Bellwether Services- Sustainable Supply Chain Blog

Sustainbility Advisory Firm, Bellwether Services Weights in on Green Implementation Solutions during Social Media Interview

2011-12-22T19:54:00.000-05:00

Sustainability Firm Weights in on Green Supply Chain Implementation Challenges during Social Media Interview

John Wilkerson, CPSM, SSMBB, Vice President, Supply Chain and Sustainability Practice Leader at Bellwether Services a strategic management consulting firm advising global clients on complex issues of strategy, operations, technology, and sustainability. He recently shared Green Supply Chain Implementation insight during Supply Chain Community Social Media interview.

Wilkerson discussed important themes such as; Green Standards, Green Awareness, Supply Chain Business Case Development, Sustainability Program Implementation and Program Communications Planning. The Interview concludes with seven (7) recommendations. Sample recommendations range from defining program deployment planning, sustainability integration strategy and green supply chain scorecards.

The Logistics & Supply Chain social media interview is located on online at several websites:

Vimeo.com VImeo.com http://vimeo.com/13887169
The Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-27888-Supply-Chain-Examiner~y2010m8d10-5-Major-Challenges-to-Green-Supply-Chain-Management

For more details follow this link, http://pitchengine.com/bellwetherservices/sustainability-firm-weights-in-on-green-supply-chain-implementation-challenges-during-social-media-interview.

What's Ahead for FY 2012 Government Procurement and How Contractors

2011-12-22T19:52:00.000-05:00

What's Ahead for FY 2012 Government Procurement and How Contractors

Given the efforts of Congress' "super committee" to reduce the deficit, there are signs of uncertainty amongst government contractors around federal budgets this year. But the start of the new federal fiscal year also brings new opportunities, making preparation all the more important. So how can your business best prepare for 2012?

First, see if your business can take advantage of the following developments and trends:

Green government contractors and women-owned small businesses may have an edge in 2012 with the Executive Order 13514 requiring at least 95% of the government's future acquisitions to be green and sustainable and with the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program in full swing.
There seems to be tremendous government contracting opportunities for construction, engineering and architecture firms in 2012 following the GSA Public Buildings Service announcement that every federal building in the nation – roughly 9,000 – must meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standards by 2017.

US, China, India Hold up Durban Climate Talks on Final Day

2011-12-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

Repost from the Environmental Leader: The U.S., China and India are blocking a plan to create a legally binding global climate treaty as the final day of COP 17 negotiations winds down in Durban, news outlets report.European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said China and India are holding back their support for the EU-designed “road map” plotting the successor to the Kyoto agreement, the Financial Post reports. And last night the U.S. said it wouldn’t agree to talks for a legally binding deal.

Just hours earlier, on Thursday evening, negotiators appeared to have pulled negotiations from the brink of collapse. U.S. climate change envoy Todd Stern said Washington supported an EU roadmap to a new treaty, Reuters reported yesterday.African nations, 43 island states and 48 of the world’s least developed countries have said that they back the EU plan for binding targets by 2015, and Canadian environment minister Peter Kent said Ottawa and small island states were working together. He said negotiators should not leave Durban without a firm agreement.Follow this link for more details.

An Interview with Dell's Procurement Director on Environmental Sustainability

2011-12-16T10:44:00.001-05:00

Repost from Forbes.comSee excerpt:Rahim Kanani: Reflecting back on Dell’s efforts to become more sustainable in their endeavors, is doing good good for business?Oliver Campbell: Yes, there is no question that implementing sustainable practices and participating in meaningful giving programs is good for business. The global population just passed 7 billion people and demographers say to expect a population of 8 billion by 2025. That’s like adding another India or China. So how do we help ensure people have a brighter future instead of a declining one in the face of traditional commodities and natural resources? Having a sustainability strategy is a good place to start, and for the successful company is becoming table stakes.At Dell our sustainable packaging programs reflect the kind of sustainable innovation and can-do spirit that is part of our culture. It’s part of our relationship with our customers and throughout our supply chain. Practical application of those principles is how we deliver technology that enables customers to do more for their business, research, or educational mission. Whether it’s the latest in cloud computing, virtualization, or shipping a laptop packaged in bamboo, the value provided by sustainable solutions will only grow. That makes it good for business, good for the brand, good for the planet.Follow this link for more details. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rahimkanani/2011/12/08/an-interview-with-dells-procurement-director-on-environmental-sustainability/

General Mills Earns Revenue For Reducing Energy Use · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2011-12-15T18:49:00.000-05:00

General Mills Earns Revenue For Reducing Energy Use · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

General Mills has added its West Chicago facility to EnerNOC’s demand response network. The company has agreed to work with EnerNOC to help prevent brownouts and blackouts in the West Chicago area by reducing demand on the electricity by as much as five megawatts — the equivalent of enough energy to power about 2,500 households - when called upon by EnerNOC.

In exchange, EnerNOC will reward the company with periodic payments.

Nike, Amazon REI, John Wilkerson, Sustainability Book Author Shares Retailer Green Outlook

2011-12-15T18:44:00.000-05:00

Business Adviser and Sustainability Book Author, John Wilkerson Shares Retailer Green Outlook with Global Investment Community

How Green are your Sneakers and Outdoor Apparel? Will the Outdoor Retail Trade, Eco Index fuel Q4, 2010 industry growth? Are consumers onboard with the sustainability concept?

John Wilkerson, CPSM, SSMBB, a twice published author and global supply chain advisor to the International Financial Markets recently presented his Green Apparel Outlook to an audience of more than 125 industry researchers. The analysis presented progressive firms such as Nike, REI, Adidas and Amzon.com.

Follow this link for more details...

Green is the Outlook for Apparel Brands and Retailers, Nike, REI, Adidas, Amazon - GLG News

About the Author:
John Wilkerson, CPSM, SSMBB, Vice President, Supply Chain and Sustainability Practice Leader at Bellwether Services, strategic management consulting firm advising global clients on complex issues of strategy, operations, technology, and sustainability has authored nearly 80 influencial indutry analysis

Light bulb standards begin taking effect in 2012

2011-12-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

On January 1, 2012, efficiency standards will start taking effect for brighter, higher-wattage general service bulbs. Based on its light output of about 1,600 lumens, a typical 100-Watt incandescent bulb falls in the first group affected. In the subsequent two years, the legislation will affect groups of relatively dimmer, lower-wattage bulbs. By 2014, most general use bulbs available for purchase will be required to be at least 30% more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. These standards, set by Congress in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), have already led to significant market transformation for common light bulbs.

Asian - Pacific Member Economies (APEC) Carbon Emissions Status (2009)

2011-12-14T11:43:00.006-05:00

Many APEC member economics are actively engaged in improving Air Quality. See the 2009 Carbon Emissions per APEC member country. See source & link below: Country CO2e t/person/year

Canada (all regions) 17.37Chile (all regions) 4.28China (all regions) 4.57Indonesia (all regions) 1.67Japan (all regions) 9.68Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of 2.62Malaysia (all regions) 6.68New Zealand (all regions) 8.48Peru (all regions) 1.09Philippines (all regions) 0.82Singapore (all regions) 9.8Thailand (all regions) 3.54United States (all regions) 19.1Viet Nam (all regions) 1.1Source: International Energy Agency.

USA Natural Gas Sourcing

2011-12-13T09:16:00.010-05:00

The EPA’s findings add fuel to a growing movement to protect watersheds and communities statewide.

This past week, the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council became one of the latest groups to plead formally for protection from the gas drilling procedure, also called hydrofracking, which involves blasting chemical-laced water into the ground. The council consists of leaders representing the 14 municipalities dependent on Canandaigua Lake for their drinking water. See more... http://www.waynepost.com/latestnews/x536734901/EPA-frack-finding-fuels-local-opposition-in-Canandaigua-Lake-region

Greenhouse Gas Emissions By Country

2011-12-12T13:24:00.000-05:00

Check out GHG Emissions chart by country:Turkey (all regions) 3.59Turkmenistan (all regions) 9.13Ukraine (all regions) 6.77United Arab Emirates (all regions) 29.91United Kingdom (all regions) 8.6United States (all regions) 19.1Uruguay (all regions) 1.73Uzbekistan (all regions) 4.22Venezuela (all regions) 5.24Viet Nam (all regions) 1.1Yemen (all regions) .92

Follow this link for more details..

EPA, Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule Compliance is Around the Corner

2011-12-12T10:47:00.000-05:00

In 2012 many manufacturing facilities, facilities emitting greenhouse gases, GHG, and suppliers of fossil fuels and industrial GHGs will, for the first time, be required to begin monitoring their emissions of GHGs. By 1st Quarter, 2012 companies (more than 10,000 U.S. facilities) must submit the first annual report to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the emissions data collected during the prior year.

Waste Management Shares Federal Order 13514, Environmental Leadership Implementation Timeline

2011-12-09T08:32:00.000-05:00

Credit Waste Management Website:

A new executive order from President Obama challenges the federal government to lead by example in the area of sustainability.

Executive Order 13514 specifies that every federal organization and agency must produce a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to be implemented in three phases.

