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Do environmental management systems (EMS) improve environmental performance? Because widespread adoption of EMSs by industrial and governmental facilities has the potential to change the nature of environmental regulation, the Environmental Law Institute and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are examining this question. They are constructing a National Database on Environmental Management Systems which currently profiles 50 pilot facilities that are implementing EMSs. The project is supported by the U.S. EPA and a consortium of states known as the Multi-State Working Group. They have produced a companion report based on their initial analysis of baseline data from the 50 facilities, “The Effects of Environmental Management Systems on the Environmental and Economic Performance of Facilities.” [sorry this link is no longer available]
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39 leading social financial investors sent a letter to CEO’s of the 500 largest U.S. companies, urging them to use standardized sustainability reporting measures for year 2000. According to an Institute for Environmental Management study, 35% of the world’s largest companies produce environmental reports. 30 multinational corporations, including AT&T, Bristol-Myers Squibb, British Airways, General Motors, NEC, Nokia, and Shell use the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, which also contain social performance measures. The letter’s signatories manage combined assets of over $140 billion. They include Calvert Group, Domini Social Investments, and City of New York and United Church of Christ pension funds. Noted Frank Coleman of Christian Brothers Investment Services, “Corporate social and environmental practices have a profound impact on companies’ bottom-lines. Companies that fail to provide investors and consumers with more comprehensive, accurate and reliable information will fall behind in the increasingly global economy.” GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines were released in June 2000 after an extensive pilot period. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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Fuel cell companies have recently experienced the kind of meteoric rise in share price previously reserved for biotech and Internet stocks. But most fuel cell companies do not yet have a commercial product to offer and have never turned a profit. One company’s stock increased by 648% this year but another company’s stock dropped 22% in one day. How do you make informed investment decisions? Tom Koppel, author of Ballard Power Systems, Powering the Future (which SB.com recently featured), and Jay Reynolds have produced an inexpensive report which briefly explains the fuel cell landscape. You’ll learn how they work, their various applications, and be introduced to the leading companies. You’ll learn about the uncertainties and issues facing this new industry. You can order and download the 30-page report at: Tom Koppel’s website. The $25 includes frequent future updates, by email, as the fuel cell industry evolves. You can preview the first few pages at the website.
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Denmark is the first country in the world to ban lead, and restrict cadmium, mercury and nickel. According to Environment Minister Svend Auken, lead is a component in so many products, that restricting its use in individual products is not sufficient. The ban will be phased in beginning in March, 2001, and will be extended to a wide range of products as alternatives are developed. Denmark produces 18,000 tons of lead a year, half of which is recycled. Although a European Union Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and Environment report concludes the ban will not substantially reduce lead present in the general population, they plan to study whether currently acceptable levels set by the World Health Organisation are too high. In the U.S., the first report to comprehensively study the scope and sources of developmental and neurological toxins was released, “Polluting Our Future: Chemical Pollution in the U.S. that Affects Child Development and Learning.” The authors reveal that U.S. industry reports only 5 percent of the total of these emissions, which actually amounts to 24 billion pounds a year. Louisiana and Texas emit the most; minorities are subject to the greatest impact. One of six children in the U.S. (12 […]
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McDonald’s goes GMO-free in Europe. As of April 2001, McDonald’s customers in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland will be eating meat from animals that were fed with GMO-free food. McDonald’s UK announced earlier this year that GMO-free soy would be used exclusively for poultry feed. Burger King made a similar pledge for its poultry products. Will this policy spread to other parts of the world? A new nuclear plant for Finland? An application has been filed to build a nuclear power plant in Finland. This would be the first major expansion of nuclear power in Europe in almost 20 years. A public referendum looks likely. Ford is Canada’s largest auto recycler now that its GreenLeaf subsidiary purchased Lecavalier Auto Parts, a major Quebec automotive recycler that processes 11,000 vehicles a year. Says Dan Tesser, a Ford of Canada spokesperson, “The recycling of automotive parts and materials is a high-growth opportunity and Ford is actively pursuing acquisitions as part of the company’s new business development strategy.” Ford acquired two other recycling operations in Canada this year. Denmark’s 2001 budget imposes high taxes on greenhouse gases postponing its proposed ban until 2006. The gases were chosen based on their global […]
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Many entrepreneurs with innovative sustainability technologies struggle to obtain the financing they need. Steve contends that sustainable businesspeople are doing better at speaking the language of the marketplace, but we still have a ways to go
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Denmark is the first country in the world to ban lead, and restrict cadmium, mercury and nickel. According to Environment Minister Svend Auken, lead is a component in so many products, that restricting its use in individual products is not sufficient. The ban will be phased in beginning in March, 2001, and will be extended to a wide range of products as alternatives are developed. Denmark produces 18,000 tons of lead a year, half of which is recycled. Although a European Union Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and Environment report concludes the ban will not substantially reduce lead present in the general population, they plan to study whether currently acceptable levels set by the World Health Organisation are too high. In the U.S., the first report to comprehensively study the scope and sources of developmental and neurological toxins was released, “Polluting Our Future: Chemical Pollution in the U.S. that Affects Child Development and Learning.” The authors reveal that U.S. industry reports only 5 percent of the total of these emissions, which actually amounts to 24 billion pounds a year. Louisiana and Texas emit the most; minorities are subject to the greatest impact. One of six children in the U.S. (12 […]
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November was a month of alternative fuel car debuts. The first of 750 Ford demonstration TH!NK city vehicles arrived – they are currently for sale in Scandinavia, and will be sold in the U.S. in 2002. The electric 2-seaters are designed for urban driving, with a range of about 53 miles (85 km) and a top speed of 56 miles per hour (90 km/h). Hertz will offer the vehicles in San Francisco to BART (their subway system) shared-car subscribers and as daily rentals at Fishermen’s Wharf. Ford will use 40 vehicles in Dearborn, Michigan as part of its car pool fleet. At the opening of the new 50,000 square-foot California Fuel Cell Partnership Headquarters in Sacramento, California, Volkswagen, GM, and Hyundai showed off their fuel cell prototypes. Volkswagen unveiled its first hydrogen fuel-cell car – Bora HyMotion (known as the Jetta in the U.S.) with a range of about 350 km (217 miles) on 3 gallons of hydrogen. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/hour in 12.6 seconds reaching a top speed of 140 km/hour (87 mph). Hyundai’s entry was its prototype fuel cell-powered ”Santa Fe” SUV. And GM displayed the HydroGen1, a five-seat concept vehicle. It can reach a […]
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39 leading social financial investors sent a letter to CEO’s of the 500 largest U.S. companies, urging them to use standardized sustainability reporting measures for year 2000. According to an Institute for Environmental Management study, 35% of the world’s largest companies produce environmental reports. 30 multinational corporations, including AT&T, Bristol-Myers Squibb, British Airways, General Motors, NEC, Nokia, and Shell use the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, which also contain social performance measures. The letter’s signatories manage combined assets of over $140 billion. They include Calvert Group, Domini Social Investments, and City of New York and United Church of Christ pension funds. Noted Frank Coleman of Christian Brothers Investment Services, “Corporate social and environmental practices have a profound impact on companies’ bottom-lines. Companies that fail to provide investors and consumers with more comprehensive, accurate and reliable information will fall behind in the increasingly global economy.” GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines were released in June 2000 after an extensive pilot period. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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