Putting an end to slavery means understanding the supply chain
Slavery still exists around the world today Unfortunately, slavery is not just a historical blight that modern-day ethics and awareness put an end to. Slavery, in the form of, among other things, human trafficking, servitude, forced labour, exploitation of workers, deceptive recruiting for labour and services, debt bondage and forced marriage exists in Australia and […]
Read MoreAre the timber and paper goods I buy destroying native forests?
“Legal Logging” is not the same as “Sustainable Logging” I recently wrote about illegal logging and the damage it does to forests, indigenous people, wildlife, and the world’s climate. Australia has passed a law (The Illegal Logging Prohibition Act) to try to stop the importation of illegally logged timber, or the processing of illegally logged […]
Read MoreWhy worry about the timber in my products?
I recently worked with a couple of national retailers that sell products made from, or containing, wood or paper. Both companies had determined that the risks to their businesses if they sold timber/paper products sourced from sensitive forests were unacceptable. Why should we care about forests? Forests are important to us locally and globally for […]
Read More12 sustainability goals successful companies know
Sustainability plays a significant role in many companies today. They are seeing benefits from operational efficiencies, goodwill and compliance as well as the greater advantages that come from managing their impact on the environment and communities. Nestlé, for example, has promised to achieve zero energy waste in all of its 150 European factories by 2020. […]
Read MoreAre you sick of seeing waste packaging littering the streets?
I am! Not only because I am tired of having to drag Lulu past Mc Donald’s packages, ice cream wrappers, milk cartons, chip bags etc every time I take her for a walk! If you own a scavenger, you become very aware of rubbish!! Another (less selfish) reason is the energy and resources that go […]
Read MoreThe confusion over which solar panel system to buy should soon be removed
Choosing a solar photovoltaic systems (“PV systems”) is a complicated process with different technology, government incentives, billing options and suitability being considerations the buyer needs to assess. Adding further complication to the buying process, the buyer often has to deal with different people throughout the process- those involved in the sales, installation and post- sales. […]
Read MoreFuel cells: An under used energy source. What are they?
Two articles came across my desk on Monday from very different sources about fuel cells. One was published in Business Spectator and the other in Science Daily. Science Daily reported on a 2 year pilot program soon to be undertaken in Texas, California and New York where the refrigeration units of frozen food delivery vans […]
Read MoreFood and packaging: Japanese style
I’ve just spent 2 weeks holidaying in Japan. It is a fascinating country; one full of contradictions. Among other things I was interested to see, from a sustainability perspective, how so many people can live in such a small area. It’s crowded; without a doubt, with over 125 million people living in an area of […]
Read MoreProtecting native forests; importers of wood and paper products will face heavy compliance obligations from next year.
Importers of products made from timber, including paper and paper products need to start developing their due diligence and compliance programmes now or face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to hundreds of thousands of dollars fines or both, for importing illegally logged products and failing to comply with the Illegal Logging Act. By the […]
Read MoreANZ Bank and GPT Group are world sustainability leaders
The results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes Review were announced yesterday and it is great to see 2 Australian companies amongst the top 19. The ANZ banking group ranked as the leader for the Banking supersector. And General Property Trust Ltd (GPT Group) was the leader of the Real Estate supersector. Both companies […]
Read MoreEnergy Efficiency Information Grants open on 13 February for Industry Organisations to help their members save money, energy and carbon emissions
What benefits can successful organisations give their members? Successful applicants will be assisted by the grant to provide valuable information and advice to support their members move to the low carbon economy which is becoming increasingly important as energy and carbon emissions become a more significant part of a business’s bottom line and sustainably produced goods and […]
Read MoreInnovation and Sustainability: giving your company a competetive advantage.
The importance of innovation in business has been highlighted to me twice in as many days. The first occasion was in a presentation that I was fortunate to attend by the futurist and innovation expert, Craig Rispin. Craig talked about the importance of foresight and innovation in setting a company apart from its competitors. Craig’s […]
Read MoreMaking the most of the extra time for Australian Packaging Covenant Reports.
Signatories to the Australian Packaging Covenant now have until 31 March 2012 to report against their first APC Action Plan. If this year is anything to go by, the next 5 months will fly and it’ll be time to review your company’s Plan, sort through the records for the evidence to support compliance with the […]
Read MoreAldi takes action in managing its supply chain for the environment
According to The Sun Herald on 3 April all laundry detergent sold in Aldi’s Australian stores will be free of phosphates by 2013. Phosphates in the water supply can cause algal blooms that remove oxygen from the water and result in the death of aquatic life. The Sun Herald article can be read in full: […]
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