Business Improvement Timeline

January 4, 2010 Submit Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets (Direct Emissions)
June 2, 2010 Submit Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets (Indirect Emissions)
January 5, 2011 Report Comprehensive Inventory of Scope 1, 2, & 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sustainable Energy 101

2011-12-08T08:34:00.001-05:00

From Yahoo GreenThe goal of the Sustainable Energy Initiative is to build a sustainable energy future through increasing conservation, improving efficiency, and raising the percentage of renewable energy in the nation's overall energy portfolio.The initiative includes public outreach on energy-efficient practices for homes and businesses, promoting green power, working to establish rigorous energy efficiency standards for federal and state agencies, and advocating for increased investment in renewable energy technologies at the state and federal levels.

What Is Brown Power?Brown power is power generated from environmentally hostile technology. The vast majority of electricity in the United States comes from coal, nuclear, large hydro, and natural gas plants.Brown power generators are:The single greatest source of air pollution in the United States, contributing to both smog and acid rain.The greatest single contributor of global climate change gases including carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide.Consider these additional facts:The average California household's annual use of electricity produces the same amount of smog the average car would generate if driven across country from Los Angeles to New York City, and about the same amount of global warming-causing carbon dioxide if that same car was driven a third of the way around the world.It is estimated that 50,000 people in the United States die each year from heart and lung disease due to air pollution linked to the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Carbon Emissions Show Biggest Jump Ever Recorded

2011-12-07T13:38:00.002-05:00

From the New York TimesEmissions rose 5.9 percent in 2010, according to an analysis released Sunday by the Global Carbon Project, an international collaboration of scientists tracking the numbers. Scientists with the group said the increase, a half-billion extra tons of carbon pumped into the air, was almost certainly the largest absolute jump in any year since the Industrial Revolution, and the largest percentage increase since 2003.

The increase solidified a trend of ever-rising emissions that scientists fear will make it difficult, if not impossible, to forestall severe climate change in coming decades.The researchers said the high growth rate reflected a bounce-back from the 1.4 percent drop in emissions in 2009, the year the recession had its biggest impact.Follow this link for more details.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/science/earth/record-jump-in-emissions-in-2010-study-finds.html?_r=1&hp

China signals coming shift in measuring CO2 limits

2011-12-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

DURBAN, South Africa - An influential Chinese analyst says his country may adjust how it measures carbon emission targets as early as 2020, bringing it more in line with Western governments and signaling a possible opening in international climate negotiations.Xu Huaqing, a senior researcher for China's Energy Research Institute, was quoted Friday in the semiofficial China Daily as saying Beijing could set absolute caps on its carbon emissions — comments later confirmed privately by one of China's top climate negotiators on the sidelines of the international climate talks in South Africa.

It was the first time China has mentioned a timetable toward a hard emissions cap, the article said, and was seen as a significant move by veteran China watchers.Until now, China has spoken of emissions controls purely in terms of energy intensity, or the amount of energy it uses per unit of economic production. It pledged last year to reduce its energy input by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.China is the world's largest emitter of heat-trapping greenhouse gas and a main foil of industrial countries in U.N. negotiations on an accord to control global emissions. Virtually every statement, official or from one of China's approved think tanks like the energy institute, is parsed and dissected by delegates seeking departures from its public position

Bellwether Consultancy Green Procurement Program Reduces Carbon Emissions

2011-12-06T00:31:00.000-05:00

As part of the Bellwether’s 2010 Sustainability initiative, Bellwether will aggressive reduce its supply chain Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG- Scope 3).

Evidence of Bellwethers suppliers’ GHG- Scope3 Emission reduction efforts includes California based IPOWER. IPOWER with more than 700,000 customers across 100 countries has offset its data center emissions by purchasing 100% Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). As a result of IPOWER’s sustainability program the company will reduce > 6.1 million miles on U.S. Highways

http://www.prlog.org/10662886-bellwether-services-green-purchasing-program-drives-out-carbon-emissions.html

VW Chattanooga plant gets green award

2011-12-05T10:26:00.001-05:00

From Yahoo GreenVolkswagen AG's new assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the first auto plant to receive the top environmental award from the U.S. Green Building Council, the company said on Thursday.Frank Fischer, chief executive and chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga, said that being green saves VW money on energy and water costs.

The plant's paint shop alone will save 50 million gallons of water over 10 years, VW said.The plant makes the Passat sedan. VW reported November U.S. sales of about 6,000 of the cars, up from only about 300 a year earlier. The new Passat took the place of a sedan imported from Germany.Volkswagen's November U.S. sales rose 41 percent to about 28,400 vehicles. VW was ninth among automakers in U.S. sales through October, up from 10th in 2010.

Green Supply Chain Award' goes to Tesco

2011-12-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

Tesco is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious ‘Green Supply Chain Award’ by The Global Supply Chain Council in China.

The Judging Panel praised Tesco for demonstrating strong environmental leadership and a firm commitment to promote green in China, while the supermarket’s Jiashan Green Logistics Centre in the Zhejiang Province “set and exceeded” its own high standards for environmental friendliness.

The development of the low-carbon Centre forms an important part of Tesco’s commitment to become a zero carbon business by 2050 and the Judges were impressed to see that the innovative design uses 45% less water and electricity in comparison to a normal warehouse. Carbon emissions have also been reduced by at least 35%.

Follow this link for more details.. http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/tesco/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=105520

Are Federal Contractors Ready? Investors, Traders, The Markets Listen Up!

2011-11-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

Feds are pushing the U.S. Sustainability Policy to 600,000 Suppliers. Expect numerous program deployment challenges.

See Operational Analysis by Bellwether Services:

DoD, GSA, & NASA are driving the Federal Government's Environmental Performance Program. A sustainability procurement interim rule was issued last week which will impact 600,000 Federal Contractors and hundreds of investment portfolios. Here are seven key points:

- Federal Order was announced October 2009
- Federal sustainability scorecards were published April 2011
- Procurement rule effective date is August 2011
- Procurement rule impacts > 95 percent of future contracts
- Renewable energy is only one of several focus areas
- Many top tier Federal Contractors are early adopters and could gain marketshare
- Chemicals, Forestry, Packaging and some Electronics sectors are early adopters

Are your investments positioned for future federal growth?

Bellwether Services Continues Carbon Neutral Agenda

2011-11-20T15:06:00.001-05:00

Military Veteran Company, Federal Contractor, Bellwether Services Continues Order 13514 Compliance

Bellwether Services is a strategic management consulting firm advising global clients on complex issues of strategy, operations, technology, and sustainability. The company is pleased to announce its continued commitment to the environment and making a difference.

For the second consecutive year, Bellwether Services announces it continues to operate a carbon neutral business. Bellwether provides high performance and sustainable advisory solutions in functional areas such as Financial Services, Global Supply Chain, Spend Management, Lean Healthcare, Lean Six Sigma Training, and Environmental Audit has manageable Greenhouse Gas (GHG), Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Bellwether Services, whose private sector clients’ revenues and investments have grown from $700 billion to $785 billion from 2008 to 2009, formally announced its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in 2008. Both years goals included:

- Reduction of office space carbon footprint
- Cut surface transportation carbon footprint
- Reduction of air transportation carbon footprint
- Offset all company generated carbon or greenhouse gases (GHG)

Follow this link for more details.. http://pitchengine.com/bellwetherservices/bellwether-services-continues-carbon-neutral-agenda

Sustainability Reporting Evolves to Include More Water Risk, Supply Chain Disclosures | BNA

2011-11-20T06:22:00.000-05:00

Sustainability Reporting Evolves to Include More Water Risk, Supply Chain Disclosures | BNA

No U.S. Law for Sustainability Reports

The United States has no laws requiring sustainability reporting, although the Securities and Exchange Commission requires companies to disclose climate-related material risks.

Nessing said SEC's February 2010 publication of interpretive guidance on applying climate-related risks to existing disclosure rules has prompted more companies to integrate non-financial information into their annual 10-K reports, which provide an overview of the company's business and financial condition (17 DEN A-1, 1/28/10).

In addition to the SEC guidance, President Obama in October 2009 signed Executive Order 13514 on “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance.”

The executive order seeks to make sustainability an integrated strategy for federal agencies, and, with some exceptions, requires 95 percent of new federal contracts for products and services to be energy or water efficient, non-ozone depleting, or have non-toxic or less toxic alternatives, among other criteria (191 DEN A-7, 10/6/09).

Investors Driving Reporting

Instead, investor groups such as the Principles for Responsible Investment, the Investor Network on Climate Risk, and the Carbon Disclosure Project are helping to drive increased reporting in the United States.
Investors look to sustainability reports to see how companies are prepared to manage risks, Nessing said. “In the wake of the BP disaster [in the Gulf of Mexico], there was a lot of push on companies to be transparent,” she said.

The KPMG report also found that companies were preparing reports due to investor interest.

