Showing posts with label eco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eco. Show all posts

Carbon Trust Sustainability Certification

Carbon Trust offers certification for organizations in sustainability. This includes energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste management. Carbon Trust independently validates and certifies organizational achievements in adopting more sustainable business models.

The certification process acts to identify inefficiencies in resource use and provides a framework for improving management processes. The Carbon Trust Standard helps organizations to measure, manage and reduce their environmental impact, whilst improving their resource management and operational sustainability.

Carbon Trust certification is designed to reduce costs and enhance corporate reputations. They also help organizations to communicate sustainability achievements with customers, investors and stakeholders.

Certifications are awarded to for best-practice and real achievements in reduction. The Carbon Trust standard and certification offers tangible proof of sustainability to customers, employees, shareholders and suppliers.

There are currently over 1,100 organisations having certified, they have helping create a new business culture whereby corporate sustainability is now an essential part of business management.

Carbon Trust Standard bearers include:

Allianz
AkzoNobel
Allied Bakeries
Anglian Water
Branston Ltd
Bentley Motors
Bupa
Center Parcs
Dept for Energy & Climate Change
Dyson
Eurotunnel
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Greggs
Marks & Spencer
McLaren
Nationwide
nPower
Ofgem
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Quorn
Sainsbury’s
Selfridges
Sky
Standard Chartered Bank
The Football Association
Whitbread

Together Certified organisations have saved saved $258 million in energy and operational costs and reduce carbon emissions by over 3.6 million tons of CO2e every year, with an average annual energy cost saving of $503,000.

As reported by Business Green one of the companies to recently earn Carbon Trust Certification is Vegetarian-food supplier Quorn. They succeeded in reducing the carbon footprint of their core mycoprotein ingredient by 15 percent. Improvements to their vegetarian mince products have resulted in a 90 percent lower carbon footprint than its beef equivalent.

They have also invested in energy efficiency initiatives at its Stokesley headquarters, including improved temperature control and thermal insulation. Overall they have reduced their building's carbon emissions by 15 percent.

Kevin Brennan, Quorn chief executive, said "we work hard as a business to ensure we're doing right by the environment. The recent investment in the business has certainly helped to ensure we're doing everything possible to reduce our carbon footprint and we will continue this as we embark on our journey to becoming a $1bn business."

The international impact of the improvements to Quorn's products drew praise from Carbon Trust managing director Darran Messem.

For more information on Carbon Trust Certification click here.

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Event - Ecochem: Global Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

The Ecochem Global Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Event will take place at the Congress Center Basel, Switzerland, 11-13 November 2014 Apply here if you are interested in becoming a speaker. A vision for the future of the chemical industry. The world's most influential industry and government leaders, scientists and innovators from across the chemical industry and value chains, sharing new visions for the sustainable design, production and use of chemicals.

Overview

3 Days, 8 streamed sessions, 180+ confirmed speakers, 2000+ attendees, 50+ exhibitors, new knowledge, new relationships, new business ideas.

A Changing Industry

The chemicals market is changing. Fast. Society wants all the benefits that the chemical industry provides with none of the negative health and environmental problems and consumers increasingly demand products and processes that are more sustainable.

New Knowledge, New Relationships, New Ideas

Understanding the challenges and opportunities which are rapidly emerging requires new thinking, new ways of working together throughout value chains and across disciplines, new products and technologies and new ways to remove barriers. The Ecochem Exhibition and Conference will provide an independent, scientifically-supported platform to accelerate innovation, research, commercialisation and market uptake in the design, production and use of efficient, effective, safe and more environmentally benign chemical products and processes.

Engage with World-Changing Thought Leaders

Market leaders including Dow, BASF, Clariant, Evonik, DuPont, Nestle, Nike, Volkswagen, P&G, Novartis and L’Oreal will share insight, breakthrough research, and disruptive new concepts and technologies – all designed to inspire and equip the leaders of tomorrow with the critical strategic and technical knowledge, contacts and skills needed to reinvent businesses and economies.

Build Shared Vision

Be part of Ecochem to think differently, build a shared vision, leverage new technologies, implement new ideas and discover unexpected partnerships, cross-sector deals and transformational plans that contribute to the collective benefit of people, the planet and profits.

Please note that earlybird registrations will open on or by March 15th 2014.

Click here to find out more and subscribe to receive event updates, information and industry news. Companies Calling for Chemical Regulation http://www.thegreenmarketoracle.com/2013/12/companies-calling-for-chemical.html

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2013 Brower Youth Awards

In October, Brower Youth Awards acknowledged six winners for 2013. These six winners distinguished themselves with their creative and effective work tackling problems ranging from community organization, renewable energy and climate education.

