Since the start of 2012, I’ve been to the US three times and it is interesting to reflect on what is going on in the world of sustainability. It is tempting to say “not much” and make this a very short blog, but that’s not the case.
I never imagined I would spend time in Texas working on sustainability with a company that exclusively supplies big oil with capital equipment, but I did. I never imagined I would end up helping the United Nations deliver the Rio +20 event in a more sustainable way, but I have. I did not predict spending time with the UK, US and Canadian institutions for civil engineering talking about more sustainable infrastructure development, but I have. And I expect to be back in the summer, working with at least two other global businesses. And yes, I offset my flights! (more…)
Paul Higgins, operations director at Mace, provides his top 10 tips on how businesses can incorporate sustainability principles when burdened with financial constraints. (more…)
The stadium is built, the medals have been sourced and the horses have been benchmarked to make sure that no competitor gets an unfair advantage. In just 100 days, the London 2012 Olympics will begin.
Of course, SM has followed the story as it has progressed, and I thought it would be good to reflect on what has come out from the marathon that has been procurement for the games. (more…)
As a former climatologist, I find global warming – though the activity of humans burning fossil fuels and destroying CO2 ‘sinks’ such as tropical rain forests – both fascinating and alarming. (more…)
Last week,David Cameron said the time had come for public figures to teach “right from wrong” and questioned whether the Church of England had done enough to defend those in the face of the “moral neutrality” that pervades modern life.
Procurement as a discipline also has a unique opportunity to ensure that the commerce, finance and the contractual acumen of the purchasing process addresses values and morals. (more…)
Our experience of working with companies to help reduce their carbon emissions has shown the majority of an organisation’s footprint is frequently outside its direct control.
There are a number of steps supply chain managers should take to understand and realise the opportunities for emission reduction within your supply chain. (more…)
Did you eat a chocolate you found behind a small cardboard door this morning? Or perhaps you found a picture of a star/tree/mistletoe instead and satisfied yourself with that?
In short, the paper called for all the reports and disclosures that a company makes throughout the year to be combined into one easy-to-read and easy-to-assess report that covers financial, sustainable and operational performance.
Now, ok, it’s hardly surprising that the IIRC believes that we should use integrated reporting, seeing as it’s in its name, but leaving the potentially tunnelled view to one side, it’s really quite a nifty idea. (more…)
Thinking of losing a bit of weight? Want to earn some cash for it? That sentence may sound ludicrous, but it’s the reality for some employees in the US who have been paid to shed pounds.
One woman was paid more than $1,000 after losing more than 100 pounds in nine-months ahead of her wedding, and $100,000 has been paid out to date to some of the ‘biggest losers’. (more…)