“While corporate responsibility reporting was broadly considered an ‘optional' activity only a few years ago, more organizations are generating CR reports to meet rising stakeholder demands for greater accountability, transparency and accuracy in assessing parts of the business that are not necessarily financial, but which contribute to the overall value of the company,” John Hickox, KPMG's Americas leader for climate change and sustainability, said in a statement Nov. 7.

The Panama Canal Expansion Will Change the Green Game in a Marketable Way - Supports U. S. E.O. 13514

2011-11-20T06:20:00.000-05:00

The Panama Canal Expansion Will Be a Supply Chain Game Changer - Inbound Logistics

The upcoming Panama Canal expansion is much more than just a story of bigger ships and increased trade for East Coast ports. It will also have a substantial impact on the U.S. supply chain and its efficiencies. By lengthening, widening and deepening the locks, the Canal will accommodate much larger ships. In fact, the largest ships today carry just 5,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). When the expansion opens in 2014, that number will jump to as high as 13,000.

This engineering solution will reduce countless West Coast Carbon Emissions. See more at the source article ... http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/the-panama-canal-expansion-will-be-a-supply-chain-game-changer/

John Wilkerson Shares Retail Green Manufacturing Best Practices w/ U.S. Traders, Investors

2011-11-19T03:06:00.000-05:00

John Wilkerson Shares Retail Manufacturing, Green Supply Chain Performance w/ U.S. Traders, Investors : PitchEngine : Get the Word Out™

Wilkerson is a respected expert and has extensive operations, analysis, and due diligence experience in Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Manufacturing, IT, and Operational Excellence experience.

Environmental Impact Grows as Factor In Federal Purchasing, Officials Say | BNA

2011-11-18T10:23:00.003-05:00

Environmental Impact Grows as Factor In Federal Purchasing, Officials Say | BNA

Logistics Are ‘Low Hanging Fruit.'

Nate Hurst, global director of energy and the environment at electronics manufacturer Hewlett Packard Co., said the logistics of the supply chain is often the “low hanging fruit” for companies looking to improve their environmental footprint. It can also yield economic benefits. He said using less packaging allows companies to transport more products per shipment and reduces shelf space at stores, allowing them to display more products.

Recycling components or packaging materials can also improve a company's environmental performance, he said. Hewlett Packard has manufactured 1 billion printer ink cartridges from recycled material. Walmart also reached an agreement with Hewlett Packard to recycle some of its packaging material as pizza boxes, Hurst said.

Government Targeting ‘Hot Spots.'

Although the federal government will not be demanding a detailed life cycle analysis of every product it purchases, Gillis said companies should be able to identify where in the life cycle of their product the greatest environmental impact occurs. She said GSA is reviewing its purchases to identify any environmental “hot spots” to identify products that have the greatest environmental impact and to devise approaches to mitigate their effects. Her working group also is developing recommended guidelines for product standards and labels that address environmental impact.

Senate Passes Bill to Allocate $2 Billion For Carbon Storage, Fund Climate Service | BNA

2011-11-17T07:24:00.001-05:00

Senate Passes Bill to Allocate $2 Billion For Carbon Storage, Fund Climate Service | BNA

Administration Backs Climate Service

The Senate bill would reverse a ban on funding the proposed NOAA climate service that the House included in its version of the spending bill in June. The $161.5 million for the climate service was restored in the Senate measure under a substitute amendment (S. Amdt. 738) offered by Inouye (202 DEN A-12, 10/19/11).

The Obama administration supported the funding restoration in an Oct. 17 statement of administration policy on the Senate bill, arguing that it would “improve the performance of roughly $340 million in related programs that are currently spread across” several NOAA programs.

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Sen. Paul seeks Dem backing in EPA floor battle

2011-11-16T05:29:00.000-05:00

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Sen. Paul seeks Dem backing in EPA floor battle - The Hill's E2-Wire

State of play: The battle over air pollution rules that has become a regular feature in the House could spread to the Senate next week.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) plans to force a vote on his resolution to nix a recently finalized Environmental Protection Agency rule that mandates cuts in power plant air pollution that blows across state lines.

He told reporters that the vote is expected Tuesday or Wednesday. Paul is reaching out to Democrats as he seeks 51 votes to overturn EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

“I think there will be some Democrats supporting us on it,” Paul told reporters in the Capitol Thursday.

UN Backs Fight Against EU Airline Law · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2011-11-14T09:04:00.000-05:00

UN Backs Fight Against EU Airline Law · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

The U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization came down yesterday against the European Union’s plans to force non-EU airlines into a cap and trade scheme.

The ICAO adopted a working paper by 26 of its 36 member countries, urging Brussels not to require compliance from non-EU carriers, Reuters reports. Under EU proposals, airlines will have to start participating in the European cap and trade program on January 1, by buying meeting a limit on carbon emissions or buying permits to make up the shortfall. The rules will apply to flights within, to and from the EU.

The 26 countries, including the U.S. and China, last week lodged a formal complaint through the ICAO.

EU, U.S. To Cut Airline Emissions By Improving Air Traffic Control · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2011-11-11T08:51:00.000-05:00

EU, U.S. To Cut Airline Emissions By Improving Air Traffic Control · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

The European Union and the U.S. said Monday they would cut emissions from aircraft by improving air traffic control systems, the Houston Chronicle reports.

The agreement does not head off a fight over the EU’s separate plan to make all airlines that fly to Europe trade carbon permits.

The European Commission and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said the new plan they announced would let them quickly put in place new emission-reduction technologies, such as a system that reduces engine power when landing planes that saves fuel, cuts down on noise and releases less carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, the Chronicle reports

Leading 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Firms

2011-11-11T06:09:00.000-05:00

North American firms such as Publixs, Google, Disney and Amazon appear on this Top 15 CSR list.

See excerpt:

Looking at the scores of all 285 companies in the 2011 CSR Index, there was an overall drop in ratings of companies' social responsibility at a time when public expectations of corporate social responsibility from business remain high, with ethics and governance issues continuing to be in the spotlight.

The public in 2011 seemed to be more demanding of companies and the perception of reputation declined across the board

FAO Schwarz Earns Revenue For Reducing Energy Use · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2011-11-09T09:25:00.001-05:00

FAO Schwarz Earns Revenue For Reducing Energy Use · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

FAO Schwarz announced it has enrolled in PowerPay! New York, a demand response program offered by Energy Curtailment Specialists Inc.

The toy store will earn extra revenue for reducing their energy use during peak electricity demand; this helps ECS keep demand and energy prices low.

The toy store plans to shut down lighting and computers in the offices and other areas that do not pertain to the sales floor.

Green Sourcing Is Spreading Across the Globe, An Interview w/ John Wilkerson

2011-11-06T01:58:00.000-04:00

Green Sourcing Is Spreading Across the Globe

Wilkerson was previously employed by Pepsi-Cola, Nestle Purina and Dannon Waters of
North America. He is a Certified Professional in Supply Management and Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt. His functional expertise includes global sourcing, global supply chain management, sales and operations planning, and sustainable supply chain.

APQC: Why has green sourcing and sustainable procurement become an important topic?

John Wilkerson: Leaders at organizations like Dell, AT&T, P&G and the U.S. government
understand our future environmental challenges and potential long-term global impact on
business and consumers. These organizations now want their suppliers also to be socially
responsible and environmentally fit. So they are putting pressure on their strategic sourcing
teams to drive sustainable supply chain performance. Another driver is on the regulatory side.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued guidance to publicly traded companies,
asking them to communicate their sustainability risks. Public companies have to show the
environmental impact of their actions. For example, if you are with an organization that
depends on transportation and your actions are harmful to the environment, you have to
disclose that in the firm’s annual 10K statement. See more...

GM Earns $1bn a Year From Recycling · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2011-11-05T14:17:00.001-04:00

GM Earns $1bn a Year From Recycling · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

General Motors is making about $1 billion a year from selling scrap byproducts, waste reduction manager John Bradburn told the Corporate Recycling & Waste Conference in Orlando.

The annual revenue stream has been increasing: GM reported last December that it made about $2.5 billion through its recycling activities since 2007.

But Bradburn said the company has a long way to go, according to Waste & Recycling News.

General Motors Co. recycled 92 percent of materials from its plants last year, with more than half of the factories achieving zero-waste status. The zero-waste plants recycled or reused an average of 97 percent of waste, directing the remaining three percent to waste-to-energy projects.

Victoria's Secret Pushes Up Green Content

2011-11-04T10:49:00.001-04:00

Repost from GreenBiz.com

The Victoria's Secret catalogs are known for stirring up many thoughts, but forest preservation usually isn't the first one that comes to mind.

Which is why, according to advocacy group ForestEthics, the firm and its parent company Limited Brands should get a shout-out for pressing ahead with a program to increase the use of green-certified paper products for the catalogs -- even when the paper content issue has long faded from news headlines.

The company's use of paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council has grown to almost 88 percent compared to 2007 when the figure was about 23 percent, see more... http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/10/28/victorias-secret-pushes-up-green-paper-content-catalogs

Building the Green Supply Chain in the Home Building Sector

2011-11-03T11:41:00.001-04:00

Repost from the Asheville Times:

Deltec Homes was in the green building business long before sustainability was cool.

