry in a tough spot as they try to navigate between competing interests. The EPA proposed the water rule in March, arguing it was needed to clarify the agency’s authority over smaller bodies of water, such as the tributaries that feed into larger lakes and rivers. According to a national poll released by the American Sustainable Business Council earlier this year, the majority of small business owners favour federal protection of clean water and agree that clean water is necessary for a healthy economy and job creation. (Business Leader)
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