[Originally published by Marc Gunther at Ensia.com] Corporate sustainability reports have been around since … well, it’s hard to say. The first report may have been published by “companies in the chemical industry with serious image problems” in the 1980s, or by Ben & Jerry’s in 1989 or Shell in 1997. No matter — since […]
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When considering the impacts that companies have on the world, both the positives and the negatives, it’s not enough to look at just the balance sheets or other financial reports. Sure, it’s important to have a strong financial base for a company, but that only tells part of the story. Looking at the corporate social
Online Natural Capital Management System Launched Read More 👉
How can Fair Trade companies tell their story in a way that’s transparent, honest, and informative? If this crowdfunded campaign is successful, it might be as easy as giving people a single, consumer-friendly point of entry for all Fair Trade organizations and companies, either on the web or via an app. “Many consumers want to
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What does a game-changing sustainable solution to our overly-consumptive and wasteful lifestyle look like? Could it be aiming for “better” rather than “more”? Annie Leonard, of The Story of Stuff fame, has a new video out, this time focusing on solutions and exploring how we can move our economy toward a more sustainable end, beginning
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The darling of home owners and apartment dwellers alike, IKEA has brought Euro-style and flat-pack home furnishings to the masses, and now they’re set to redefine their business with a focus on sustainability. “We want to have a positive impact on people and the planet. For many years we’ve focused on economizing with resources and
IKEA Launches Sustainability Strategy: People & Planet Positive Read More 👉
I can’t help myself! I review the shopping venues shelves, such as my local supermarket and Walmart, to investigate what manufacturers are doing to make the packaging of their products more sustainable. I have to admit that I focus on the negative. I really notice the packaging tragedies, and cringe to see just how bad
Bad Bad Packaging Read More 👉
LYFE Kitchens founder Steve Sidwell knew nothing about the grocery retail market, but he knew what demand was. Sidwell, who said he’d struggled with finding healthy, quick meals for years and battled weight issues as a result, was looking for a good tasting, healthy, quick meal plan that he could stock up in his fridge.
Lyfe Kitchens cuts into Lean Cuisine’s market share with wholesome quick meals Read More 👉
Business startups are one of the most important parts of the world economy. Accordingly, most entrepreneurs state their ultimate goals as owning their own business. But the reality is running a business is complex, risky, exhausting, and does not necessarily HAVE to be the immediate end-goal for every actionable idea you seek to monetize. There are other
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Private wealth.. what’s that all about? Well it’s easy to explain. It wealth, that is to say assets and money, which is owned and controlled by a private individual or privately owned organisation for their private gain. Easy. What about common wealth, what’s that? Well it’s sort of the opposite, where assets and money are
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Money. It’s one of the biggest misconceptions in modern economic theory around and a huge barrier to building a sustainable economy. Not because there’s anything intrinsically wrong with money, but how economists have come to view it does no-one (or very few people) any favours. Here’s the problem: you mention economics and everyone assumes you
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Despite good intentions about contributing to a healthier environment, the European Union recently enforced a law that heavily restricts aircraft emissions, and has subsequently been met with tremendous opposition. The law essentially requires all aircraft operators touching down or taking off in Europe to offer a permit that illustrates the craft’s emissions levels throughout the entire
New EU Law Promotes More Efficient Aircraft Emissions, Stirs Controversy Read More 👉
Thanks to a couple of communist revolutions during the 20th Century the economic map of the world has been polarised between capitalist and socialist thought. Now, at the start of the 21st Century, we’re faced with the problem of how to build a sustainable economy and the whole capitalism vs socialism issue raises its head
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Mandatory CSR spending moved a step closer this week after and announcement by the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs that it had received no objections to the controversial Clause 135 of the Companies Bill 2011. This helps clear the way for the bill to become law sometime next year. Clause 135 states that all businesses
Mandatory CSR spending a step closer Read More 👉
In October, General Motors published a blueprint for companies to follow to reduce their waste going to landfill. Buried within it are ten cool things GM has done to reduce its own landfill waste. These are: Converting 227 miles of oil soaked booms from the Deepwater Horizon disaster into air deflectors for the Chevvy Volt.Â
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Part 7 in a series on planned obsolescence Too much of a good thing will sometimes get dressed for the party wearing the wrong clothes. The most significant difficulty with disposable plastic has nothing to do with its practicality or usefulness – as it happens to be remarkably useful in a stunning number of formulations
The Evolution of Planned Obsolescence: Innovation’s Litter – Part 7 Read More 👉
In short order the name of Bic was equated with the rising popularity of inexpensive disposable products – a n emerging trend. The list of wares ran the gamut, from razors to disposable cameras. Unlike Brooke Stevens’ adage involving a product that was newer and slightly better, the world of disposables simply involved low cost and the ability to produce at a massive scale.
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Best intentions aside, there is no economy here, just the imagination that someone brushed on canvas some time ago. In one quaint town, the doors of the small restaurant are locked shut; it is the same at the hardware store and gas station on the corner. The remaining clothing store with an “Open” sign in the window must be run by wealthy hobbyists in need of a write off or by one of the few churches that’s still open.
Unplanned Obsolescence & the Texas Back Roads: Part 5 Read More 👉
What happens when your boss calls a meeting and looks around the room and says, “OK…sustainability is all the rage these days and it looks like the business benefit is clear. Who knows how we can do something proactive around healthy product design? Â [awkward pause] Â Energy efficiency? Â [pause…even more awkward] Â Come on guys…does
How to make sustainability happen: Amp it up! Read More 👉
As consumer demand increases for green products and companies continue to embrace sustainability as a business strategy, it’s glaringly apparent that there is going to be a need for solid, data-driven information that can help companies make smart decisions. The Fortune 500 has started adding the Chief Sustainability Officer as an official C-suite position, but
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Companies are looking to renewable energy in growing numbers, both for cost-savings in the long term, but also for public relations benefits. Whatever the motivation, these companies are moving markets by creating demand for renewables in their many forms. The list below is a top 20 of companies that have gone solar. The list contains
Which companies are doing the most solar? Costco? REI? Google? Mars?!? Read More 👉
Diesel engines are a big deal in America. They are used to haul the food we eat and the goods we otherwise consume. The biggest challenge in the wide use of the diesel engine is that its emissions will often pose a problem for maintaining clean air. The good news is that advancements in technology
EPA Allows Illegal Engines As Long As Feds Get Paid Read More 👉
Part II: Whether it was smart or not, by the late 1950s, planned obsolescence had become a practice many people understood, even if it might sometimes be contrary to the idea of long-lasting product quality. By the late 1950s, planned obsolescence had become a practice many people understood, even if it might sometimes seem contrary
The Freight Train for Planned Obsolescence Jumps to High-Speed Tracks – Part 2 Read More 👉
Many people criticize policies and elected officials based on strong support for what they believe to be free market capitalism. But do these people actually understand capitalism? What they believe to be capitalism: getting the government off the back of the private sector, is not true free market capitalism. Adam Smith, the man many in the
This week, the Important Media Network has committed to highlighting some of the women that are making the world a better place. At Inspired Economist, we thought we’d take part by profiling a great sustainable woman CEO every day this week. See previous posts on Gail Kelly of WestPac Bank, Irene Rosenfeld, CEO of Kraft Foods, Kim Jordan, CEO
Women in Focus Week, Day 5! Meet the Top Women Sustainable CEOs: Jan Blittersdorf Read More 👉