Founded in 1968, Deltec manufactures distinctive round homes at its Bingham Road plant. The homes are sturdy enough to withstand hurricane-force winds.

When Deltec President David Hall wanted his factory to become more energy-independent, he turned to Dave Hollister of Sundance Power Systems to install an array of electricity-producing solar panels on Deltec’s roof. Now instead of bills from Progress Energy, Hall’s company collects a monthly check from the utility.

Why Oregon Can Lead the Green Business Revolution

2011-11-01T19:43:00.001-04:00

Repost from Orgean Live

Let's start with the good and bad news. The good news is that Oregon is well-positioned to capitalize on the latest trends in sustainable innovation thanks to its wealth of natural resources, close proximity to Pacific Rim markets, and strong history of acting as an environmental pioneer.

The bad news is that you're already behind due to growing global competition along with the politics in Washington, D.C. failing to provide adequate momentum and leadership. The current U.S. mindset remains mired in now passé second industrial revolution thinking based on fossil fuels, coal, natural gas and nuclear power.

See more.. http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/10/why_oregon_can_lead_the_green.html

9 Sites That Measure Companies’ Social Responsibility

2011-10-31T09:30:00.001-04:00

Repost from Mashable:

Applications that measure the corporate social responsibility, or CSR, of a company take many forms. Some websites crowdsource opinions and facts on companies, while other sites use their own set of metrics to gauge social good. Still others rely on the Global Reporting Index, which formalized and mainstreamed disclosure on environmental, social and governance performance more than a decade ago.

- Good Guide
= Crocodyl
= Climate Counts

See more:
http://mashable.com/2011/10/25/measure-social-good-business/

Federal Supply Chain Partners Urge to Reduce Carbon Footprint

2011-10-30T14:27:00.000-04:00

Repost from BNA.com

Contractors Advised to Look at Carbon Footprint as Agencies Strive for Sustainability

Businesses bidding on federal contracts should begin evaluating and making plans to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint as federal agencies move to implement an executive order on sustainability, experts advised.

Executive Order 13514, issued in 2009, requires agencies to meet a series of targets for cutting energy and water use and reducing waste and pollution. It also requires 95 percent of new contracts to qualify as energy-efficient, water-efficient, or otherwise be environmentally beneficial.

That will mean businesses bidding on government contracts should be able to demonstrate how they have accounted for their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, potentially all the way down the supply chain, contracting experts said. See more... http://www.bna.com/contractors-advised-look-n12884903420/

Logistics Firms Move Towards Sustainability Checks on Supply Chain · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2011-10-25T07:36:00.000-04:00

Logistics Firms Move Towards Sustainability Checks on Supply Chain · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

Using supply chain scorecards to measure a supplier’s sustainability is becoming widespread throughout the transport and logistics industry, as companies such as DHL and Eurostar aim to lessen their environmental impacts, according to a report by sustainability information source Ecodesk.

Green Building Leadeship- Microsoft Finds Quick Payback on Building IT Retrofits

2011-10-24T21:48:00.000-04:00

From Greenbiz.com

As Microsoft's Chief Environmental Strategist wrote in an article on Sustainable Facilities:
What we learned confirmed our hypothesis: Microsoft (and by extension, many organizations with similar real estate portfolios) don't need to undertake capital-intensive retrofits to cut building energy costs.

Instead, we saw buildings become dramatically more efficient by introducing software to harness and utilize the building systems already in use. By integrating powerful analytics that add intelligence to existing building infrastructure, our buildings got smarter, more efficient and less costly to operate. Follow think link for more details.

Leading online resource- 15 Green Supply Chain Case Studies

2011-10-19T11:25:00.004-04:00

Excerpts reposted from the Green Ecomny Post:

15 Green Supply Chain Studies You Should Know About

Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is gaining much importance in many industries due to pressure from the government and environmental consciousness among the customers, to gain competitive advantage.

Supply Chain Decarbonization: The Role of Logistics and Transportation in Reducing Supply Chain Carbon Emissions.

According to the report, logistics and transportation activities contribute approximately 5 percent of the 50,000 mega-tonnes* of carbon-dioxide emissions generated by all human activity annually. The report reviews 13 commercially viable opportunities for reducing supply chain carbon emissions—within the logistics and transport sector as well as across the extended supply chain—and assesses them according to carbon-dioxide abatement potential and feasibility to implement.

How Green is the Supply Chain? Practice and Research

This paper provides an overview of environmental (green) supply chain management. The overview includes a categorization of research and practice in purchasing, manufacturing, outbound, and reverse logistics dimensions.

Follow this link for more GSCM details.

Carbon Footprint Leadership - Global Logistics Firms are Going Greener

2011-10-15T11:19:00.001-04:00

Repost from eco-business.com

A spate of sustainability-related announcements from some of the world’s largest logistics companies show these firms mean green business, Chen He reports.

Running through the heart of Mexico City is Metrobus, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which carries more than 450,000 riders daily. In 2010, EMBARQ, a nongovernmental organisation that addresses urban transportation problems, showed Metrobus how to eliminate about 114,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution. With funding of $500,000 and expertise from logistics giant FedEx, EMBARQ will help the BRT system expand and grow to be even more efficient. FedEX uses its experience in managing life cycles of vehicles to help Mexico City transit officials improve bus (see more at this link link.

Green Sourcing Is Spreading Across the Globe

2011-10-13T07:47:00.016-04:00

An interview with John Wilkerson, CPSM, SSMBB at Bellwether Services

Here's couple excerpts:

APQC: Why has green sourcing and sustainable procurement become an important topic?

John Wilkerson: Business leaders at organizations like Dell, AT&T, P&G, and the U.S. government understand our future environmental challenges and potential long-term global impact on
business and consumers

APQC: Where can someone find more research on green supply chains, green sourcing, and environmental management programs?

JW: Sites like www.apqc.org are good first steps. There is a nonprofit Web site, the Global Reporting Initiative, that offers additional guidance. That Web site has standards, metrics, best practices, and benchmarks for further study. The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have great free content. Another is the Green Confidence Index on the
Green Business website. The Institute of Supply Management recently published a Sustainability handbook that has best practices. The New York Times and the UK Guardian have a lot of content for advanced research on the green sourcing topic. The Guardian also has a lot of information about the carbon trade scheme in Europe.

Oil Shareholders Demand Fracking Disclosures

2011-10-12T20:14:00.002-04:00

Repost from NY Times

Security Exchange Commission, Shareholders seek increased transparency

At an annual meeting, nearly a third of Exxon Mobil shareholders back a proposal requiring greater transparency by the company on the risks of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. At Chevron’s annual meeting, 41 percent of shareholders endorse a similar proposal. [Reuters]

See complete post.. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/on-our-radar-oil-shareholders-demand-fracking-disclosures/

Owens Corning Continues Sustainability Leadership - Receive USDA BioPreferred Designation

2011-10-12T10:09:00.000-04:00

Repost from Sacramento Bee:

Owens Corning today announced that its award-winning EcoTouch™ Insulation is the first fiberglass insulation to be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a biobased product. The certification is part of a new USDA Biobased labeling initiative to identify products with ingredients made from renewable plant materials.

Presidential Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, mandates the purchasing of biobased products under a preferred procurement program for Federal agencies and their contractors. The USDA designates categories of biobased products and makes them available in a catalog for Federal agencies and their contractors to choose from when making purchases.

Read more Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/05/3961637/owens-corning-ecotouch-insulation.html#ixzz1aNsJsk6X

Dairy Sector Shares GHG Emissions Best Practices

2011-10-11T07:47:00.007-04:00

From CSRwire:

Piloting Innovative Beef and Dairy GHG Emission Reduction Strategies in U.S. Feedlots and Dairies

Currently in the U.S. there are limited methods for dairies and feedlots to participate in carbon markets, and there is a great deal of skepticism in those sectors surrounding all aspects of GHG issues, while the global dairy sector alone contributes 4 percent of the total global anthropogenic GHG emissions. The awarded project entitled Piloting Innovative Beef and Dairy GHG Emission Reduction Strategies in U.S. Feedlots and Dairies proposes to adapt (follow this link for more details).

Green Supply Chain Firm, Bellwether Services, Announces It's Commitment to Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR)

2011-10-10T09:35:00.000-04:00

Green Supply Chain Industry Thought Leader, Bellwether Services, sets Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Sustainment Goals as part of its Long-Term Continuous Improvement Program. Planned performance is key to achieving 2008 performance targets.

Georgia based Bellwether Services, a continuously growing Green Supply Chain Advisory firm, is pleased to report its continued pledge to be a good corporate citizen.

Bellwether Services is a Supply Chain Engineering, Environmental Audit, Lean Six Sigma, and Green Supply Chain Consulting firm with Socially Responsible (SR) private sector clients whose sales revenues exceed $160 Billion. Bellwether's SR government clients include the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Bellwether/Supply_Chain/prweb1506104.htm

California Carbon Cap and Trade Implications Shared w/ Global Sourcing Leaders by Bellwether

2011-10-10T08:33:00.000-04:00

Strategic Sourcing, Supply Risk, Environmental Regulations and Supply Chain Improvement Business Approach are shared in new column published in the ISM, e-Side publication. See brief excerpt from the authors:

A new environmental policy in California will require procurement professionals doing business in the state to address carbon cap and trade or face additional cost pressures.

