|
||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Malaysia Sustainable Business TV Series Broadcast Premiere on BLOOMBERG TV
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Sustainability is Becoming a Key Part of Decision Making for Brands, Consumers
As consumer demand for greater transparency by brands increases,
companies are stepping up their commitment to sustainability.
Procter & Gamble is partnering with the Malaysia Institute
for Supply Chain Innovation to help small farmers improve their palm oil and
palm kernel oil production as part of its zero deforestation goals set in April
after the consumer packaged-goods company was targeted by
Greenpeace.
“We already work with larger suppliers to trace the origin of
our supply chain, but small farmers—in places like Malaysia and
Indonesia—account for 35 to 45 percent of palm oil production,” said
Len Sauers, VP P&G Sustainability.
But brands aren't the only ones having to make decisions with
sustainability in mind. New tools and online tracking technologies aim to help
better understand consumer behavior with respect to sustainability such as
supercookies, browser fingerprinting, location-based identifiers and behavioral
tracking.
In laboratories, research on “the neuroscience of consumer
decision-making using implicit associations (people's subconscious responses to
brands), EEG (a cap to measure brainwave activity), and fMRI techniques (to
measure changes in neuron activity in the brain)” is advancing the
understanding of “the conscious and sub-conscious processes driving emotional
engagement," The Guardian
reports.
However, a majority of retailers and brands “still depend on
simplistic surveys and focus groups to study sustainability concerns and
commitments of consumers.” Like public television surveys of yore where
“self-esteem” answers led to flawed results, "social desirability" on
sustainability surveys similarly skews the data.
“While brands have been remarkably successful at feeding
universal human drives, such as the desire for adventure, power or status,
sustainability has not been seeing the same success in its messaging," the
site notes.
“What sustainability needs to create the same impact is a similar level of
insight into the best way to embrace the full range of human emotions. Because
it's human emotion that's at the heart of what motivates us.”
Practical tools in the marketplace like Ethical Barcode’s new app lets consumers
access real-time data on companies that embrace their values on issues like
child labor, animal testing and deforestation.
More Sustainable Branding:
- Macy's is installing 17 free-to-operate vehicle (EV)
charging stations outside of eight stores in the Los Angeles region by this
fall, bringing the total to 33 EV charging stations in southern California.
It's also installing energy-efficient
LED bulbs in all Macy’s store nationwide by year’s end; 20 additional
solar energy systems; and is working with vendors to reduce the use and
waste of packaging materials, integrating recycled fibers into garment tags and
using FCS-certified paper hangtags.
- The NHL, which just released its 2014 Sustainability Report,
plans to reduce the use of natural resources in business operations while
tracking and measuring the environmental impact of the sport. The League's
carbon footprint—approximately 530,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
annually—compares favorably against annual emissions from the single largest
coal power plant in the US at 23 million metric tons.
- Sustainability
in the Tire Industry 2014 reports that green tires are driving
the industry as legislation in the developed world demands “vehicle makers and
their supply chains to minimize fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse
gases, and corporate brand managers are insisting on differentiation.”
- Hyatt Hotels is pursuing a
benchmark for sustainability efforts among its competitors in the
hospitality space. “You have to compare among peers and among the industry
segment itself to make it meaningful," Hyatt Hotels CFO Gebhard
Rainer told the Wall Street
Journal. “We’re all releasing numbers and we’re all talking
more and more about sustainability, but very often it is hard to get that
tangible comparison and know what the benchmark is, or even how that relates to
somebody else’s benchmark.”
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Land Bank awarded most sustainable company in the Philippines
The Sustainable Business Awards held for the first time in the Philippines recognised companies that excelled in energy management, waste and material productivity, environmental disclosure, and other responsible practices.
The Land Bank of the Philippines has clinched the top gong at the Sustainable Business Awards (SBA) held on Monday for the first time in the country.
Organised by Singapore-based events firm Global Initiatives and Price Waterhouse Cooper Philippines (PWC), the SBA selected Land Bank as the Best Overall Winner out of 22 companies that won awards at a ceremony held at Dusit Thani Manila, which was attended by over 100 guests.
Land Bank – a government-owned company that has a social mandate to boost rural development through credit assistance to farmers and fisher folk, among other services – also won for the climate change category for their progressive environmental policies and strong support for mitigation and adaptation projects. In 2013, they also extended over four billion pesos of loans to environmental and renewable energy projects, said the organisers.
