CLSA is a leading provider of equity brokerage, investment banking and asset managememnt services. Recently CLSA conducted a survey among companies in the Asia-Pacific on climate change and for the most part respondents proved to be “largely oblivious” to the issue. Of the 582 companies that took the survey 40% didn’t even fill out “Clean and Green” portion. What of those that did fill it out? 64% of them scored a rock-bottom zero. Now the question here is what is your favorite retailer doing about the widely published results?
To date, only Wal-Mart, yeah - the Wal-Mart based in Arkansas- has acted on the news calling on suppliers to report their greenhouse emissions. Hopefully as the worlds largest retailer pushes for greener operations in Asia more of the products we buy can be made sustainably. Maybe Wal-Mart new tagline “Save Money. Live Better.” rather than “Always Low Prices” has prompted them to turn a new leaf.
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On Wal-Mart again. Just a few days ago, according to a greenbiz article, Wal-Mart became the newest company to join the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT). The private-sector initiative (created by the retailer Target Corp. and logistics companies) is attempting to address the environmental issues caused by the shipping and trucking industries. As a member, Wal-Mart will begin to take a closer look at its logistics providers working in the ports to ensure that trucks being used to offload goods from the ships meet the emissions standards. Other companies already in CRT; Nike, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.
One rule of the initiative states that beginning in September of this year, 2008, the two California ports (LA and Long Beach) will no longer allow trucks built before 1989 to enter the port facilities. (1998 was chosen because that was when pollution controls began coming pre-installed in most big rigs.)
Matthew Kiernan, CEO Innovest
You gotta love the Washington Post. Alex Morales over there wrote about some major additions to the Carbon Disclosure Project that we mentioned back in November of last year. According to his recent article, big business is trying to capture a comprehensive and accurate picture of it’s carbon footprint. Late last month 11 multinational companies joined with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to measure the impact of their operations on their environment. Some of the 11 companies that signed on were; Hewlett-Packard, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Cadbury Schweppes, Dell, Nestle, and Unilever. The group includes the world’s largest maker of personal computers (HP); the world’s second-largest soft-drink maker (PepsiCo); and consumer product giants Unilever and P&G.
Each company will select as many as 50 of their suppliers to respond to questions given them by the CDP. The hope is that as a result of this in-depth evaluation will prompt suppliers to be more aware of the “greenness” of their operations and initiate efforts to identify opportunities to adopt more eco-friendly operating standards. The CDP is a non-profit project that coordinates environmental data designed to meet the requests of 315 investors with $41 trillion of assets under management.
Can’t get enough? Paul Simpson, COO over at CDP posted a really informative powerpoint with some very interesting data. Or maybe you are fence-sitter with this whole sustainability thing - check out the ppt. He uses data that you will probably like - economic impact numbers.
The recently passed Energy Bill states that by 2014 the use of incandescent light bulbs will be banned for traditional use. I guess we should be asking how a legislator defines the word “traditional”. You never know what a legislator can figure out to do with a light bulb. Anyways, here’s the good news – by simply removing incandescent light bulbs from widespread use consumers will save approximately $40 billion, eliminate the need for 14 coal fire power plants, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50 Million TONS! Thanks to Simon over at the greenblog for the good news of the day!
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