The passage of the California Air Resource Board Carbon Emissions Trading Policy on December 16, 2010 means the roles of supply managers, buyers and purchasers will change measurably this year. Enterprises and suppliers doing business in California must address carbon cap and trade in a meaningful way or face additional cost pressures.

What Is Carbon Emissions Trading?

Emissions trading — better known as carbon cap and trade — is a global administrative approach used to control air pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. Simply, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) plans to implement State Law AB 32 and set caps on the pollution which can be emitted by an enterprise. As California-based manufacturers', retailers' or distributors' emissions approach or exceed the approved limits in the future, companies must purchase a carbon permit. California State Law Assembly Bill (AB) 32 could impact suppliers throughout North America.

Follow this link for Carbon Management, Carbon Reduction Approach and Program Near Term benefits from the article.

Contact:
sales (at) bellwether-services.com
404.386.2437
www.bellwether-services.com

Investors, Traders, Private Equity Listen Up- Are Federal Contractors Ready?

2011-10-07T06:53:00.000-04:00

Repost

DoD, GSA, & NASA are driving the Federal Government's Environmental Performance Program. A sustainability procurement interim rule was issued last week which will impact 600,000 Federal Contractors and hundreds of investment portfolios. Here are seven key points:

ManpowerGroup Recognized For Driving Socially Responsible Business Results

2011-10-03T09:42:00.001-04:00

From Marketwatch

ManpowerGroup's timeless commitment to pioneering solutions for the world of work has always emphasized best practices in social responsibility. ManpowerGroup has built an unmatched global network of solutions based on local expertise and amassed an unstoppable workforce due to its deep understanding of human potential.

"ManpowerGroup is being recognized as a leader of CSR best practices, because social responsibility has always been and remains at ManpowerGroup's operational core, modelling a critical mindset of continuous improvement and showing even sceptics how advancing CSR initiatives enables the integration of sustainability and profitability see more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/manpowergroup-recognized-for-driving-socially-responsible-business-results-2011-09-27?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Kraft Foods Announces 2010-2015 Sustainability Goals

2011-10-02T14:51:00.000-04:00

Repost from consumer goods technology

Kraft Foods announces expanded sustainability goals and highlighted progress against its focus areas. The company's new goals – now including the Cadbury and LU businesses acquired since 2007 –build upon previous success around energy, carbon dioxide, water, waste and packaging reductions.

See more...

How to Find Climate Change Common Ground

2011-10-01T09:06:00.001-04:00

Repost from Yale 360

Even as the impacts of climate change intensify, many Americans remain confused by the issue. In an interview Yale Environment 360, climate scientist http://e360.yale.edu/feature/how_to_find_common_ground_in_the_bitter_climate_debate/2438/

Retail Strategic Sourcing Innovation- Aligning Consumption with Strategic Sourcing

2011-09-30T16:51:00.000-04:00

Retail Strategic Sourcing Innovation- Aligning Consumption to Strategic Sourcing, a Retail Manufacturing Must Have White Paper by Bellwether Services

Four firms honoured for exceptional CSR efforts

2011-09-29T09:33:00.009-04:00

Repost from Gulf News

Dubai: Four major Dubai-based companies have been awarded the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry CSR Label for their efforts to become leading businesses in corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Commercial Bank of Dubai, Standard Chartered, 3W Networks and FedEx were presented with the Dubai Chamber CSR Label during a ceremony at the Chamber's head office recently.

See more.. http://gulfnews.com/business/general/four-firms-honoured-for-exceptional-csr-efforts-1.883743

Sustainability Book offers insight for Federal Vendors seeking to Comply with Sustainable Acquisition Rule

2011-06-17T07:24:00.002-04:00

John Wilkerson, Vice President, Supply Chain and Sustainability Practice Executive at Bellwether Services announces the 2nd Edition, Green Supply Chain Management Book Series "Greening the Federal Supply Chain". The 2nd Edition is now avalaible online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and numerous other online retailers. Sample topics and ordering details as well as the author's background are as follows:

Book's purpose:
Federal Environmental, Energy Leadership Policy, Executive Order 13514 mandates Federal Agencies and Supply Chain Partners to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission and optimize water resources. This new Green Book supports more than 95% of Federal Vendors who are required to measure and implement a GHG Strategy by August 2011.

Key topics:
Board of Director Roles
Carbon Footprint Benchmarking
Facility Water Cycle
Supply Chain Refrigerants
Corporate Social Reasonability (CSR)
Employee Travel Carbon Emissions
Carbon Abatement Opportunities
Energy Service Company (ESCO)
Green Purchasing Strategy
Corporate Branding

Ordering Details:

Author: John Wilkerson
ISBN 13: 9781934947524-54495
ISBN 10: 1934947520

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Second-Green-Supply-Management-Chain/dp/1934947520/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3
Books a Million:
http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781934947524?id=4826033385992
Barnes & Noble:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9781934947524

Title: Greening the Federal Supply Chain- A Federal Contractor's Executive Order 13514 (Environmental & Energy Policy) Implementation Resource
For Volume Discounts contact books (at) bellwether-services (dot) com or 404.386.2437

About the Author:
John Wilkerson, CPSM, SSMBB is a two time published author and Vice President, Supply Chain and Sustainability Practice Leader at Bellwether Services, strategic management consulting firm advising global clients on complex issues of strategy, operations, technology, and sustainability. He specializes in Global Supply Chain Planning, Acquisition Management, Lean Six Sigma, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He has served several commercial sectors including; Food, Pharmaceutical, Beverage, Logistics, Chemical, Automotive, Aerospace and Computer Electronics.

Contact us:
John Wilkerson
Bellwether Services
404.386.2437
Books (at) bellwether-services (dot) com
http://www.bellwether-services.com/publications.html
http://www.amazon.com/John-Wilkerson/e/B002LNWVSI

Our Mantra- Believe, Execute, Achieve
###

Sustainability, Environmental, Green Supply Chain Advisor, Bellwether Services Named to 2010 U.S. Emerging Business List

2011-06-15T22:04:00.000-04:00

Sustainability, Environmental, Green Supply Chain Advisor, Bellwether Services Named to 2010 U.S. Emerging Business List

John Wilkerson, Supply Chain, Sustainability Champion Authors Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategy Handbook

2011-06-15T21:03:00.000-04:00

John Wilkerson, Green Supply Chain, Procurement, Sustainability Veteran, Authors Carbon Footprint Reduction Professional Development Book Series

Sustainability Book offers insight for Federal Vendors seeking to Comply with Sustainable Acquisition Rule

2011-06-15T20:21:00.000-04:00

Sustainability Book offers insight for Federal Vendors seeking to Comply with Sustainable Acquisition Rule

Bellwether Services Provides Supply Chain Insight into California's Cap and Trade Program

2011-06-14T22:01:00.000-04:00

Bellwether Services Provides Supply Chain Insight into California's Cap and Trade Program

Bellwether Services Presents Business Solution- House Bill 2454, American Clean Energy and Senate Environmental Bill - Green Supply Chain Measurement Guide

2011-06-14T20:34:00.000-04:00

Bellwether Services Presents Business Solution- House Bill 2454, American Clean Energy and Senate Environmental Bill - Green Supply Chain Measurement Guide

Global Warming Myths and Facts

2011-06-13T11:06:00.000-04:00

Repost from Yahoo Green

Myth: Global warming is just part of a natural cycle. The Arctic has warmed up in the past.
Fact: The global warming we are experiencing is not natural. People are causing it

Myth: Even if global warming is a problem, addressing it will hurt American industry and workers.
Fact: A well designed trading program will harness American ingenuity to decrease heat-trapping pollution cost-effectively, jumpstarting a new carbon economy.

Follow this link for analysis and additional myths & facts http://green.yahoo.com/global-warming/ed-14/global-warming-myths-and-facts.html;_ylt=An3vxqCcXzNzFz6qpeFxr7CDV8cX

Supply Chain Firm, Bellwether Services, Honors Environmental, Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge and Goes Carbon Neutral

2011-06-12T13:27:00.001-04:00

Supply Chain Firm, Bellwether Services, Honors Environmental, Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge and Goes Carbon Neutral

12 of the greenest colleges and universities

2011-06-08T14:08:00.000-04:00

Repost from Yahoo Green

As part of our 2011 Heart of Green Awards, The Daily Green has selected six of the greenest small colleges and six of the greenest big universities to compete in online voting until March 27.

For decades, America's colleges have been epicenters for environmental activism and change. Colleges have been among the first to recycle, compost, erect green buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They often serve as test beds for emerging green technologies, from Oberlin's "living machine" water purification system to Carleton College's Green Roof Project.

