2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders

A bevy of iconic brands have been singled out as the world's leading sustainability companies. The results of the 2016 GlobeScan/SustainAbility survey of corporate sustainability leaders were released on June 7th 2016. The list is formally known as the The 2016 Sustainability Leaders and his year it was produced in partnership with Sustainable Brands,

The Sustainability Leaders Survey tracks expert opinions on the evolution of sustainability. These experts are now saying that values and purpose are "top drivers" of change. Leaders in sustainability excel at integrating social and environmental purpose into their core business. Leading companies also model innovation and set ambitious goals.

Mark Lee, Executive Director at SustainAbility commented: “Sustainability experts now believe that national governments and the private sector must take equal responsibility for advancing sustainable development over the next two decades, with 34% of experts rating each as vital to progress. Expectations for governments to lead have gradually decreased in recent years, while those for the private sector have been rising. Multi-sectoral partnerships are also seen as playing a central role.”

This year Unilever, Patagonia, Interface, IKEA, Tesla, Nestlé and Natura are among the top-rated global leaders on sustainability. Tesla is the only new addition in the top 13 this year.

The survey sampled 900 experts in 84 countries were asked to identify three companies that are leaders in integrating sustainability into their business strategy. Four in ten experts singled out Unilever as a global leader on sustainability. This is the sixth year in a row that Unilever has made the list. A feat not accomplished by any other company in the survey's almost two decade long history.

North America is the most competitive when it comes to sustainability: Patagonia leads with 16 percent followed by Nike at 10 percent, Interface at 8 percent and at Walmart 7 percent.

To see the full results of the survey click here.

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Glaxo­SmithKline Doing Well by Doing Good

Glaxo­SmithKline (GSK) is at the top of Fortune's 2016 Change the World list. They are being recognized for their exemplary corporate citizenship. In an age of rampant profiteering in the pharmaceutical industry, Glaxo­SmithKline (GSK) has stood out by making it their business to give back.

The practices of GSK stand in stark contrast to other recent pharmaceutical news. Martin Shkreli bought the rights to a life saving HIV drug called Daraprim,then he hiked up the price by 5,000 percent. CEO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals Heather Bresch raised the price of an EpiPen pack to more than $600.

As reviewed in Fortune, Glaxo­SmithKline is a 300 year old company that built its name with products like baby formula and penicillin. The company made almost $16 billion in 2015 and they use their wealth to do good. They are working on vaccines for malaria and the Zika virus and they support HIV treatment programs in places like Botswana. The prices they charge are a function of people's means and the company reinvests 20 percent of the profits to local health care infrastructure and worker training.

Sustainability is part of Glaxo. As they say on the website GSK is focused on, "improving the quality of human life." They are committed to reducing the environmental impacts of their products and they have set ambitious goals to reduce carbon, water and waste. They are leaders in green chemistry.

In 2014 Glaxo was recognised for outstanding sustainable business practices at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards 2014 and in 2010 they recieved the Environmental Stewardship Award from Nalco.

Glaxo is number one on Fortune's annual Change the World list. This list of 50 companies are leading efforts to address major societal problems, reducing damage to the environment, strengthening communities, serving the underserved, and significantly improving lives. They are also generating a profit. The average return on publicly traded stocks in last year’s list was 16.6 percent which was even better than the S&P 500.

For the complete Change the World 2016 list of companies click here.

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2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders
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2015-2016 Awards for Reporting on the Environment (SEJ)
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2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders 
The Best of Green in 2015: Products, Projects, Leaders, Corporations, CEOs and Chemistry
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Green Business Award Winners in 2016 (Guardian and Environmental Leader)

Here is a summary of sustainable businesses, projects and individuals that are leading the way forward. As we teeter on the brink of tipping points, sustainability leadership is more important than ever. Awards that recognize the best companies, projects and individuals lead by example and serve as valuable models. In addition to well deserved recognition these efforts put sustainability on display, showcasing achievements that other businesses can follow. Here is a summary of green awards that have been handed out to businesses and individuals in the first half of 2016. This list includes Guardian's Sustainable Business Awards as well as Environmental Leaders Product and Project of the year awards.


Guardian 2016 Sustainable Business Awards

The sixth annual Guardian Sustainable Business Awards celebrate those organizations and individuals going above and beyond to tackle the global challenges we face. As explained by Environmental Leader:

"In the wake of the Paris climate talks and the launch of the global goals, 2016 is the year that businesses are ramping up their engagement with sustainability."

