2Sustain

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…)

Tiffany & Co. has launched its first annual web-based Corporate Responsibility Report.

Developed in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative’s voluntary sustainability reporting framework, the online report includes highlights regarding environmental and social performance, and also provides intriguing insight into the jewelry giant’s standards and operations for the sourcing of precious materials.

For example, Tiffany says that:

• In order to minimize environmental and social risks, gold, silver and platinum used in its workshops are sourced from responsibly mined metal deposits and recycled sources in the US.
• The company has implemented a multiphase assessment process of its supply chain. Accordingly:
  • Vendors are required, when applicable, to complete a self-assessment of their performance against the Tiffany Vendor Code of Conduct.
  • Tiffany performs internal audits of its vendors.
  • Tiffany contracts with a third-party social responsibility auditing firm to provide audits on its suppliers.

In addition: (more…)

Late last month, Xerox Corporation released its 2010 Report on Global Citizenship, providing a comprehensive overview of the company’s activities and progress in five key areas of corporate social responsibility: environmental sustainability, governance and ethics, customer privacy and satisfaction, employee diversity and development and corporate giving and volunteerism.

With regard to environmental sustainability, Xerox reported that: (more…)

Apple released it 2010 Progress Report on Supplier Sustainability yesterday –two days ahead of its annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.

As I’m sure you’re aware, Apple’s manufacturing business is located primarily overseas, and the company has been dogged with labor problems ever since allegations of sub-par working conditions in China first surfaced in 2006. Since then, Apple has implemented training programs and increased factory audits to help ensure that its suppliers are adhering to the company’s Code of Conduct.

The new 24-page progress report offers details about Apple’s proactive approach to working with suppliers to protect worker rights and improve factory conditions. It includes an outline of the Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, a summary of 2009 audits, plus details about violations and corrective actions to address them.

According to the new report, Apple does see positive progress –but also recognizes that much more work needs to be done to make sure suppliers meet expectations.  The company says it will continue to improve and expand its supplier responsibility program, which includes not only supplier audits, but also: (more…)