Top Story of the Week Is Uncle Sam one of your important customers? If you answered "yes," then do read the top story this week -- it is about the proposed purchasing policy of the federal government as expressed in a statement from the US Environmental Protection Agency last week. Draft guidelines are coming that will help the government buy "greener" and "safer" (more sustainable) products. As with draft rules or guidelines, public comments are invited. The federal agencies comprise the largest buyer of goods and services in the world. And the effort is underway to reduce the government's environmental footprint overall with the goal of achieving a 95% rate in sustainable purchases. This is expected as well to encourage businesses and consumers -- and other public sector entities -- to seek out more sustainable products (and spur manufacturers to provide more of the same). There are non-public sector standards and eco-labeling initiatives that the federal government purchasing managers will use as part of the government-wide initiative. President Obama issued Executive Order #13514 (October 5, 2009), with the goal of achieving "Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance," with government-wide participation. The USEPA move is one part of the program. EPA Proposes New Guidelines for Greener Federal Purchases
(Friday - December 06, 2013)
Source: EPA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing draft guidelines that will help the federal government buy greener and safer products. In response to broad stakeholder interest, EPA is seeking public... The rise of sustainability reporting in the corporate world
(Tuesday - December 03, 2013)
Source: Trucks at Work - Trucking is long familiar with efforts to make freight transportation more “sustainable” in terms of reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Indeed, a wide variety of companies are also embracing... Sustainability in Focus Sustainability will dominate post-2015 development agenda
(Friday - December 06, 2013)
Source: European Voice - Development ministers from the European Union's member states will gather in Brussels next Thursday (12 December) to push forward discussion about the international development agenda after 2015. The European Union and its member... Pioneer Of Global Sustainable Investing Honored With 2013 Sri Service Award
(Friday - December 06, 2013)
Source: Boston Common Asset Management - Geeta Aiyer, Founder and President of Boston Common Asset Management, was honored in late October with the 2013 SRI Service Award. The annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Sustainable, Responsible, Impact... New initiative for sustainable fashion
(Thursday - December 05, 2013) Associated Profiles :Business for Social Responsibility
Source: ecotextile.com - The Danish Fashion Institute, (through Nordic Initiative Clean and Ethical) and consultancy firm Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) have launched a new joint initiative to help... Why are CEOs struggling to prove sustainability value to investors?
(Thursday - December 05, 2013)
Source: GreenBiz - A recurring challenge faced by businesses looking to become more fundamentally sustainable is how to demonstrate the value of their initiatives to shareholders and investors. This problem was highlighted by the triennial CEO... Investors representing more than $1 trillion in assets win better sustainability disclosure and performance from emerging market companies
(Wednesday - December 04, 2013) Associated Profiles :Social Investment Forum (SIF)
Source: L'online di Tribuna Economica - In addition, the educational outreach to companies and other key stakeholders ... including improvements in sustainability reporting and policies. In South Korea, the local EMDP team made steady... Sustainable food chains make business sense and consumers happy
(Wednesday - December 04, 2013)
Source: Guardian - In a year when horsemeat contamination and food waste have made the headlines, consumers are more conscious about the operation of the food system. Everyone wants food they can trust, but today's shoppers increasingly want more... A farmer's view: Sustainability essential to farmers
(Tuesday - December 03, 2013)
Source: Duluth News Tribune - Farmers and ranchers across the U.S. constantly are working to improve how we farm to ensure a sustainable industry. We do this not only for ourselves but for the people who will depend on the environment many years after us... Three ways to improve sustainability metrics while also saving money
(Tuesday - December 03, 2013)
Source: Packaging Digest - Packaging is always challenged to balance a number of competing priorities. On one hand is Marketing, and the desire for innovative packaging that acts as the "silent salesman," driving customer purchase intent and revenue... Green Reads: Five Books For The Sustainable Minded
(Tuesday - December 03, 2013)
Source: CBS TV NY - What is better than curling up on the couch with a blanket and getting lost in a good book? Here are few books that are good reads with a good purpose. They provide information about how you can live more sustainably as well as... Businesses in Asia should lead the sustainability movement: experts
(Monday - December 02, 2013)