Bold move
Winner - Páramo
Runner up - Southern Water

Waste
Winner - Winnow
Runner up - Interface

Water
Winner - Innocent drinks

Finance for good
Winner - Social Stock Exchange
Runner up - Carbon Tracker Initiative

Supply chain
Winner - SABMiller
Runner up - Pennine Pack Ltd

Social impact
Winner - The University of Manchester
Runners up - Shared Interest Society and Neighbourly

Diversity and inclusion
Winner - Marcatus QED
Runner up - Microlink PC (UK) Ltd

Net positive
Winner - IKEA UK and Ireland
Runner up - Good Energy

Communicating sustainability
Winner - Climate-KIC
Runner up - CTC and Diva Creative Ltd

Collaboration
Winner - Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
Runner up - Falcon Coffees Limited

Carbon and energy management
Winner - Wyke Farms
Runner up - ENWORKS

Built environment
Winner - The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia
Runner up - XCO2 Energy

Startup of the year 
Winner - Winnow
Runner up - Guru Systems

Sustainable business leader of the year 
Paul Corcoran

Unsung sustainability hero of the year
Rachel Bradley

Click here for the full list.

Environmental Leader's 2016 Product & Project Awards

The fourth annual Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards, recognizes excellence in the fields of environmental sustainability and energy management. As explained by Environmental Leader:

"Each year since the inception of the Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards program, the range and quality of the entries has risen... The community of providers continues to address the rising demand for cost-effective solutions to address complex environmental, sustainability, and energy management challenges. And end-user organizations are becoming more creative in applying the available solutions to get real results."

Product of the Year Award winners:

3M: 3M Petrifilm Plates
AkzoNobel's Marine Coatings Business, International: Carbon Credits
Big Ass Solutions: Essence
Big Ass Solutions: Haiku Light
Bloomberg LP, The Water Risk Valuation Tool: Lee Ballin
DePuy Synthes, Companies of Johnson & Johnson: ATTUNE Knee System LOGICLOCK tibial Base
DePuy Synthes, Companies of Johnson & Johnson: Attune Knee INTUITION
Ecometrica: the Ecometrica Platform
Enablon: The Enablon Enterprise-Class Platform
FoundationFootprint: FoundationFootprint
GridPoint: GridPoint Energy Management System
Hilton Worldwide: LightStay
IHS: Repsol EMISphere
Lakeshore Recycling Systems: Lakeshore Recycling Systems Sustainable Business Model
Leidos: AMPLIFY Application Management Platform for Energy Efficiency Programs
Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Co. of America: Panasonic Vacuum Insulation Panel
Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc: HYDREX XV
Quantis: Life Cycle Perceptions Game
Rapport: Rapport
Source Intelligence: Supply Chain Compliance Tool
SunPower Corporation: Cradle to Cradle Certified SunPower E and X Series DC Panels
Thermo King, a brand of Ingersoll Rand: Thermo King Truck and Trailer Refrigeration Units in Europe
Thinkstep Compliance Limited: EC4P
Thinkstep Compliance Limited: BOMcheck Substances Declarations Web Database
Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand: CenTraVac Water Chiller Models CVHH and CDHH
Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand: Sintesis
UL EHS Sustainability: cr360
Urjanet: Urjanet Utility Data Service
Waste to Energy Partners: Bolder Black
WeNow: WeNowBox

Top Project of the Year Award winners:

ALDI Inc: ALDI Energy Management Systems, Siemens Rollout
AMD: 25 x 20 Energy Efficiency Initiative
Ameresco: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Arby's, Ecova, Powerhouse Dynamics and Weathermatic: How Arby's Leveraged Ecova and a Partnered Water Meter Solution to Save over 7M Gallons of Water
Caesars Entertainment: Enterprise Waste Diversion Project
Consumer Technology Association and National Cable & Telecommunications Association: Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvement to the Energy Efficiency of Set-Top Boxes
Domtar: Plymouth K-Lime
Dow Water & Process Solutions: Camp de Tarragona DEMOWARE Municipal Wastewater Reuse Project
General Motors: Chevrolet Volt Battery Secondary Reuse Project
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Energy Management Program
IHS: Repsol EMISphere
Jackson Family Wines: Tesla Stationary Energy Storage System
Leidos: Hawaii Energy Conservation and Efficiency Program
MillerCoors: MillerCoors Irwindale Brewery Solar Array
Timberland: Empowering Haitian Farmers through Tree Planting
United States Business Council for Sustainable Development: United States Materials Marketplace

Click here to download the full Awards Report.