These 12 schools have earned high marks in sustainability over the past few semesters:

ASU
Brown University
UC Davis
Ball State
Yale University

Follow this link for the balance of the list.. http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_news/389/12-of-the-greenest-colleges-and-universities.html;_ylt=AsicuzyIeWf_eUCIjjd5wfDIV8cX

2011-06-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

After Green Supply Chain Social Media Buzz John Wilkerson Releases http://ping.fm/AJklf

Must READ: New Federal Contracting Rule Mandates Sustainability Reporting

2011-06-07T10:49:00.007-04:00

2011 Federal Business Development Strategy changes in mid-stream. Traders, Investors, Private Equity and Federal Contractors will be impacted in the near term. Ninety Five (95%) percent of future Federal purchases will include a sustainability evaluation criteria. Most federal contractors are not compliant.

See brief excerpts from the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Sustainable Acquisition

SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic
Performance, and Executive Order 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and transportation Management. This interim rule requires Federal agencies to leverage agency acquisitions to foster markets for sustainable technologies, materials, products, and services. Federal agencies are additionally required to implement high-performance sustainable building design, construction, renovation, repair, commissioning, operation and maintenance, management, and deconstruction practices in applicable acquisitions. Contractors will be required to support the goals of an agency's environmental management system.

Follow this link for contractor resources.

Follow this link for the interim rule.

Bank of America Vows to Reduce GHG Emissions by 15 Percent

2011-06-03T13:48:00.001-04:00

Repost from Triple Pundit

The 2008 global financial crisis may have killed off some banks, but others have emerged even stronger. Whatever you may think about the banking industry, one fact is clear: the sector is a huge consumer of energy, from data centers to the lighting of a firm’s offices across the globe and of course, employee travel. From Tokyo to Frankfurt, banks are huge energy hogs and leave a long trail of emissions.

Read more.. Bank of America also takes a Walmart-like approach towards its suppliers and seeks to find resource efficiency throughout its supply chain. Two years ago the company invited over 100 suppliers to an event for a global supply chain conference, where they were encouraged to participate in CDP’s emissions reporting program. If Bank of America commits resources to its suppliers and allow them to become more efficient, look for BofA to achieve metrics that will far exceed the 2015 emission reduction goals.

Finally, Bank of America does more beyond its operations. Since 2007, the company has undertaken a 10-year US$20 billion initiative to address climate change issues by targeted investment, loans, and philanthropic activities. So while the banking sector should still be scrutinized for its business practices, Bank of America deserves credit for tackling the issues that other organizations overlook.

Follow this link for the complete post http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/bank-america-vows-reduce-ghg-emissions-15-percent

2011-06-02T23:29:00.001-04:00

John Wilkerson Authors “Greening the Supply Chain”, 2nd Edition, Green Supply Chain Management Book Series http://ping.fm/6w0R3

2011-06-01T22:10:00.001-04:00

Bellwether Services Provides Supply Chain Insight into California's Cap and Trade Program http://ping.fm/NDg84

Universities Embrace GRI Sustainability Reporting

2011-06-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

Repost from Triple Pundit:

Sustainability reporting has become de rigeur among thousands of companies as well as a majority of the Global Fortune 250, but now even academic institutions are beginning to follow suit and issue their own non-financial reports.

Read more.. The GRI framework is the most widely used methodology for reporting an organization’s environmental, societal, and economic impacts. This type of reporting is known by several names: sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), triple bottom line (TBL), or environmental, societal, and governance (ESG) reporting. It provides the consistency that shareholders, potential investors, analysts and other stakeholders seek when evaluating and comparing an organization’s ESG performance.

Follow this link for the complete post http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/01/universities-embrace-gri-sustainability-reporting/#

Kraft Foods Announces Expanded Sustainability Goals

2011-05-31T09:44:00.000-04:00

2011-05-30T18:41:00.001-04:00

Bellwether Services Shares Sustainability Lesson with Global Supply Chain Audience http://ping.fm/8LnTi

2011 Southeastern Corporate Sustainability Rankings Reveals Southeast’s Top Performers

2011-05-30T09:52:00.000-04:00

Repost from Green Business Works

The 2011 Southeastern Corporate Sustainability Rankings (the Rankings) have put a green spotlight on corporations in the Southeast that are doing well by doing good. With more than 135 in attendance, the Rankings Co-founders Stephanie Armistead, general manager of GreenBusiness WORKS, and Mark Callaway announced the standings at an elegant awards breakfast event at the Atlanta Midtown W Hotel heldon May 3, 2011.

The Rankings, now in its second year, were created to inspire, motivate, and create awareness about the sustainability progress of publicly traded companies headquartered in the Southeast

See more.. http://southeasterncorporatesustainabilityrankings.net/2011-southeastern-corporate-sustainability-rankings

Tata Steel bags award for CSR initiatives

2011-05-26T16:56:00.001-04:00

Repost from Economic Times

Tata Steel India won this award for Corporate Social Responsibility from among the following short-listed nominees namely Coca-Cola Enterprises, CSM, Findus Group, Firmenich, Nokia, The Body Shop, Unilever, etc.

The award recognised outstanding social, ethical, environmental, sustainable and community-centred initiatives. The judges reward the procurement team responsible for driving forward key corporate projects and the successful outcomes.

This is the second international recognition for Tata Steel in corporate social responsibility in a week. Last week the company was declared the best in corporate social responsibility by Finance Asia, which was one of the most respected financial magazines in Asia, the release added.

See more.. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-25/news/29581948_1_tata-steel-india-corporate-social-responsibility-csr

Food Logistics Announces Top 20 Green Supply Chain Partners

2011-05-18T07:32:00.001-04:00

Source: Food Logistics.com

For the first time, the editors of Food Logistics have recognized solution providers that have developed pioneering, innovative and creative products, services and programs to help their food and beverage customers achieve sustainable or “green” goals.

See the sample list below:

- LTW Intralogistics Inc.
- Next Generation Logistics Inc.
- Palmer Food Service
- PAS_Americas
- Randall Manufacturing
- States Logistics Services Inc.
- Werner Enterprise

Follow this link for the balance of this Green logistics list.

2011-05-08T08:06:00.001-04:00

John Wilkerson shares Business Growth Strategy on Fox Business Center http://ping.fm/I6DCN

Panasonic's Environmental Leadership

2011-05-06T09:45:00.001-04:00

Repost from Yahoo Green

Panasonic highlights Japan's innovative appliance and electronics recycling

In 2001, Japan began enforcing its home appliance law, requiring manufacturer takeback, and since then the country has racked up some impressive numbers: 55% of television monitors are recycled; 50% of refrigerators; and 60% of household air conditioners.

Panasonic opened the Eco Technology Center in the Yashiro Science Park outside Osaka in 2001. "In the past several years, Japan has shifted from a society based on bulk production to one that is recycling oriented," said its director, Kazuyuki Tomita. The company calls it "treasure hunting."

One million appliances are recycled per year at the center, and that means 113 tons of iron (equivalent to 138,000 cars), 17,251 tons of copper (equivalent to 69 statutes of the Great Buddha of Nara), and 9,804 tons of aluminum (equivalent to 85 jumbo jets). Some 4,000 TVs are processed every day. The center isn't a profit center, but it gets revenue from recycling fees collected from consumers and from the sale of all that raw material. More..

Study Suggest Air Carrier Carbon Emission Strategy

2011-05-05T13:32:00.001-04:00

Repost from Yahoo Green

We recently told you about how new guidelines for streamlining flight paths and landings could cut fuel use by 15 percent and result in a nice decline in emissions. Now, researchers at MIT say that more time at the gate could also slash fuel use and emissions from aircraft.

The study, funded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, was carried out at Boston Logan International Airport where the researchers found that if planes were held at their gates for an average of four minutes and 18 seconds, runway congestion cleared up. That lead to 20 percent less taxiing time for the planes, which reduced fuel use by 75 liters per plane. As a bonus, even with the wait time, planes were actually up in the air more quickly without the traffic jam on the runway.

Taxiing accounts for the emission of 6 billion tons of CO2 a year in domestic U.S. flights with European flights emitting a similar amount of greenhouse gases from taxiing. If the new flight path and landing guidelines were paired with four minutes wait time at the gate, aviation emissions could be reduced by millions of tons a year.

Big Box Sustainability Starts at the Top

2011-05-03T09:39:00.001-04:00

Repost from the NY Times:

Redirecting Cisco by Cutting Sprawl

Cisco’s chief executive, John Chambers, acknowledged last week that the company he has run for 16 years had lost its way. Now he’s putting some money where his mouth is and shutting parts of the overextended networking company’s shrinking consumer business. That’s sensible as far it goes. More will be needed to simplify Cisco’s sprawl and improve shareholder returns.

The company’s expansion into consumer markets has always looked like mission creep. The purchase of the maker of Flip video cameras for $590 million in 2009 was emblematic of the problem. Cisco justified the deal at the time as “key to Cisco’s strategy to expand our momentum in the media-enabled home and to capture the consumer market transition to visual networking.”

