2009 May | 2Sustain

Archive for May, 2009

Green Data Centers Require Collaboration Between IT and Facilities

May 21, 2009 | No Comments →

Data centers are energy hogs, and they’re responsible for enormous amounts of GHG emissions. So, in today’s business environment, where every organization is looking to cut costs while keeping a watchful eye on potential government regulations, IT and facilities managers need to be collaborating, working toward solutions that benefit both departments.

But, surprisingly, a recent study by Nemertes Research revealed that this sort of communication and collaboration is virtually non-existent. In fact, as unbelievable as it sounds, an astonishing 87% of IT execs who participated in the Nemertes survey said that they didn’t know their data center energy costs.

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Tags: Andrew Winston, Aravo, CIO.com, data center, facilities, green data center, green IT, green supply chain, Michael Bullock

Aberdeen Report Reveals That Sustainability Is Becoming a Business Imperative

May 20, 2009 | Comment (1)

If you weren’t persuaded by yesterday’s video of Ray Anderson outlining the business benefits of sustainability , then I encourage you to read “Sustainability Matters: The Corporate Executive’s Strategic Agenda,” a new report from the Aberdeen Group.

Findings from this 39-page report demonstrate that sustainability continues to gain importance among shareholders, customers, trading partners, and regulators. As a result, an increasing number of companies worldwide are working toward integrating sustainability criteria into their overall business strategy. The research is especially compelling when you look at Best-in-Class performance.

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Tags: Aberdeen, Aravo, business benefits of sustainability, business sustainability, supply chain, sustainable supply chain

Video: Ray Anderson Talks About the Business Benefits of Sustainability

May 19, 2009 | Comments (5)

I’ve written plenty of blog posts that highlight the business benefits of sustainability. But today, I’m going to let someone else do the talking. I hope you’ll spend a few minutes listening to this video clip featuring Ray Anderson, the founder of Interface, the world’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet. Anderson is a sustainable business pioneer who, since 1994, has focused his company’s attention on creating an alternative to the traditional, linear “take –> make –> waste” industrial model. In this short talk, recorded at TED2009, February 2009, in Long Beach, California, he artfully outlines the business logic of sustainability, using specific examples from Interface’s groundbreaking business plan.

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Tags: Aravo, business benefits, business sustainability, green supply chain, Interface, Ray Anderson, supply chain, sustainability

FM Global Study Looks at How Global Sourcing and Supplier Consolidation Impact Supply Chain Risk

May 18, 2009 | No Comments →

Over the past few years, many companies have turned to global sourcing and supplier consolidation as ways to reduce operating costs. While there’s no doubt that supply chain strategies like these offer great opportunities for competitive advantage, it’s also important to note that outsourcing and consolidation come with a significant downside: increased risk exposure. How are business leaders in the US responding to this new reality? Do they feel that their management teams can adequately assess, anticipate, and mitigate these new supply chain risks?

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Tags: Aravo, FM Global, global sourcing, supplier consolidation, supply chain, supply chain risk, supply chain risk management

Coca-Cola Introduces New Bottle Made From Sugar Cane and Molasses

May 15, 2009 | Comments (8)

The Coca-Cola Company announced yesterday that it is piloting a new plastic bottle manufactured partially from sugar cane and molasses.

This new “PlantBottle™” is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles, according to a press release.

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Tags: Aravo, Coca-Cola, green suppy chain, PET, plant-based plastic, PlantBottle, recyclable bottle, sustainable supply chain