They also stood out for their inclusive business models, innovative programmes, and for improving the livelihood of local communities, added the organisers.
“At Land Bank, sustainability is a shared responsibility. It is embedded in our programs, work processes, products and services, and it also extends to our clients and partners,” Gilda Pico, Land Bank president and CEO, told Eco-Business.
Land Bank, which began operating sustainably in 2010, has several CSR initiatives, such as the ‘Adopt a Watershed’ programme and Manila Bay clean-up efforts, and has also produced a sustainability report for 2012 and 2013, following the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative, said Pico.
Along with Land Bank, other winners included Honda Philippines for the supply chain management category and Nestlé Philippines for water management and waste and materials productivity.
The awards, which is also held in Indonesia and will launch in Singapore later this year, covers 10 categories across a comprehensive framework of environmental measures: strategy and vision; workforce; CSR in the community; energy management; water management; waste and materials productivity; climate change; supply chain management; land use, biodiversity and the environment; and, business responsibility and ethics.
Organised by Singapore-based events firm Global Initiatives and Price Waterhouse Cooper Philippines (PWC), the SBA selected Land Bank as the Best Overall Winner out of 22 companies that won awards at a ceremony held at Dusit Thani Manila, which was attended by over 100 guests.
Land Bank – a government-owned company that has a social mandate to boost rural development through credit assistance to farmers and fisher folk, among other services – also won for the climate change category for their progressive environmental policies and strong support for mitigation and adaptation projects. In 2013, they also extended over four billion pesos of loans to environmental and renewable energy projects, said the organisers.
They also stood out for their inclusive business models, innovative programmes, and for improving the livelihood of local communities, added the organisers.
“At Land Bank, sustainability is a shared responsibility. It is embedded in our programs, work processes, products and services, and it also extends to our clients and partners,” Gilda Pico, Land Bank president and CEO, told Eco-Business.
Land Bank, which began operating sustainably in 2010, has several CSR initiatives, such as the ‘Adopt a Watershed’ programme and Manila Bay clean-up efforts, and has also produced a sustainability report for 2012 and 2013, following the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative, said Pico.
Along with Land Bank, other winners included Honda Philippines for the supply chain management category and Nestlé Philippines for water management and waste and materials productivity.
The awards, which is also held in Indonesia and will launch in Singapore later this year, covers 10 categories across a comprehensive framework of environmental measures: strategy and vision; workforce; CSR in the community; energy management; water management; waste and materials productivity; climate change; supply chain management; land use, biodiversity and the environment; and, business responsibility and ethics.
“At Land Bank, sustainability is a shared responsibility. It is embedded in our programs, work processes, products and services, and it also extends to our clients and partners"
Gilda Pico, Land Bank of the Philippines president and CEO
This framework was developed in collaboration with various stakeholders and global experts, said the organisers, adding that a quantitative review of companies’ environmental impacts, such as its carbon footprint or amount of waste generated, is important because what is measured is managed.
Gene Morales, PWC consulting director, explained that PwC worked with Global Initiatives to narrow down the prospective award participants by checking the 24-page questionnaire they each answered and by conducting a 30- to 60-minute phone interview with each participant to determine the existence of documents, procedures, and projects.
“Using the scoring framework provided by Global Initiatives and the results from the phone interviews, PWC rated the survey respondents. We then submitted an initial score that determined a short list,” Morales noted.
This list was provided to a National Advisory Panel, which is composed of eight members such as Hans Sicat, president and chief executive of the Philippines Stock Exchange and Philippine Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the senate committees on environment and natural resources and climate change. The members of the panel, who gave insights and knowledge on the companies’ performance and reputation, finalised the list of winners with Global Initiatives.
Trucost, a London-headquartered natural capital accounting consultancy, also supported the organisers in the assessment of quantitative data and environmental measures.
According to the organisers, this allows companies to demonstrate that they are both aware of the scale of their environmental risks and are taking steps to manage them in a way that is data driven and systematic.
Chaoni Huang, Trucost head of business development in Asia, handed out the additional category award on environmental disclosure to Henkel, a multinational company in the home, beauty and adhesive industries that has been releasing sustainability reports globally since 1992.
