2Sustain

After an in-depth study of 17 global IT services firms across 52 different criteria, the independent analyst firm Verdantix concluded that Accenture, Deloitte, IBM and Logica now lead the way in the highly competitive sustainable technology services market.

According to the Verdantix report, these four firms have distinguished themselves with superior corporate sustainability strategies and stronger commercial expertise across advisory and systems implementation capabilities for:

• renewable energy
• facilities energy management
• sustainable data centers
• environmental compliance
• sustainability performance management
• low carbon transport
• smart grid
• smart meters
• climate change IT services

In addition, the analysis revealed that: (more…)

Make a purchase at any fast food restaurant, and it’s impossible not to notice the packaging waste generated. Usually, there’s the cup, the cover to the cup, the straw, the paper/plastic/box the food is wrapped in, the stack of napkins . . .

Why can’t fast food restaurants develop a “greener” way to package their products?

Fortunately, some are taking significant steps in that direction.

Last week, Dogwood Alliance released “Greening Fast Food Packaging: A Roadmap to Best Practices,” a report which

• outlines eight key attributes of environmentally friendly fast food packaging,
• highlights fast food industry leaders that are implementing key initiatives to help move the entire sector toward more sustainable packaging,
• provides simple guidance on how to assess environmental impacts in the supply chain, and
• offers a valuable action plan to focus corporate sustainability efforts.

According to the report, a few leaders have stepped out from the pack to take initiative on the development of sustainable fast food packaging. For example: (more…)

Colgate-Palmolive has released its latest sustainability report, “Giving the World Reasons to Smile.” The new online report details Colgate’s long-standing commitment, achievements, accomplishments and challenges to sustainability and social responsibility.

Specifically with regard to environmental stewardship, Colgate has:

• Reduced per-ton manufacturing-related greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent,
• Decreased water use by 44 percent, and
• Lowered wastewater loading by 31 percent

(between 2002 and 2010).

In addition, the company requests that all key suppliers measure and disclose climate change information and overall transparency. Colgate’s Supplier Code of Conduct sets the company’s expectations for suppliers in a number of critical areas, including: (more…)

Building on its reputation as a leader in sustainable seafood practices, Safeway Inc. announced this month that by the end of this year it will transition to free-school purse-seine methods for its Safeway brand skipjack (chunk-light) canned tuna.

This move to a more responsible method of food sourcing is in line with Safeway’s current work on fresh and frozen seafood and will enhance the company’s “Dolphin Safe” tuna commitments previously made to Earth Island Institute.

Here’s some clarification on the fishing method terminology: (more…)

Food supply chains are now global and enormously complex. And food recalls are more commonplace than ever before. (See earlier posts about problems with honey, beef, eggs, cookie dough . . .)

As a result, it’s no surprise that food safety is an increasing concern worldwide.

Food safety regulations have increased, and food manufacturers say they’ve fine-tuned processes. But, do consumers have faith in these stepped-up efforts? Do we really feel confident that the food we eat is safe?

To gain some insight into this intriguing manufacturer-consumer dynamic, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), conducted a study exploring the perceptions of consumers and food manufacturers regarding safety, innovation, performance and sustainability issues.

The study, Navigating the Product Mindset, collected opinions from consumers and manufacturers in China, India, Germany and the US across the high tech, food, building materials and household chemicals industries.

The results of the study show that: (more…)