2Sustain

Are you concerned about potential government regulations and how they may impact your business operations? If so, you’re not alone. Earlier this week, Digital Realty Trust, Inc., the world's largest wholesale datacenter provider, released the results of its annual study of green datacenter trends in the US, and one of the key findings was that the majority of business leaders polled have concerns about potential federal regulations. As a result, the survey also showed that many companies are turning to green datacenter initiatives designed to improve energy efficiency.

Last week, I wrote about a recent study by the Grocery Manufacturers Association which illustrates how green shoppers have become a large, high-value segment to both retailers and manufacturers.

Now, this week there’s more new research to support that claim. 

According to a joint quantitative study released by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB), a global research-based corporate and political consultancy, and JWT, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, consumers in the US, UK, and Japan continue to prioritize “green” relative to other purchase drivers, despite the recession.  

Ask someone to describe “green packaging,” and odds are, they’ll start talking about boxes manufactured from post-consumer content and plastic bottles designed for easy recycling. But, have you ever stopped to think about the role that adhesives play in efforts to create sustainable packaging solutions?

If not, consider this: According to a recent article in Adhesives Magazine, it takes one pound of oil to make one pound of adhesive. That means that for every 315 pounds of adhesive saved, manufacturers are conserving one barrel of oil –and 7,560 gallons of water.

A year ago, when transportation costs were at record highs, logistics managers everywhere were re-designing supply chain operations to reduce their transportation expenditures. But, now that energy prices have retreated, are supply chain re-designs still a top priority? Over the past year, did companies realize that by improving the efficiency of their logistics operations, they could not only lower transportation costs, but reduce their carbon footprint –and overall supply chain risks –as well? 

According to a recent reader survey conducted by Logistics Management, the answers to those questions vary, depending mostly on the size of the company you ask.  

New research from Johnson Controls suggests that energy efficiency is more important than ever to business leaders.  However, investment in initiatives is lagging, as businesses await anticipated regulation and incentives.