Unadulterated

Two positive trends in product sustainability and a recent report highlighting species loss prompt us to look at how companies consider the impacts of their own activities on biodiversity.

If we take as our premise that corporate responsibility means more than just running a company in a responsible manner – that the term is imbued with a larger sense of responsibility for humanity as well – than what role should a responsible company play in alleviating hunger?

Some things are really hard for me to get my head around….the number of people in the world, the number of people who vote for American Idol contestants and the amount of trash that Americans generate.

Can you imagine a sustainable economy where we live within our planetary means? An economy that is transparent and accountable in decision-making and equitably shares benefits and resources? An economy where capital markets collaborate in promoting a just society?

I’ve traipsed through my share of college campuses during the past year with a high school senior in tow and have been impressed by the sustainability achievements the colleges have touted. A combination of youthful energy, innovative funding mechanisms, and some healthy rivalry have pushed many colleges to embrace sustainability across their buildings, curriculum, food services and campus culture. My conclusion? The campus sustainability revolution runs deep, is here to stay, and puts some corporate efforts to shame.

Citizen activists have been behind many of the key environmental improvements in the United States. Check out my favorite movie, Erin Brokovich, to see just one of thousands of examples of citizens pushing successfully for change. Not so in China. Doesn’t change start at the top there? Maybe not.

We all know it’s difficult to influence ethical labor conditions in the supply chain. But a recent article in The Economist on March 31st discusses just how hard it is. This follows up on our recent post on Chinese supply chain issues.

Can you find substitutes for the rare earth minerals in your products? Reduce water consumption in manufacturing in water-scarce areas by 80%? Eliminate waste in product design?

It’s a challenge to package sustainability goals in a way that is both meaningful for your business and that conveys an inspiring vision of the future.

If your supply chain extends to China, it is a good time to step back and take a look at some useful resources for understanding this rapidly growing, complex country.

With leaves off the trees and no snow to speak of here in New England, I can’t escape the sight of graying plastic bags flapping in the wind, held hostage by unwilling tree branches...

How does a company determine which products to prioritize when developing a strategy for reducing cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas impacts?

Two-thirds of the world’s growing population is expected to face water scarcity in 2025, according to the United Nations. That’s huge. A finite amount of fresh water will have to be shared by more people and more industry and food production than ever before. What needs to change for this happen? Businesses need to play a vital role in this conversation.

An exciting new vehicle for enhancing the overall value and communication of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results and opportunities is the integration of GIS and mapping functionality into LCA tools.

The lack of information on chemicals used in a company’s supply chain can make product and packaging innovation challenging.

California-based Presidio Graduate School is expanding its executive five-month Certificate Program in Sustainable Management with an east coast offering. Please share this exciting program with colleagues in your network and company. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain sustainability credentials with two-day-per-month sessions in San Francisco or Boston. I am very impressed with Presidio’s targeted, interactive program and encourage you to pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in gaining the tools to tackle a broad range of sustainability challenges.

Sustainable Life Media recently invited me to share some thoughts on the importance of defining the level of sustainability a company desires and then devising a strategy to get there.

For the second year in a row, Boston-based Ceres and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants honored the corporate consciousness report written by Pure Strategies as the best North American report for the small and medium enterprise category. This marks the third time the company has received the prize with Pure Strategies’ help, with honors given this year, last year and in 2007.