2Sustain

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the in-house science service for the EU, has developed a new model to help protect global bluefin tuna populations.

The model uses satellite remote sensing data to provide a unique, overall view of the preferred bluefin tuna habitats in the Mediterranean Sea. The potential presence of bluefin tuna can be tracked through daily updated maps, helping to protect endangered stocks, chart their changes over time and fight illegal fishing.

Protection is needed. (more…)

Last week, President Obama directed all federal agencies to make at least $2 billion worth of energy efficiency upgrades over the next two years –at no up-front cost to taxpayers.

From the presidential memorandum:

The Federal Government owns and operates nearly 3 billion square feet of Federal building space. Upgrading the energy performance of buildings is one of the fastest and most effective ways to reduce energy costs, cut pollution, and create jobs in the construction and energy sectors. We have a responsibility to lead by example, reduce our energy use, and operate our buildings efficiently.

Meeting that responsibility requires executive departments and agencies (agencies) to evaluate their facilities, identify potential savings, and appropriately leverage both private and public sector funding to invest in comprehensive energy conservation projects that cut energy costs. The Federal Government can do so by increasing the pace of the implementation of energy conservation measures, and improving the results from its energy efficiency investments.

This directive will be paired with another $2 billion effort in the private sector to upgrade energy efficiency at commercial and industrial properties.   (more…)

European consumers and business decision-makers are increasingly eager and willing to invest in making their buildings and homes more energy efficient, according to a recent survey conducted by online research organization OnePoll, on behalf of Autodesk, Inc.

More than 2,000 European residents in the UK, France, Germany and Italy participated in the study. Approximately 25 percent were business owners, directors or senior-decision makers. The results show that: (more…)

Recent research by KPMG found that even though corporate responsibility reporting has reached an all-time high among the Global Fortune 250 (G250), many of the reports lack rigor.

Now, another new study offers an even harsher critique.

After analyzing more than 4,000 corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, rankings and surveys published by companies worldwide over the past 10 years, researchers at the University of Leeds and Euromed Management School (France) found that most included significant errors, such as unsubstantiated claims, gaps in data and inaccurate figures.

In fact, out of 443 European Union companies featuring in the FTSE All World Index between 2005 and 2009, fewer than one in six reported greenhouse gas emissions that covered all corporate activities, while others were vague, failing to reveal precisely how the data applied to specific activities.

The research uncovered some glaring examples of misinformation. (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…)