But it was never clear why a company that had been enormously successful in delivering advanced, expensive networking gear for the corporate market should spend heavily to move into producing cheap gadgets for consumers. Now, it’s shutting Flip, and expects to take a $300 million charge. That’s bitter, but medicine often is. There's more..

Tim Hortons Says All Environmental Goals on Track

2011-05-01T07:24:00.000-04:00

Repost from the Environmental Leader:

Tim Hortons, Canada’s largest publicly listed restaurant chain, says it is on track to meet all its environmental stewardship and supply chain targets.

Hortons, which is listed on both the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges, and operates over 500 U.S. locations, released the results in its first sustainability report.

The company said it met goals to implement a business partner and supplier code of conduct, and to develop an independent audit and verification program for its coffee sourcing. The coffee audit program will begin this year with all suppliers participating.

Tim Hortons also registered three restaurants for LEED certification, beating a goal of certifying two pilot restaurants.

The company says it is also on target to reduce packaging within its supply chain and manufacturing operations by five percent by 2012, and to cut energy and water use for all corporate buildings and new restaurant construction by five percent by 2011, from a 2008 baseline. Interested in more..

Do High Carbon Emitters Great Lower Shareholder Value?

2011-04-29T06:57:00.003-04:00

Research reposted from Environmental Leader column:

High Carbon Emitters ‘Are Valued Lower"

S&P 500 companies’ value declines by $202,000, on average, for every additional thousand metric tons of carbon they emit, according to new research.

The study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin, University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University found that the negative correlation between emissions and value translates into a total value penalty of $1.28 billion for firms in the third quartile of emitters, relative to firms in the first quartile.

The authors note that this economic effect is large, considering that the direct costs of carbon emissions have recently been less than $40 per metric ton.

Follow this link for more details.

Ziploc announces new recycling initiative

2011-04-28T14:12:00.007-04:00

Repost from Yahoo Green

Ziploc announces new recycling initiative

Ziploc is one of the world’s most popular brands of plastic bags and other food storage supplies on the market. Even though reusable bags and containers are the best way to keep your lunch from generating excessive waste, millions of people still opt for the disposable versions instead.

Most of these plastics can’t be recycled as conveniently as glass or aluminum, so they often end up in the landfill instead. To help reverse this trend and offset its potential product waste, the Ziploc brand has partnered with Recyclebank to inspire families to increase recycling behavior and divert more than 100 million pounds of waste from landfills within 24 months.

One of the most important aspect of the program could soon show up in grocery stores and retail locations in your neighborhood: 18,000 in-store recycle bins that will accept clean and dry Ziploc brand sandwich, storage, and freezer bags.

Retail Sustainability Leadership

2011-04-26T07:42:00.000-04:00

Repost from the Environmental Leader:

Safeway Leads Greenpeace Seafood Rankings

Safeway has surged into first place in Greenpeace’s rankings of major seafood retailers, surpassing last year’s winner Target.

Target and Wegmans now tie for second place on the Supermarket Seafood Sustainability Scorecard (pdf), pushing Whole Foods from third to fourth.

The top 15 supermarkets in the rankings all get passing grades from Greenpeace (shown in orange on the chart), but Giant Eagle, Publix, Supervalu, Winn-Dixie and Meijer all get failing grades (shown in red). Follow this link for more details ..

The U.S. Green Revolution Continues

2011-04-25T10:23:00.009-04:00

From the New York Times:

This week the Princeton Review, the test prep firm and creator of popular college guides, and the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization in Washington, released their second annual listing of the 311 greenest colleges in the country. The online-only guide, available as a free download, includes brief summaries of sustainability initiatives at each school, as well a dozen or so data points on things like renewable power use, energy efficiency and waste disposal.

The statistics and summaries have plenty of interesting tidbits. Who knew that 94 percent of the electricity used by Bates College, in Lewiston, Me., came from renewable sources? Or that 35 percent of the food served at Harvard is produced locally?

Schools included in the guide scored high on Princeton Review’s “green rating” system, which weighs a variety of criteria, including transportation and construction policies, energy consumption, recycling and waste diversion, environmental studies offerings, greenhouse gas reporting and climate change initiatives.

For more details for this link: http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.aspx

Kodak Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2011-04-22T14:36:00.007-04:00

From Environmental Leader:

Kodak Cuts GHGs, Energy by Almost 50%

Eastman Kodak reduced its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 49 percent from 2002 to 2010, coming close to a goal of a 50 percent cut by the end of 2012, according to the company’s 2010 progress report (pdf) on its sustainability goals.

The GHG reduction of more than 1.5 million tons is the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road, Kodak said. It also reported that it has achieved a 46 percent reduction in energy use since 2002, nearing another 50 percent by 2012 goal.

In 2010 Kodak reduced water use, year-on-year, by ten percent. Working towards another goal of measuring its worldwide water footprint, Kodak has implemented water use tracking at all major sites, and also instituted reduction goals at a majority of sites. More..

Intel Environmental Leadership Continues

2011-04-20T11:21:00.002-04:00

From Environmental Leader

Intel Plans $25bn Efficiency Savings

Intel plans to save $25 billion by 2015 through energy-efficient IT initiatives, a company representative has said. See more..

Dell Closing in on Recycling Goal

2011-04-20T10:28:00.009-04:00

From Environmental Leader

Electronics manufacturer Dell is two-thirds of the way toward its goal of recycling 1 billion pounds of e-waste by 2014, the company has announced.

The Texas-based computer giant says it diverted 150 million pounds of used electronics from landfills worldwide in the 2011 financial year. That is an increase of around 16 percent on 2010, Dell says.

The company has partnered with charity thrift store chain Goodwill on an initiative that lets U.S. and Canadian consumers bring in unwanted computers and accessories for recycling, regardless of manufacturer. This program alone contributed 95 million pounds of recycled electronics to Dell’s 2011 global total. Follow this link for more details.

IKEA Boosting Stock of Sustainable Goods with Eco Scorecard

2011-04-11T14:47:00.006-04:00

From Greenbiz.com

The IKEA Sustainability Product Score Card, announced in the company's latest sustainability report, gives products a rating based on 11 criteria, such as use of less material, energy efficiency during production, recycled content and increase in transportation efficiency.

IKEA also laid out a set of guiding principles for the next five years, some of which have specific goals attached to them, with other goals under development. The company plans to offer products that are more sustainable, take a leading role in building a low-carbon society, turn waste into resources, reduce its water footprint and be socially responsible.

By 2015, IKEA wants 90 percent of its sales of home items to be classified as "more sustainable," according to its scorecard.

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/03/30/ikea-boosting-stock-sustainable-goods-eco-scorecard#ixzz1IU28uBcm

Global Warming Myths and Facts

2011-04-10T14:04:00.000-04:00

Global Warming Myth & Facts From Yahoo Green

Myth: The science of global warming is too uncertain to act on.

Fact: There is no debate among scientists about the basic facts of global warming.

The most respected scientific bodies have stated unequivocally that global warming is occurring, and people are causing it by burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil and natural gas) and cutting down forests.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, which in 2005 the White House called "the gold standard of objective scientific assessment," issued a joint statement with 10 other National Academies of Science saying:

Myth: Even if global warming is a problem, addressing it will hurt American industry and workers.

Fact: A well designed trading program will harness American ingenuity to decrease heat-trapping pollution cost-effectively, jumpstarting a new carbon economy.

Claims that fighting global warming will cripple the economy and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs are unfounded. In fact, companies that are already reducing their heat-trapping emissions have discovered that cutting pollution can save money.

The cost of a comprehensive national greenhouse gas reduction program will depend on the precise emissions targets, the timing for the reductions and the means of implementation. An independent MIT study found that a modest cap-and-trade system would cost less than $20 per household annually and have no negative impact on employment.

Myth: Global warming and extra CO2 will actually be beneficial — they reduce cold-related deaths and stimulate crop growth.

Fact: Any beneficial effects will be far outweighed by damage and disruption.

Even a warming in just the middle range of scientific projections would have devastating impacts on many sectors of the economy. Rising seas would inundate coastal communities, contaminate water supplies with salt and increase the risk of flooding by storm surge, affecting tens of millions of people globally.

Eastman Cleans Up Chemicals in Makeup

2011-04-08T09:53:00.002-04:00

From Greenbiz.com

Eastman Chemical Company announced this week the first cosmetic and skin care ingredient made with a process that cuts out harsh acids and uses less energy and water.

Called GEM technology, the process also fits into Eastman's plan to have more-sustainable chemicals and materials account for two-thirds of revenue from new products.

GEM, which won a U.S. EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award in 2009, uses enzymes instead of acids and solvents to make a key group of cosmetic and personal care ingredients called esters.

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/03/31/eastman-cleans-up-chemicals-makeup#ixzz1IU1YTcsl

Green Sourcing News- Local Supply

2011-04-07T08:32:00.006-04:00

News from the Environmental Economics Blog

Marcellus Shale is not a new pop band

Technological advances plus increased reserve estimates plus limited environmental regulation plus job friendly state government means increased drilling for natural gas in the Ohio region of the Marcellus Shale naural gas and oil deposits:

For many residents of this northeast Ohio hamlet, the oil bonanza began with a knock at the door. City Hall received a fax.

