The U.S. Government’s Green Purchasing Programs Have Some Serious Problems That Need to be Addressed

The U.S. Government’s Green Purchasing Programs Have Some Serious Problems That Need to be Addressed

The Federal government recently issues a new rule that requires that 95 percent of new contract actions be green.This sounds great. But there are some underlying systemic issues related to the timing of the FARC interim ruling. Industry groups and procurement agencies are scratching their heads. Several industry associations requested that the government stop issuing rules that change federal procurement policy without first considering public comment.

Managing Reverse Logistics, Recycling, and Sustainability in the US

Managing Reverse Logistics, Recycling, and Sustainability in the US

This post looks at the pressing issues of electronic waste and at the environmental and financial costs of recycling this growing mountain of obsolete computers, displays and peripherals. It suggests that a wider adoption of reverse logistics more generally in the electronics industry may help to manage the end of life process. This is a growing problem, even though the size of electronics keeps shrinking the sheer volumes continue to grow as these devices become ever more ubiquitous.

CSR and Social Media

CSR and Social Media

This post explores the explosion of social media as a new platform for communication, stakeholder engagement and transparency. It examines how it is a double edged sword for corporations. On the one hand it has to some extent taken the ability to shape the message out of corporate control as the viral nature of the media can quickly spread and corporations can find themselves in a sudden maelstrom as events get out of their control. Social media has also made corporate actions face increasing scrutiny. However social media also presents a big opportunity, enabling small suppliers and traders to promote greater equity in the supply chain for example. It goes on to suggest how the corporations notion of what accountability entails needs to evolve in order to be able to take advantage of the new environment imposed by the rise of social media.

CEOs See Sustainability as Engine for Growth but Industry Sectors Split on Priorities

CEOs See Sustainability as Engine for Growth but Industry Sectors Split on Priorities

Despite an overall trend towards seeing sustainability as an opportunity for value creation and business success, according to a new research study published today by the United Nations Global Compact and Accenture, there are major differences in perceptions of sustainability between CEOs in different industry sectors, and significant gaps in the level of integration of sustainability already achieved in their companies.

Green Career Success: Tajana Mesic, Managing Director, Green Grove Group

Green Career Success: Tajana Mesic, Managing Director, Green Grove Group

Meet Tajana Mesic, a Green Economy Post Featured Green Career Success Story. Tajana comes to the green economy with a more than decade long career focused on managing compliance engagements for large Fortune 500 multinationals operating globally where she implemented and managed a large number of complex multi-country compliance engagements, spanning over 70 countries worldwide. During the last 7 years she spent with Ernst & Young she developed an interest in sustainability. Tajana is currently the Managing Director for the Green Grove Group. Read about her Green Career Success Story.

Can Electric Vehicles Take Off? A Roadmap to Find the Answer

Can Electric Vehicles Take Off? A Roadmap to Find the Answer

Electric cars are finally coming to market in the U.S., but what is the future potential for this much-touted technology? A good way to find out would be to launch demonstration projects in selected U.S. cities to determine if, given incentives and the proper infrastructure, the public will truly embrace plug-in vehicles.

Hewlett Packard: Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage

Hewlett Packard: Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage

Summary of a talk given by Frances Edmonds, Director of Environmental Programs, HP Canada in which she outlined how HP’s environmental commitment has led to greater profitability. In this talk she uses various examples of how successful sustainability efforts can be win win propositions that are good for the environment and also good for the company’s bottom line.

ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Guidance May Offer Supply Chain Opportunities to Small-Mid Sized Manufacturing

ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Guidance May Offer Supply Chain Opportunities to Small-Mid Sized Manufacturing

ISO 26000, the global Guidance on Social Responsibility was recently launched. Large to small organizations can strive to be ISO 26000-compliant, stay ahead of the curve and grab the “leader” advantage. Or conversely, companies can risk being a “laggard” and lose vital business opportunities.

Will The Hot Rare Earth Market Help or Hurt Renewable Energy?

Will The Hot Rare Earth Market Help or Hurt Renewable Energy?

China’s domination of the rare earth metals market potentially leaves almost every component of renewable energy vulnerable. There is speculation about the country’s reliability that it could decide to decrease or halt exports, and use the advantage to dominate the global market and choke off competitors.

1 2 3 4