Most Clicked SmartBrief on Sustainability Stories
1. How to retrofit warehouses for greener operations
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 23, 2012
Warehouses looking to be more energy efficient and sustainable have many options, some of which are highlighted in this article and slideshow. "Cool" roofs, fluorescent lighting and advanced lighting controls are just some of the strategies companies can use. CSRwire Talkback blog (05/18)
2. Is CSR past its sell-by date?
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 24, 2012
Corporate social responsibility is "an old-fashioned idea that needs to be upgraded," says business ethicist Eric Orts. That means figuring out ways for companies to make money while still making a serious effort to reduce negative environmental and societal effects. "What we need is re-conception of what the purpose of business is," Orts says. Knowledge@Wharton (05/23)
3. Young entrepreneur makes big bucks selling green stoves
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 29, 2012
A young American entrepreneur is selling low-emission cooking stoves to poor Kenyans. Greg Spencer's Paradigm Project plans to distribute 1.2 million of the wood-burning stoves over the next decade, using carbon offsets to subsidize the cost and provide a healthy return for investors. "A lot of people talk about carbon-offset development but don't deliver. We've done it, we've presold the carbon and we've delivered it," Spencer says. GlobalPost.com (05/28)
4. CSR reports are gifts that keep on giving
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 25, 2012
CSR reporting isn't fire-and-forget, says Campbell Soup CSR chief Dave Stangis. The main report may only come out once a year, but the CSR data-gathering process is a year-round commitment that keeps corporate divisions focused and provides valuable baselines for future projects. "The process of reporting creates an opportunity to build a Campbell Soup 'Britannica' or 'World Book' to work off of and use as a record of the company's progress," Stangis explains. CSRwire Talkback blog (05/24)
5. Who has the best CSR reports?
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 23, 2012
General Electric, General Motors, Nike, Patagonia, Philips and SAP -- what do they have in common? Each has published CSR reports characterized by transparency, "arresting visuals" and "positive, proven results," according to this article. TriplePundit.com (05/23)
6. Study: Consumer demand forces companies to go green
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 24, 2012
Consumer demand for green products is so high that some businesses are struggling to keep up, according to an Accenture study. Consumer expectations are driving sustainable business investments for more than 6 out of 10 companies, the study found, and are prompting businesses to take a longer-term approach to finding green-business solutions. GreenBiz.com (05/24)
7. Goldman Sachs to invest $40B in renewable-energy ventures
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 24, 2012
Goldman Sachs Group is planning to invest $40 billion in renewable-energy projects globally over the next 10 years. The bank expects demand for clean energy to rise amid increased overall demand for energy worldwide and efforts by countries such as China and Brazil to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Reuters (05/23)
8. Expert: Military innovation can end U.S. reliance on fossil fuels
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 25, 2012
Military innovation and private enterprise can spur faster adoption of technologies that will help end the country's dependence on fossil fuels, according to Amory Lovins, an expert on energy policy at the Rocky Mountain Institute. The military's realization that "energy inefficiency was a major source of casualty and mission risk" is a key driver in the shift toward alternative sources of energy, Lovins noted. San Diego Union-Tribune (05/24)
9. Lawmakers question federal use of updated LEED standards
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 23, 2012
LEED rules set to take effect in July include a focus on avoiding "chemicals of concern" -- prompting 56 House lawmakers to ask the General Services Administration to consider using other ratings systems. "We are deeply concerned that the LEED rating system is becoming a tool to punish chemical companies and plastics makers," the lawmakers wrote. The U.S. Green Building Council, which administers LEED, says that its guidelines take into account all parties, including manufacturers. FederalTimes.com (05/22)
10. Are you communicating your CSR strategy effectively?
SmartBrief on Sustainability | May 29, 2012
Communications is a key part of CSR, both to trumpet your company's successes and to convince stakeholders that social responsibility is no longer optional, writes Sherif Tehemar. "[T]here is an increased demand for establishing an appropriate communication strategy that helps identify proper communication tools and confirms that the right information is collected and disseminated," he writes. Sustainable Business Forum (05/28)
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