2Sustain

Results of a new study confirm findings I reported to you last summer: There’s a disconnect between a brand’s actual sustainability performance and consumers’ perceptions of its sustainability performance.

The new research –conducted by Change, a Vancouver consultancy focusing on green brand innovation, Angus Reid Public Opinion and the nonprofit Climate Counts –is reported in MapChange 2010, a brand investigation of nearly 100 top North American  companies, spanning 10 product and service sectors. (Note: Change is being acquired by Maddock Douglas, a Chicago innovation agency.)

Here’s an example of the kind of disconnect I’m talking about. In the report, commercial shippers UPS and DHL score about equally well in green performance, based on Climate Counts criteria. However, when it comes to consumer perception of the two brands, UPS is the clear winner, scoring almost five times higher than DHL. (more…)

Most executives (69 percent) in an Economist Intelligence Unit survey believe there is a strong link between financial performance and commitment to sustainability in the long term (five to 10 years). However, only 24 percent feel there is a strong link in the short term (one to two years).

The survey, which polled more than 200 finance and corporate social responsibility executives in December 2009 and January 2010, defined sustainability as “operating in a way that preserves the long-term productive capacity of the natural and social environments.” Interestingly, the results also revealed that: (more…)

If you’re curious about what’s new regarding sustainability reporting, sustainability investments and sustainability regulation, I suggest you spend a few minutes with the newly released CSR Insight Report, available at www.csr-insight.com (registration required).

The 93-page report gives a comprehensive overview of the field, including perspective on a variety of fundamental factors, including: (more…)

More than half of Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) supply chain members expect to deselect suppliers in the future for failing to meet carbon management criteria, according to a new CDP report.

The second annual CDP Supply Chain Report, produced by A.T. Kearney, summarizes climate change information from 710 suppliers, and it shows that carbon management is becoming an increasingly fundamental component of supply chain strategy for the 44 CDP supply chain member companies –including global corporations such as Dell, Juniper Networks, National Grid, PepsiCo and Reckitt Benckiser.

Specifically, the report found that: (more…)

Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, is continuing to set aggressive environmental targets, despite the lack of clear government guidance, Chief Executive Terry Leahy told Reuters earlier this week.

In fact, the company plans to spend more than 100 million pounds ($159 million) with British green technology companies over the coming year as it moves forward with its drive to cut carbon emissions in half by 2020.

In the Reuters article, Leahy admits that it would be better to have “clear binding targets” (set by governments).  But, since we’re currently operating in a “political vacuum,” businesses will have to take the lead and set their own, he says. (more…)