The Sustainable Business Awards held on Monday in Manila took place on the first day of the co-located Responsible Business Forum on Food and Agriculture, which drew over 150 local and international participants from the government, business, academe and civil society sectors.
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Redefining the Philippine Golf Experience- Philippines
To hardcore enthusiasts, golfing isn’t just a game,
it’s a way of life. But it’s not for everybody. The cerebral demands of the
sport are intensely unique in that you compete against yourself and are given
time to think before you act. And like in any other sport, where you play makes
a difference.
For golf, a well-designed course, which balances
aesthetics with game challenge, is hard to come by, much less one that takes
into consideration family-friendly amenities. This is why Anvaya Cove stands
out.
Anvaya Cove is working to reinvent the traditional
concept of leisure, and the development is now set to redefine the sport as it
announces plans to introduce the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club. Nestled
within Bataan’s coastline, the seaside leisure community combines panoramic
views unique to the development and raises the bar of sustainable living with
its globally recognized efforts.
Unique
Unique
“Anvaya Cove is a tangible representation of Ayala
Land Premier’s thrust for environmental sustainability, and holds the
distinction of being our first leisure community development,” says Antonio
Aquino, President of Ayala Land Inc. “As pioneers, we are proud that Anvaya
Cove sets the benchmark for sustainability without taking anything away from
the unique, recreational experience that it can provide for its growing
community.”
Set in a location where the mountains meet the sea,
Anvaya Cove offers a diverse mix of residential offerings—from a range of lot
sizes, leisure townhomes and low-rise condominium units, all anchored on the
tenets of sustainable leisure and complemented by exceptional amenities
designed to cater to many interests and needs.
“Bataan’s unique coastline definitely adds to Anvaya
Cove’s distinctiveness, and every feature within Anvaya Cove was built to
Cheighten this experience,” says Aquino.
For this reason, Anvaya Cove is now extending its
expertise in sustainable development and understanding of premier seaside
living with the introduction of the development’s first, all-weather, 18-hole,
championship course, clearly marking its potential to be ranked alongside the
best golf courses in the world.
Green Golf
Green Golf
True to its thrust for sustainability, the Anvaya
Cove Golf and Sports Club is designed to adhere to the same stringent set of
sustainability guidelines that has allowed Anvaya Cove to be recognized
worldwide.
It is done in partnership with Golf Plan, a
world-renowned design firm specializing in sustainable golf course development.
For the golf aficionado, the 18-hole course offers an
opportunity to enjoy a much-loved sport amid the grand vistas that only Anvaya
Cove’s mountain or sea course can offer. Beginners and enthusiasts on the other
hand, are provided an opportunity to learn and experience the game with the
dedicated junior and ladies’ tees. The carefully planned course caters to
varying skills and expertise ensuring a new challenge with each, and will be
complemented by a driving range facility where golfers and newbies can refine
their game or learn the sport, respectively.
“Beyond the majestic views and landscapes is of course
the intent to give families a distinct place where they can enjoy time with
loved ones,” adds Mike Jugo, Project Head of Anvaya Cove. The Anvaya Cove Golf
and Sports Club is also set to offer an expansive venue for recreation that
will offer something for every member of the family. These include diverse
dining experiences set to be enjoyed across expansive golf verandas, top-rate
recreational and sports amenities including an expansive pool complex, sports
courts, game room, a gym and fitness room.
CSR approach in Oil & Gas Indonesia
Total Indonesia is involved in sustainable community
empowerment and capacity building actions in the areas of education and
research, health and nutrition, local economic empowerment, environment and
alternative energies. These endeavours are consistent with Total’s commitment
to answer the challenges of sustainable development.
Total’s commitment in the country is further
exemplified through its manpower program,
with an extensive plan to develop national manpower and high level national
managers through training and international assignments, as well as career
developments for new recruits. Total also continues to enlarge partnerships
with national businesses and significantly enhance employment, which is
currently estimated at 20,000 full time jobs on its industrial sites.
One of its
CSR programs in East Kalimantan opens doors for local food and other products,
increases the usage of local materials and also job opportunities for local
people.
The CSR approach has changed over the years from giving handouts to needy recipients to giving them a helping hand in realizing their potential.
“We’ve been through an evolution when it comes to CSR. The former approach called for philanthropy, basically sponsorships. But now, we’ve moved on to the concept of creating sustainable development,” says Kusuma Adinugroho, head of the Sustainable Development and Societal Relations Division at Total E&P Indonesia.