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2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders
2015-2016 Awards for Reporting on the Environment (SEJ)
The Best and the Worst Sustainability and Climate Stories in 2015 
2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders 
The Best of Green in 2015: Products, Projects, Leaders, Corporations, CEOs and Chemistry
The Top Sustainability Focused Innovations of 2015

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The Best and the Worst of Sustainability and Climate in 2015

Last year was a momentous year for both climate action and environmental destruction. Perhaps most importantly, 2015 will be remembered as the moment in history when the world finally woke up to the threat of climate change.

Here is a review of the ten best and the ten worst sustainability and climate stories of 2015.

The Best of 2015

In reverse chronological order here are the 10 best sustainability and climate stories of 2015:

10. Canada's Petro-Conservatives replaced by Eco-Liberals

After ten years of failed leadership Canadians turfed their oil-obsessed conservative government and replaced them with the Liberal party who made a raft of energy and environment promises. Delivering on these promises will be difficult after a decade of Conservative rule. However, this change signals the dawn of a new Day in Canada and hope for climate action in the country. We have seen the appointment of Stephane Dion and Catherine McKenna to key environmental and climate posts. So far both the Prime Minister's mandate letters and the throne speech suggest that the new government plans to follow through on its campaign pledges. The Liberals were quick to differentiate themselves from the previous government by un-muzzling government scientists and assuming a leadership role at COP21.

9. The Growth of Sustainable Investing

Last year was a big year for green investors.  A growing number of investors are now banking on climate action. SRI and impact investing are becoming an increasingly important part of efforts to combat climate change. There are a number of drivers advancing green investment and there is growing demand for nonfinancial information. Many see sustainability as an opportunity to add value and new financial instruments including those in solar energy and other renewables are helping to advance green investing.  These efforts are also being helped by a host of resources designed to assist those interested in responsible investing. One of the most interesting sustainable investment trends in 2015 involved the increase in action from institutional investors who are getting on-board with initiatives like the The Montreal Pledge

8. Divestment from Fossil Fuels and Investment in Renewable Energy

In 2015 the fossil fuel divestment movement has grown and came of age. Concerns about stranded assets are driving investor concerns as they grapple with the realization that fossil fuels will be replaced. The divestment movement saw a broad range of support from cities, investors and even a prince and the movement is having an impact on investors, businesses and power companies. The fossil fuel industry will not go quietly and returns look grim for the foreseeable future. This increases the urgency of the need to divest and the realization that this is only logical option. The fossil fuel industry has reason to be nervous as there is a powerful logic and a number of benefits associated with divestment. Even without considering climate concerns there is a strong economic case that can be made for divestment. The United Nations has pledged its support for divestment and some major investors have pledged to divest including the Norway Pension Fund and the Rockefeller Fund. These efforts have been aided by events like Global Divestment Day as well as the proliferation of resources designed to help investors to divest and reinvest.

7. Most Important Climate Actors

While there have been a number of stellar global actors who have helped to advance climate action in 2015 two people stand out as having done the most to move the climate agenda forward. The top two climate leaders last year are a President and a Pope. Together President Obama and Pope Francis have done more to advance climate action than anyone in history. Despite GOP climate denial the President has shown solid support for clean energy.  Likewise the Pope has remained stalwart in the face of opposition from the GOP, he even called out Republican climate deniers in his address to Congress.

6. Most Sustainable Countries

While there is a long list of nations that are acting to combat climate change, Nordic countries continue to be the most sustainable countries in the world according to at least two independent assessments. Two countries that also deserve to be mentioned as among the most sustainable in 2015 are Germany and France.

5. Leadership in Innovation

Innovation is essential in business and when it comes to those who practice sustainability it is a matter of life and death. In 2015 we saw a number of sustainability focused innovations. There is a growing understanding that creativity is essential and there is good evidence to support the contention that sustainability drives innovation and generates returns. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that innovations in sustainability are essential if we are to meet the climate challenges we face.

4. Sustainable Business

Despite the complexity and arcane lingo sustainability is gaining ground. Last year was an important year for sustainable business. Historians may very well say that 2015 was the year that sustainability reached a tipping point. The leading climate focused sustainable companies in 2015 put forward a number of products, projects and leaders. The successful outcome of COP21 resonated throughout the business community.  Companies showed that they can double their revenues and add value. Simply put sustainability contributes to the bottom line, lends legitimacy to profitability and combats the culture of corruption. Climate solutions that combine people, product and profit makes a compelling case for Sustainability and this holds true for corporations, banks and investors. As revealed by PwC, Risky Business and other reports, acting on climate change is an opportunity that makes economic and business sense. The science of sustainability is supporting the kind of business leadership we saw at the World Economic Forum (WEF).  This is translating to growing interest in sustainability at business schools. While we still need more consistency we are seeing major corporate initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases because carbon reduction makes good business sense