Spit from that machine last summer was a mineral rights lease offer -- just like those being hand-delivered to homeowners -- from oil and gas explorer Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK). In the subsequent months Chesapeake's oil-field leasing agents swarmed the region, laying claim to what the company and others say may be one of the last big unconventional oil discoveries in the U.S.

9 Steps to Reduce GHG Emissions

2011-04-06T10:09:00.002-04:00

See Treehugger.com

Simple consumer advice from Treehugger.com:

Drive less
Bike to work
Use recyled paper
Offset travel
Install blanket around water heater
Eat organic beef
Buy less alchol
Drive slowly
Use eletric lawnmover

Oil & Gas Sector Unveils More Stringent Sustainability Metrics

2011-04-05T10:42:00.001-04:00

See excerpt form Green.biz.com

Why does corporate sustainability reporting matter?

Sustainability reporting is a key transparency and accountability mechanism that can drive more sustainable decisions both inside and outside companies. Businesses can use the reporting process to identify gaps and prioritize areas for improvement. At the same time, standardized sector-specific reports can inform the decisions of a range of stakeholders, including investors, NGOs, and customers that have a stake in seeing companies become more sustainable.

Knowing what you do about the oil and gas sector and its current limitations, why do you still work with them on sustainability?

The long term survival of this sector depends on it tackling the triple challenge of climate change, growing demand for finite fossil resources, and new operating challenges that go well beyond engineering, including fragile ecosystems, impoverished communities, and weak governance.

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/02/11/oil-and-gas-sector-unveils-more-stringent-sustainability-metrics#ixzz1ITmUsIX9

White House, businesses join hands on ‘clean’ vehicle fleets

2011-04-04T08:49:00.013-04:00

From Climate Progress

The US Governemnt is rolling out a new partnership with corporate giants like AT&T, UPS and PepsiCo to reduce their fleets’ oil use with hybrid and electric vehicles, alternative fuels and other steps that trim oil consumption.

See more..

The Governments second high-profile energy event this week – and other appearances by administration energy officials – signal a White House push to seize control of the issue as rising oil and gasoline prices loom as a political threat.

It’s also the type of program the administration can launch under its existing authorities at a time when Capitol Hill action on energy legislation is a question mark.

Transforming big commercial fleets – which together have several million vehicles – provides a major opportunity to cut gasoline and diesel demand, according to the White House and other advocates of alternative vehicles and fuels.

Follow this link for more details.

New State e-Waste Law

2011-04-03T06:01:00.015-04:00

Important excerpt from leading New York Times Author

A new New York state law took effect on Friday making electronics manufacturers responsible for offering free recycling programs. Many residents of New York City are likely to continue relying on so-called collection events to get rid of their e-waste, however.

Workers loading used electronics at a collection event in Manhattan. For harried city dwellers, such events save time that would otherwise be spent visiting individual manufacturers’ Web sites to study their take-back policies. Instead, they can dump computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, cables, TV sets, fax and copying machines, DVD players and other outdated or broken items all at once.

Credit Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

Sprint Provides Supply Chan, CSR, Greenhouse Gas Leadership

2011-04-02T09:06:00.000-04:00

From About.com

Sprint Examines It's Carbon Footprint (GHG Scopes 1,2,3)

See excerpt:

A study commissioned by Sprint Nextel to analyze the carbon footprint of its supply chain has found that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their supply chain amounts to 2,082,983 tonnes, with a total cost of over $74 million. The study looked at 162 suppliers in the Sprint Nextel supply chain and calculated both the external damage costs, and the direct and indirect carbon emissions for each supplier.

The biggest contributor to the carbon footprint was Sprint's manufacturing vendors who accounting for 83 percent of the total carbon emissions and 67 percent of the expenditure. Out of the 162 suppliers studied, the top five suppliers contributed to 58 percent of the total carbon footprint of the supply chain and the top fifty suppliers contributed over 94 percent of the total carbon emissions.

Follow this link for more details.

How Timberland Puts Its Greenest Foot Forward

2011-04-01T12:38:00.001-04:00

See excerpt from Greenbiz.com

Making headway with consumers on issues of corporate social responsibility and sustainability also can be daunting. Bombarded with messaging about environmental efforts from a range of firms, including some that are long on marketing but short on deliverables, consumers are skeptical of companies touting themselves as "good guys."

"I don't believe it, and I'm a relatively sophisticated consumer of that stuff," Swartz said. "So how are you going to have a conversation with consumers about values? They don't want to talk about it and they don't believe you at the starting point."

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/02/17/how-timberland-puts-its-greenest-foot-forward#ixzz1ITlNqYH0

Adidas Sets Environmental Strategy

2011-03-25T07:19:00.004-04:00

See repost from the Environmental Leader News Site

Adidas has achieved targets to launch a sustainable supply chain program and finalize its 2015 group environmental strategy, but has missed targets on ISO 14001 certification and on monitoring its environmental footprint.

The group’s Sustainability Report 2010 outlines the Adidas Group Environmental Strategy 2015, a plan to reduce the company’s environmental footprint 15 percent by 2015, relative to sales. The plan includes a number of targets covering the Adidas supply chain from product creation, sourcing and manufacturing to own-brand store operation and other sales points.

Follow this link for more details.

The 2010 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

2011-03-18T08:13:00.000-04:00

In this fourth edition of ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, we present a comprehensive state energy efficiency policy Scorecard to document best practices, recognize leadership among the states, and provide a roadmap for other states to follow. This Scorecard can serve as a means of benchmarking state efforts on energy efficiency policies and programs with the goal of encouraging states to continue to raise the bar in their efficiency commitments. While several states have been pursuing energy efficiency for decades and are leading the way, several new leaders are quickly emerging by adopting and implementing innovative new efficiency policies.

See more..

Water Conservation Tracking Tool New Available

2011-03-16T14:51:00.000-04:00

From the AWE website

AWE Water Conservation Tracking Tool

Need help in planning your water conservation programs? The Alliance for Water Efficiency now has a solution for you. Many months in development, the AWE Water Conservation Tracking Tool was finished after a successful beta testing period with a number of water utilities. The Tool -- complete with a detailed User Guide -- is available free of charge to all AWE members in good standing.

What the Tracking Tool

The Tool is an Excel-based model that can evaluate the water savings, costs, and benefits of conservation programs for a specific water utility, using either English or Metric units. Using information entered into the Tool from the utility’s system, it provides a standardized methodology for water savings and benefit-cost accounting, and includes a library of pre-defined conservation activities from which users can build conservation programs.

Water utility managers can use the Tool in a variety of ways to aid their water resource planning and operations:

- Quickly compare alternative conservation measures in terms of their water savings potential, impact on system costs, and potential benefits to utility customers.
- Develop long-range conservation plans. Construct conservation portfolios containing up to 50 separate conservation program activities.
- Track the implementation, water savings, costs, and benefits of actual conservation activities over time.
- Evaluate a utility’s changing revenue requirement with conservation.

See the Alliance's website for more details.

Strategic Vision & Framework v9.0

2011-03-13T15:03:00.000-04:00

See brief excerpt from the NOAA climate change framework:

Executive Summary

Every place on Earth is sensitive to changes in climate and weather. Up to one-third of the U.S.
gross domestic product depends on accurate weather and climate information.

The local-to-global-scale impacts of climate variability and change have fueled a growing public demand for climate services—easily accessible and timely scientific data and information about climate that helps people make informed decisions in their lives, businesses, and communities.

More

Table 2.1. Continued Support. The Climate Service will continue NOAA’s support of other
agencies and complimentary capabilities, by providing climate services critical to those
agencies’ missions. For example, DOE, NASA, and EPA have responsibilities and/or
capabilities regarding carbon monitoring and emissions, renewable energy, and seasonal
energy use. The Climate Service will support:

Energy:
• Renewable energy development
• Seasonal energy use
• Carbon emissions issues

Transportation:
• Impacts of a changing climate
• Infrastructure
• Transportation corridors

Follow this link for the complete framework.

City of LA is Reducing Greenhouse Gases, Scope 3 Emissions

2011-03-11T04:18:00.001-05:00

Here's LA's, GHG, Scope 3 Strategy from the Mother Nature Network:

Los Angeles to get 1680 miles of bikeways

The notoriously car-obsessed city makes room for bikes by adopting a bicycle plan aimed at making cycling a more viable way of getting around.

Will Los Angeles start looking like bike-friendly Portland soon? Well, that depends on how you define “soon,” but the sunny Southern California city took a big step (wheelie?) forward when the L.A. City Council approved the bike master plan and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed it into law on March 1.

This is big news for the still car-dependent city. “The bicycle master plan calls for an eventual network of 1,680 miles of interconnected bikeways, including more than 200 miles of new bicycle routes every five years,” reports LA Times. That’s a big change from years past. “Since 1977, the city has built just 377 miles of bike lanes,” according to Grist.

Follow this link for more content.