The CSR approach has changed over the years from giving handouts to needy recipients to giving them a helping hand in realizing their potential.
“We’ve been through an evolution when it comes to CSR. The former approach called for philanthropy, basically sponsorships. But now, we’ve moved on to the concept of creating sustainable development,” says Kusuma Adinugroho, head of the Sustainable Development and Societal Relations Division at Total E&P Indonesia.
Among the
company’s CSR strategies are programs in economic empowerment, education,
health, environment and alternative energy as well as cultural.
DHL – GoGreen Service
DHL was the first global logistics provider to set
quantified carbon dioxide (CO2) efficiency targets and it is on track to beat
its target of improving the carbon efficiency of DHL operations and its transport
subcontractors by 30 percent by 2020, compared to 2007. In 2011, DHL achieved
record improvements of CO2 efficiency with results up 21 percent compared to
2010 for its Express division in Asia-Pacific, despite increases in volume due
to the continued economic recovery.
GOGREEN Service
GOGREEN is a carbon-neutral
shipping option for customers of DHL and Deutsche Post, now available for DHL
Express customers in more than 35 countries.
With the GOGREEN
optional service, all transport-related emissions of carbon dioxide are
first calculated and then offset through external climate protection projects.
Business customers can choose to send all or a selection of their international express shipments as GOGREEN. Business customers who use the GOGREEN service receive GOGREEN stickers to place on their shipments, as well as an annual certificate stating the total amount of carbon dioxide which was offset on their behalf during the year.
The carbon credits generated from external climate protection projects are managed by our in-house Carbon Management team. Carbon Management, all GOGREEN processes and the emissions-calculation methodology are verified annually by a third-party verifier, SGS.
Business customers can choose to send all or a selection of their international express shipments as GOGREEN. Business customers who use the GOGREEN service receive GOGREEN stickers to place on their shipments, as well as an annual certificate stating the total amount of carbon dioxide which was offset on their behalf during the year.
The carbon credits generated from external climate protection projects are managed by our in-house Carbon Management team. Carbon Management, all GOGREEN processes and the emissions-calculation methodology are verified annually by a third-party verifier, SGS.
Paul Graham, CEO, DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific,
said: 'Leadership for us
includes being at the forefront of environmental protection and it is a key
component of our business strategy with the obvious primary focus of
controlling CO2 emissions and climate protection. We view climate change
as an opportunity to demonstrate innovation within the logistics industry and
create a competitive advantage through working closely with customers to
develop greener supply chain
solutions.'
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
Energy Development Corporation, BenCab team up for the environment
L-R:
Lopez Group Foundation Inc. president Cedie Lopez Vargas, artist
BenCab, LGFI Operations head Angela Lopez Guingona and EDC CSR manager
Rei MedranoEnergy Development Corporation (EDC) and National Artist BenCab (Benedicto Cabrera) have joined hands in saving and propagating endangered premium native trees.
With the
University of the Philippines-Baguio and the Philippine Society for the
Study of Nature, EDC and BenCab Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI) planted 100
seedlings of 18 endangered tree species at BenCab’s farm in Tuba,
Benguet recently.
The tree-planting activity is part of EDC’s BINHI: A
Greening Legacy project, a nationwide reforestation and biodiversity
preservation project to arrest forest degradation, contribute to climate
change mitigation and provide sustainable livelihood for forest
communities.
BAFI, EDC’s
97th partner for the project’s Tree for the Future module, will host the
permanent planting area within the eco-trail of BenCab Museum and share
in the responsibility of implementing the long-term protection,
monitoring and maintenance of the planted trees until these have grown
into mother trees.
Launched in 2008, BINHI is focused on bringing back highvalue but fast-dwindling native
trees such as yakal, tindalo, kamagong, mangkono and ipil.
Rei Medrano,
EDC manager for CSR, said: “We source the few remaining seedlings of
endangered premium native trees and grow them into mother trees in
planting sites where they can
be best
protected and nurtured…. These mother trees will be used to propagate
more seedlings for transplant all over the country.”
EDC has already rescued 85 premium endangered tree species out of the 96 target priority species with the help of its BINHI partners nationwide, Medrano added. (By Toni Nieva)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)