Apple expands renewable energy goal to cover supply chain
Apple is currently 87% of the way towards achieving its pledge to create enough energy through renewable sources to power its global operations. Now it’s setting a far more ambitious goal: to do the same for its manufacturing supply chain, which uses roughly 60 times as much power as Apple’s own facilities. “This won’t happen overnight – in fact it will take years – but it’s important work that has to happen,” said Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook. The new target is part of Apple’s initiative to improve its environmental track record in China, where it has been criticised for the environmental impact of its manufacturing supply chain, both in terms of pollution and the amount of carbon energy used. Last month, Apple announced its first major solar energy project in China, a plan to build two 20-megawatt solar farms in Sichuan Province with partners. (Wall Street Journal)
World’s largest renewables developer invests more than $1.4bn in emerging markets
The world’s largest renewable energy developer SunEdison has agreed to buy 757MW of renewable projects across three continents in a flurry of deals worth more than $1.4 billion. SunEdison CEO Ahmad Chatila said: “We intend to act quickly to address the opportunity in emerging markets, where the majority of future global electric power infrastructure investments will be deployed.” The company has concluded seven separate transactions, acquiring hydro, solar and wind projects in China, India, South Africa and South America. Investment in emerging markets has been buoyed recently by supportive policies: India has a plan to boosts its solar energy capacity 33 times to 100GW by 2022, while 2014 saw ‘record-breaking-growth’ for wind energy in China and Brazil. (Edie)
Waste
Food wastage an ‘enormous’ global concern, G20 says
Food wasted by consumers is an enormous economic problem and nations should ensure excess food is given to the hungry instead of being thrown away, agriculture ministers from the G20 said on Friday. The two-day meeting in Istanbul has focused on problems of food security and nutrition, including the impact of climate change. An estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food, or roughly 30 percent of global production, is lost or wasted annually, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). UN agencies said this would easily feed the world’s 800 million hungry. To fight the problem of food waste, countries need better estimates of the amount of food they waste, as well as the economic impact of food loss, the G20 ministers said. (Thomson Reuters Foundation; Eco-Business)
Technology & Innovation
Toyota and Mazda reportedly cooperating on green car technology
Toyota and Mazda are reported to be considering a comprehensive partnership in environmentally friendly technology as the world’s regulators demand cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and competitors roll out greener vehicles. Under the partnership Toyota has proposed to supply fuel cell and plug-in-hybrid technology to Mazda, which in return would offer its proprietary ‘Skyactiv’ green technology to Toyota for use in fuel-efficient petrol and diesel vehicles. The companies are also said to be considering cooperation in other areas, including Mazda’s procurement of commercial vehicles from the Toyota group and joint purchasing of car parts. The latest alliance is part of an effort to jointly address strict global environmental rules. In 2018, California plans to push carmakers to boost sales volume for electric and fuel cell vehicles, while China and other emerging economies are also set to strengthen environmental regulations. (Guardian)
Corporate Reputation
U.S. jury clears HBO of libel in India child labour story
A US jury has cleared TV network HBO of libel claims in a lawsuit brought against the Time Warner subsidiary over a report linking it to child labour in India. British sporting goods company Mitre sued HBO for defamation in October 2008, after a report called “Children of Industry” aired on the channel. At the trial, which began on April 13, Mitre’s lawyers were seeking “tens of millions of dollars” for damages they claimed the company suffered, after the report portrayed it as turning a blind eye to child labourers making its soccer balls in India. HBO disputed these claims, and countered that child labourers in Jalandhar, India lived in a “climate of fear,” and were coerced into signing false affidavits. “We are delighted with the jury’s decision,” HBO spokesman Ray Stallone said in a statement. “This case was without merit”. (Reuters)
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