Source: Eco-Business.com - Corporate leaders at a forum last Monday said it is no longer an option for businesses to be sustainable, but an imperative, and shared case studies on how their firms were embedding sustainability in their operations. Top... Sustainability, corporate governance make good bedfellows
(Monday - December 02, 2013)
Source: FMT - Corporate governance while it is being bandied about by policymakers and regulators begs the question of why is it a business imperative? With the growing decline in public trust in the aftermath of the global financial crisis,... ESG Issues & Players Report: Consequences of Global Warming Could Occur Soon
(Friday - December 06, 2013) Associated Profiles :Union of Concerned Scientists
Source: US News and World Report - For years, climate change has been a problem of the future that seemed to hold little immediate consequences. Now it looks as though the future may come a lot sooner than expected. A report from the... ICCR: Top U.S. Banks Get Average Or Below-Average Scores On Key Shareholder Concerns
(Thursday - December 05, 2013) Associated Profiles :ICCR
Source: The Street - Seven leading U.S. banks scored a disappointing 60 or fewer out of 100 possible points in a benchmarking study released by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), which represents 300 institutional investors... The 10 Most Corrupt and Least Corrupt Countries in the World
(Wednesday - December 4, 2013)
Source: Reuters - In some countries, business owners can go their way in the happy knowledge that government officials won't be hitting them up for bribes or tossing them in jail on trumped-up charges. But in other parts of the world, public... OPEC Inaction Masks Looming Supply Glut in 2014: Energy Markets
(Tuesday - December 03, 2013)
Source: Bloomberg - Even with OPEC forecast to keep its output quota unchanged at a meeting this week, falling oil demand and prospects for increased supply from some member states mean the group’s leader, Saudi Arabia, will have to cut production... Asset Managers, US Pension Funds, Sovereign Wealth Funds Most U.S. States Heading Into 2014 With Stronger Finances, Fitch Says
(Wednesday - December 04, 2013) Associated Profiles :Fitch Ratings
Source: The Wall Street Journal - Most U.S. states are heading into 2014 in stronger fiscal shape than they were a year ago, though a handful are likely to see their budgets stressed further next year amid rising retirement benefit... The Norwegian Oil Fund worth NOK 5000 bln
(Wednesday - December 04, 2013) Associated Profiles :Norwegian Government Pension Fund – Global (Statens pensjonsfond – Utland) , Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Norway
Source: opalesque.com - The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, also known as the National Oil Fund has now reached the value of NOK 5000 billion, or USD 818 billion. This was announced Monday, 17 years after the... Editorial: Keep private lobbyists out of public pensions
(Thursday - December 05, 2013) Associated Profiles :Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS)
Source: m.cjonline.com - Well, shame on us. We weren’t aware some lobbyists are eligible for pensions under the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System until we read a recent story by The Associated Press that noted... | Check It Out...
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Watching the Watchers One Water
Headquarters: Coral Gables, Florida
Established: 2003
ESG/Sustainability Focus: Yes, water.
KEY PARTNERS
A network of dozens of journalists, operating with funding from the John S. and James L. KnightFoundation, and assistance from departments at the University of Miami (Florida)
OVERVIEW/MISSION
One Water describes itself, in brief, by writing, “One Water is a collaborative project at the University of Miami aimed at engaging the media to bring awareness to the global water challenge.” One Water works with “journalists and media makers” from all over the world (60+ countries).
BACKGROUND
Organized and managed by veteran journalist and editor Joe Treaster (The New York Times) who teaches at the university. He organizes class projects, encourages foreign and domestic journalists in their coverage of water-related issues, provides networking opportunities, and works to get water “on the radar of the financial world.” The objectives to get serious, well researched articles submitted from around the world, focused on water issues. Topics in focus have included ocean coral reefs and the Everglades water region. In October 2011 the Center will host members of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), which should raise both the Center’s work and the water and environmental issues with journalists. News Sweeps
Toms River Engineer to be Recognized with Green Apple Award
(Monday - December 09, 2013) - oceancountysignal.com - Toms River Township Engineer Robert Chankalian, Jr. is... Ducking and Thriving in Orlando
(Monday - December 09, 2013) - Huffington Post UK - That done, head for Toymania when your time to ride is due and experience one of the best 3D games in town. If you only do one water park, my money is on Aquatica... Why We Don't Keep Our Dietary Resolutions
(Monday - December 09, 2013) - diabeteshealth.com - Instead start by saying, "I'll drink more water and substitute one soda for one water." Over time you gradually increase the number of water-for-soda substitutions so that you don't feel... |
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