Alex Freid, 22, of New Hampshire, for reinventing waste diversion on college campuses through his non-profit organization The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN).

Amira Odeh, 22, of Puerto Rico, for initiating the first student sustainability movement focused on water consumption and plastics pollution on her university’s campus.

Arielle Klagsbrun, 22, of Missouri, for mobilizing the St. Louis community to fight for a healthy and equitable future free of big coal corporations.

Cassandra Lin, 15, of Rhode Island, for addressing community needs with unconventional biofuel generation from used cooking oil.

Chloe Maxmin, 21, of Maine, for developing a common network for young environmentalists to propel their projects forward.

Jonathan Ferrer, 18, of New York, for encouraging youth involvement in climate resiliency and community projects in New York City.

Winners were selected by a panel of seven judges including David Suzuki. In the past 14 years a total of 85 Brower Youth Award recipients have raised more than $2 million for environmental causes, trained more than 3,000 youth in advocacy, involved more than 50,000 people in green projects, implemented 20 university-wide environmental policies, passed eight pieces of legislation, organized more than 4,000 events and actions, produced nearly three dozen documentary films and held more than 500 lobbying meetings with elected officials.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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2013 SEAD Global Efficiency Medal for Computer Monitors

The Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative, an international collaboration of 16 member economies and an initiative under the Clean Energy Ministerial. As reported in Energy Manager Today, the winners of its 2013 Global Efficiency Medal competition for the world’s most energy-efficient computer monitors are:

The LG 16EN33SA received the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal in the small-size category with 53 percent greater efficiency than conventional models (15 inches to less than 20 inches). This monitor can be purchased in India.

The Samsung S22C200B received the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal in the medium-size category with 28 percent greater efficiency than conventional models (20 inches to less than 23 inches). This monitor can be purchased in Europe and North America.

The Samsung S27C450B received the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal in the large-size category with 43 percent greater efficiency than conventional models (23 inches and larger). This monitor can be purchased in Australia, Europe, and North America.

A Samsung 23.6-inch LED backlit prototype computer monitor (product number S24XXXX) won the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal in the emerging technology category. This monitor is 53 percent more efficient than comparable displays available on the market today. It will be commercially available worldwide within the next two years. Computer monitors can account for up to 35 percent of a desktop computer’s energy consumption. These award-winning models are 12-53 percent more efficient than other commercially available computer monitors

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Companies Calling for Chemical Regulation

While some companies actively resist government regulation, others are welcoming it. A group of responsible consumer product companies is pushing for chemical safety reform legislation to better protect the public from toxins that are commonly found in consumer products.

This coalition was started by Seventh Generation along with the American Sustainable Business Council. Other members of the group include Annie's, and Stonyfield Farm. These companies are behind safer products and chemicals for decades. they are also leaders in transparency and accountability. A reform bill for the anemic 37 year old Toxic Chemical Safety Act, has been languishing in the Senate for months.

Even the American Chemistry Council advocates reform. However, a number of powerful and very wealthy companies have controlled the debate in Washington and stymied any hope of reform.

There has been increasing coverage of the toxins contained in home products like shampoo. When given a choice people will choose what is healthier for themselves and their children. While it is clear that there will be opposition from some quarters, those who do not support the coalition for healthier consumer products will have to publicly declare their opposition and then the public can decide who has their best interest at heart. 

The coalition have signed a declaration that states:

Current chemical regulation is outdated and inadequate. Now is the time to change it. As business leaders we urge Congress to pass chemical safety reform legislation that protects all families from toxic chemicals, and incentivizes the production of cleaner and safer chemicals and products.

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, and unlike other major environmental laws, has never been updated. As it currently stands, TSCA is a broken law. As a result, tens of thousands of potentially harmful chemicals continue to be used in the marketplace since the 1970’s without proper testing and without disclosure by the companies that produce them.

We believe this has to change.

As companies and business leaders we’re asking Congress to pass comprehensive and effective chemical safety reform legislation now. Chemical policy reform must protect the most vulnerable among us, and require public access to information regarding the safety of chemicals. Reform must respect the rights of states to protect their residents when the federal government fails to do so, and require the Environmental Protection Agency to take fast action on the most harmful chemicals. Right now the Chemical Safety Improvement Act does NOT meet these criteria. Guided by good science, legislation can drive business innovation and success and protect public health.

