GREENBUZZ -- February 19, 2008

February 19, 2008 News, Tools & Resources from GreenBiz.com
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Taking Care of Business The idea of greening your supply chain goes back more than a decade, when companies began to realize they could reduce their environmental impacts by pushing waste- and toxics-reduction efforts upstream to their suppliers. That resulted in fewer environmental problems being shipped to their loading dock. Over the years, supply-chain environmental management has become mainstream, with a hefty push by Wal-Mart and some other behemoth buyers. But what if suppliers won't comply? Should you fire them? As a rule, companies have been reluctant to do that, at least for critical goods and services. But that may be changing. This week, for example, we report that Staples has dumped a major paper supplier because of its poor forestry practices. This is by no means the first company to switch suppliers, but it is a rare instance of publicly doing so. Is that because Staples was pressed to do this by activists, or because it wanted to send a message? It doesn't really matter: the result is the same. Companies have long been setting environmental procurement policies, or banding together to change market practices (witness this week's story about Tiffany & Co. joining with other jewelers to fight "dirty gold"). But the public "firing" of a supplier hasn't, to date, been business as usual. Should it be? Should companies push suppliers harder to transform their products and processes, perhaps "naming and shaming" those who don't make the grade? Given the inadequate regulatory scrutiny of some industries, especially those across oceans, supply-chain environmental management could be the ideal means of regulating the cheater and laggards of the corporate world. -- Joel Makower, Executive Editor New on GreenBiz Radio: >From Suds to Solar: The Greening of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Since the company's inception nearly 30 years ago, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has tried to soften its environmental impact in an industry that is extremely resource and energy intensive. Cheri Chastain joined GreenBiz Radio to talk about some the company's latest environmental efforts, including getting off the grid. You can listen to GreenBiz Radio online, download programs to your desktop, or subscribe to the GreenBiz Radio RSS feed. THIS ISSUE'S SPONSOR Want to be a GreenBuzz sponsor? Click here. Subscribe to GreenBiz.com RSS Headlines The Latest News on Business and the Environment Staples Fires Paper Supplier with Questionable Green Track Record Staples Inc. reportedly canceled all contracts with a Singapore-based paper company because of concerns over its deforestation practices. DHL Completes More Eco-Friendly Ship Voyage as Industry Comes Under Fire A cargo vessel that uses a towing kite system to achieve better shipping fuel economy completed its first shipment this week as the industry found itself under fire from U.S. and international regulators. Nike Makes Shoes From Trash, Nokia Envisions Remade Cell Phones Nike's Trash Talk shoe is made with scrap or environmentally preferred materials, while Nokia's concept Remade phone is completely recycled. CSR Practices Can Lead to Increased Profits, Two New Reports Find More companies are taking CSR practices to heart, Not only are more companies taking CSR practices seriously and implementing them across operations, those companies are more likely to see their value grow, according to two new reports from IBM and and the Economist Intelligence Unit. Health Insurance Company Highmark Tops List of Green IT Users Computerworld surveyed and ranked the top companies implementing green IT equipment and practices, shining a light what's available and what works. Xcel Energy, PG&E Among Utilities with Leading Energy Efficiency Programs The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy released its second survey of the country's best utility-based efficiency programs, finding that a handful of companies are significantly stepping up efforts to reduce their customers' energy usage. Green Paper Mills See Sales Boost >From GLOBE-Net A new report released by Markets Initiative, an environmental publishing organization, shows a dramatic increase in recycled paper sales in 2007, despite difficult economic conditions for Canada's paper mills. Jewelers Join to Oppose New Alaskan Gold Mine Tiffany & Co., Helzberg Diamonds and three other prominent jewelers signed a pledge opposing a planned Alaskan gold and copper mine near the site of the globe's most prolific sockeye salmon run. Michelin to Spend Millions Developing Fuel Efficient Tires Michelin plans to spend millions researching ways to make its tires deliver improved fuel economy. Exelon Plans to Cut, Offset all CO2 Emissions by 2020 The country's largest nuclear energy generator plans to further reduce emissions from its buildings and supply chain as well as create new, low-carbon-emitting energy plants. Most Global FT500 Companies Address Climate Change in Non-Financial Reports The vast majority of the world's largest companies issued stand-alone non-financial reports addressing climate change, according to CorporateRegister.com. Lawyers Focus on Climate Change Implications, Greening Operations Former New York Gov. George E. Pataki is spearheading a climate change law practice to help clients deal with the legal and economic effects of a warming planet. Meanwhile, lawyers in New England are teaming to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations. New Campus Sustainability Program Launches Comprehensive Push to Green Campuses The Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, will bring attention to everything from buildings to food programs to education. Put GreenBiz news on your site for free! Learn more... > MORE NEWS HEADLINES Featured Resource A Wealth of Hands-On Help WebEx's Green Guide to the Office This report looks at the many ways that businesses of all sizes can contribute to combating climate change, from employee-level recycling programs to solutions from the IT department like collaborative working. Strategies for Ensuring Environmental Compliance This report from IHS examines the growing impact of environmental regulations -- around the world, from China to California to the E.U. -- on supply chain sourcing, and how companies can ensure and enforce compliance with environmental standards. > MORE TOOLS > MORE WEB SITES Columns and Features Insight and Inspiration from the Experts The Big Impact from Greening Small Businesses By Jonathan Bardelline Small businesses, by their sheer numbers, have the potential to make a huge impact on the environment, and groups organized at the national, state and local level are working to spread sustainability to independent companies that want -- and need -- to go green. CSR Watch: TV Makers Facing a Toxic Digital Deadline By Conrad MacKerron When the U.S. switches to the digital spectrum a year from now, the country will likely face an avalanche of obsolete and unwanted television sets filled with lead and other toxins. Here's how manufacturers and retailers can take responsibility. GreenBiz Blogs Marc Gunther on Corporate America: Investing in Africa > More from Marc Gunther David Wigder's Green Marketing Strategies: Predicting a Green Future > More from David Wigder Wanna write for GreenBiz? GreenBiz is looking for guest and regular columnists and feature writers. We're seeking contributions from business leaders as well as the journalists who write about them. If you're interested, send a brief query to managing editor Matthew Wheeland, at editor@greenbiz.com | Read our editorial guidelines > MORE COLUMNS > MORE FEATURES