Energy and Resources
How serious is the problem of food waste?
One third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year — approximately 1.3 billion tonnes — gets lost or wasted, according to an FAO-commissioned study. The amount is equivalent to more than half of the world’s annual cereals crop. Read on…
Is renewable energy the answer?
Renewable power sources such as wind, hydro, solar and biomass could supply 80 per cent of the world’s energy needs by 2050, a new United Nations report announced this week. The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said such developments would have a very positive impact on climate change, but that to be achieved they needed to be “backed by the right enabling public policies”. Read on…
Is fracking natural gas dangerous?
fracturing natural gas divides opinion
Fracking – as the hydraulic fracturing of coal shale deposits is known, is getting a lots of press in the wake of the Deepwater horizon oil spill, as the energy sector looks for ways to both exploit fossil fuel reserves and reduce its carbon emissions. This week Obama, when he wasn’t revealing his birth certificate, mocking Donald Trump or removing the world’s public enemy number one, announced a panel to recommend ways to improve the safety of the process, reports Reuters. Read on…
Technology and Innovation
Will a trading market solve the global water crisis?
Establishing a water market akin to the one for carbon may be the solution to tackling increasing scarcity of supply, according to the chairman of Nestle. Reuters reports that Peter Brabeck, chairman of the world’s largest food group, told an audience in Geneva that selling water on exchanges in the same way other commodities are traded could help solve a shortage of the world’s most precious raw material likely to hit long before oil runs dry. (more…)
Is bisphenol A (BPA) a risk for babies and infants?
Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in a large number of household products, has been linked two problems for babies and infants in two studies, reports Food Production Daily. One study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente, suggests that exposure to the substance while pregnant may increase the birth weight of the baby. The other – by Dr Adam J Spanier and researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, found that if pregnant women were exposed to BPA their offspring may have a greater risk of suffering from wheezing when young. (more…)
Is genetically modifying chickens to be resistant to Avian Flu a good idea?
The announcement that genetic scientists have created a chicken that doesn’t spread avian flu was heralded by Popsci as a breakthrough that might portray the “possibilities of genetic modification in a new, more positive light”. (more…)
Brands and Marketing
Do shareholders care about companies’ attitude to the environment?
Half of all shareholder resolutions in 2011 will focus on social and environmental concerns, according to a new report by Ernst & Young titled Shareholders press boards on social, environmental risks. The report reveals that “83 percent of investors consider environmental and social factors can significantly impact shareholder value”. (more…)
Has Starbucks got it right on sustainability?
Starbucks launched its 10th annual Global Sustainability Report at the end of April, in which, says Reuters, it says it ‘exceeded many of its goals around renewable energy and sourcing and water use, but still faces challenges in the areas of recycling, waste reduction and energy conservation.’ The CSR-reporting blog felt that 2 out of 12 goals achieved, 6 on track, 3 needing improvement and one not achieved represents “Not a totally bad picture” , before pointing out that despite setting a target to reduce energy consumption in company-owned stores by 25% by 2010, only 1.6% was achieved in 2010. (more…)
What are the do’s and don’ts of modern marketing?
It used to be a case of “Just knock it”, but these days many greens seem to have changed their tune on Nike. Treehugger called the company’s new Better World Website “frankly awesome” . Sustainability consultants Futerra said it was the best example of translating the complexity of why a firm’s pushing its core business to be more sustainable into clear, inspiring communications. (more…)