Parents and families should not have to worry about harmful chemicals in our everyday products. That’s why we’re working together to encourage Congress to pass chemical safety reform now.

This is good for business and for our economy.
Here is a list of 45 companies that are part of the coalition and have signed the petition for chemical reform:

  1. EO/EveryOne
  2. Think Local First of Washtenaw County
  3. Financial Alternatives Law Office of Dona Marie Hippert
  4. EPP-LCA.org
  5. Naturepedic
  6. Living Calmness
  7. EcoPlum
  8. THE ADDED EDGE
  9. South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce
  10. Quest
  11. Seven Oaks Ranch, Inc.
  12. Miriam D Weber
  13. Management resources
  14. Preciva
  15. Simply Rustic
  16. LaunchBox
  17. Sympatico Clothing
  18. Kenoza Type, Inc.
  19. On Demand Ventures, Inc.
  20. KKI
  21. Total Balance Health & Fitness
  22. Rune's Furniture Co.
  23. CEO Pipe Organs/Golden Ponds Farm
  24. High Flight Arts and Letters
  25. BitJazz Inc.
  26. Affordable Portable Housing
  27. Babee Talk
  28. Social Venture Network
  29. SeaYu Enterprises
  30. Ameson
  31. Suntegrity Dharma Merchant Services
  32. The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA)
  33. Badger
  34. Just in Time Direction
  35. GILASI by InnerGlow, Inc.
  36. BARRETT INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INC
  37. Keys
  38. Think Dirty Inc.
  39. KM Designs!
  40. Badger
  41. BioEconomy Partners
  42. Whole Dogz, Inc
  43. Los Jardines Institute (The Gardens Institute)
  44. Sustainable Island Products
  45. Bluegrass Academic Tutoring
To sign the petition click here.

If your company supports this effort email your logo to Kathleen Hutton: khutton@asbcouncil.org

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Course - Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

Two Day Workshop or 16 Hours Online. To protect human health and the environment, understanding the occurrence of different chemicals and their potential transformations, transport, and fate based on various physical and chemical processes in the environment is paramount. This course is designed as a general introduction to environmental chemistry. This two-day course provides participants with an introduction to chemistry principles and the release, transport, and fate, as well as sampling, analysis, and cleanup of contaminants of concern in soil and groundwater. This course is designed for environmental professionals who require a basic knowledge of environmental chemistry in their work.

This course will focus on a survey of selected chemical industries or processes that release hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals into the environment; fate and transport of chemicals in environmental media; data collection, presentation, and interpretation.

Course Content

Chemical Foundations
Chemistry Basics
Stoichiometry
Chemical Reactions
Chemical Bonding
Chemical Equilibrium
Supplemental Information
Acids & Bases
Aqueous Equilibria
Transition Metals
Organic Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry

Course Objectives

Students that complete this course will be able to: List key chemicals and modes of release associated with selected industries; Describe the chemical, soil, water, and geological properties which govern the fate and transport of chemicals in environmental media; List chemical parameter changes associated with aerobic and anaerobic degradation; and Describe procedures and practices commonly used to ensure the quality of analytical data.

Who Should Attend

Federal, State, and Local Regulators
Industrial Compliance Managers and Consultants
Project Managers
Environmental Scientists and Engineers

Cost

Online Course Fee - $395.00

For more information click here.

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Video - Green Chemistry and the Business of Providing Consumers with Safer Sustainable Materials



Green chemistry is growing in prominence in response to environmental concerns associated with traditional chemistry. Nowhere is this impact being felt more than in the area of finding replacements for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This video offers the latest science on the way forward using green chemistry's ability to create innovative, healthy and sustainable products. It specifically shows how companies can grab market share by responding to growing consumer interest in safer, sustainable materials.

In February 2013, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme issued a joint report that identifies EDCs as a 'global threat' to public health. The report presents extensive scientific evidence linking EDCs to a range of diseases and disabilities, including some of the world's major public health epidemics: diabetes, obesity, heart disease and hormonally-related cancers such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. These findings indicate that the burden of many of these diseases may be reduced by taking preventative action to reduce exposures.

In 1996, Dr. Myers co-authored the international bestselling book "Our Stolen Future" and started shaping the field of EDC research. Today, almost 20 years later, many of the open questions with regard to EDCs' effects have been answered and new challenges have emerged.

In this video, Dr. Myers provided an overview of the main scientific discoveries, discussed why regulatory risk assessment of chemicals has missed EDC effects.

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