Green Alliance: Tech giants must embrace circular business models
An increased focus on recycling and repairing consumer electronics could halve the carbon footprint of mobile devices and drive a second-hand market already worth $3 billion a year in the US, according to a new report from the Green Alliance. The think tank argues the current system “wastes perfectly good devices, frustrates consumers and harms the environment”, and insists a circular economy for laptops, tablets, and smartphones would keep them in use far longer. The report details six ‘circular’ ways to cut these emissions, including more software upgrades, more uniform (modular) parts and a focus on re-use. Just keeping a smartphone in use for an additional year cuts its CO2 impact by 31%, the Green Alliance found. A number of companies already offer phone re-use and recycling services, but the report argues new approaches are required to make these services more accessible. (Edie; BusinessGreen)
Energy Efficiency
GM set to achieve renewable energy goals four years early
General Motors is for the first time procuring wind to power its manufacturing operations, enabling one of its Mexico facilities to be run mostly on renewable energy. This addition of 34 megawatts of wind power allows GM to achieve its corporate goal on renewable energy use four years early. GM signed a power purchase agreement with Enel Green Power, which is developing and constructing the wind farm in Palo Alto, Mexico. When the new wind farm is complete, more than 12 percent of the company’s North American energy consumption will come from renewable energy sources, up from 9 percent. GM’s current renewable energy use totals 104MW against a goal of 125MW by 2020. GM is a founding member of the Business Renewables Center, a collaborative platform launched earlier this month by the Rocky Mountain Institute, which has the goal of nearly doubling US capacity of wind and solar energy by 2025. (Sustainable Brands)
New EU rules come into force phasing out low-quality ovens and hobs
New EU rules to cut energy waste from ovens and hobs will come into force on Friday, with low quality domestic ovens, hobs and range hoods being phased out by 2019. The New Economics Foundation estimates this move will save the British public £1.1 billion in energy bills over the next 15 years. By 2030, savings from gas and electric appliances are predicted to increase to an average £174 million per year, with an annual reduction in carbon emissions equal to more than a million barrels of oil being burned. According to a new ComRes survey, 87% of British people support regulations to increase the energy efficiency of household appliances, such as ovens and fridges. “The level of support for regulations that cut energy waste is really remarkable,” said Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit which co-commissioned the poll. (The Guardian)
Health
Nestlé USA commits to removing artificial flavours and colours from products
Nestlé USA has announced that it will remove artificial flavours and colours from its chocolate products – including Butterfingers, Crunch and Baby Ruth bars by the end of the year. Nestlé will be the first candy manufacturer in the US to remove artificial ingredients in its existing products, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nestlé points to its own brand research, as well as Nielsen’s 2014 Global Health & Wellness Survey, which showed that 60% of Americans cited the importance of buying foods without artificial colours or flavours. “We know that candy consumers are interested in broader food trends around fewer artificial ingredients,” said Doreen Ida, president of confections and snacks, in a statement. By the end of 2015, more than 250 products and 10 brands will be changed and identified by a “No Artificial Flavours or Colours” claim featured on-pack. (Just Means; Fortune)
Corporate Reputation
UK to investigate competition in investment and corporate banking
The Financial Conduct Authority, the UK financial regulator, is to investigate whether there is sufficient competition in the investment and corporate banking sectors. The FCA said today it was launching the study after a review found that “limited clarity over price and quality of services make it difficult for clients to assess whether they are getting value for money”. The investigation will examine whether clients get the full picture on what they are being charged, and whether new entrants are hindered from the market. The announcement has reportedly stunned banking executives. “That is unbelievable,” one said. “If anything there are too many people still in investment banking, so I would say there is too much competition.” Christopher Woolard, the FCA’s director of strategy and competition, said the probe was necessary because there were “unanswered questions about potential conflicts of interest and value for money in this market”. (Financial Times*)
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