3. The Growth of Renewables and Improving Battery Technology

In 2015 it became apparent that the growth of renewable energy is unstoppable. Part of the increasing confidence in renewables comes from improvements in battery storage which is an essential component of a clean energy infrastructure. Declining price points and increasing efficiency of both stationary batteries and EV batteries are driving this optimism. The COP21 deal signals the end of fossil fuels and the dawn of unprecedented growth for renewables. The market reaction to the Paris deal seemed to corroborate this point as fossil fuels crashed while renewables soared.

2. The Fall of the Fossil Fuel Industry

It is clear that fossil fuels are being replaced by renewable energy. The fossil fuel industry is in trouble and the situation is destined to worsen as subsidies are coming under increasing scrutiny.  The financial losses and diminishing oil industry profits we saw in 2015 signal the beginning of the end for fossil fuels. Simply put concerns about stranded assets make oil a bad investment.

1. The Positive Outcome at COP21

The deal reached at COP21 in Paris is a momentous leap forward and an unprecedented turning point in human history. There are a number of optimistic predictions for climate action in the wake of the agreement. This includes the accelerated demise of the fossil fuel industry and unparalleled growth for renewable energy.

Worst News Stories of 2015

In reverse chronological order here are the 10 worst sustainability and climate stories of 2015: 

10. Canadian Conservatives Failed Climate Leadership


Although they were kicked out of power by the Canadian electorate at the end of 2015, Canada's long ruling Conservatives continued their reign of environmental destruction until the end. Under the leadership of Stephen Harper's Conservatives Canada's failed climate leadership began to manifest as an economic disaster. The government cynically made new emissions reduction promises and an unattainable decarbonization pledge. The Harper government reneged on its promise to mirror US climate policy
and worst of all the extent of the government's tar sands complicity came to light. After their defeat the environment record of the new Conservative leader suggested that the party has not learned a thing. 

9. Countries that Undermined Climate Action

The countries that did the most to contribute to climate change are Saudi Arabia and Russia. Saudi Arabia is one of the worst countries on earth because it is the world's largest oil producer and because of its efforts to undermine COP21. Russia is on this list because it is also a large oil producer that is actively involved in offshore drilling in the Arctic. The nation is also a leading proponent of Arctic sea traffic. Russia is eager to exploit new shipping routes made possible by the retreating ice and this along with Arctic drilling could have calamitous impacts on the far north's fragile ecosystem.

8. Indonesian Fires

The Indonesian fires of 2015 were one of the worst environmental crimes of the 21st Century (Video). Each year slash and burn agriculture destroys vast swaths of forest in Indonesia, but 2015 was the worst yet. The combination of smoke from the fires and loss of forest carbon sinks is responsible for huge amounts of atmospheric carbon and other pollutants.

7. Growing Climate Refugee Crisis

There is a growing climate refugee crisis brewing in the US and around the world. The etiology of a climate refugee is complex, but it is fair to say that climate change plays a role in some of the world's current refugees and it will certainly play a far greater role in the mass dislocations of the future.

6. Volkswagen's Epic Greenwash

One of the most disturbing business stories to emerge in 2015 is the disheartening tale of how Volkswagen tried to cheat emissions tests.  The actions of the German automaker threaten to undermine the public's trust in automakers mileage claims. It may even compromise the popular perception of sustainability initiatives around the world. 

5. The Porter Ranch Methane Leak

The Porter Ranch methane leak was one the worst fossil fuel disaster since the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf in Mexico. This sad tale sheds light on the dangers of methane and may lead to more responsible fossil fuel extraction practices.

4. Fossil Fuel Spills

As in previous years there were a number of fossil fuel leaks in 2015. These spills prove once again that extracting and transporting fossil fuels is not safe.

3. Republican Climate Obstructionism

Republicans' ongoing climate obstructionism continued in 2015. All you need to do is follow the money money to see that the GOP's climate denial is fueled by the fossil fuel industry. While we may expect that the profit incentive is the driving motivation for the climate subterfuge of some businesses, it is a sad day when these same interests hijack governments and thwart climate action. On the issue of climate action, Republicans oppose the views of the majority of Americans, they ignore or deride the scientific consensus and they rejected a unanimous pledge from world government's to act on climate change at COP21. The slate of  Republicans presidential contenders also derided the COP21 climate talks. Republicans have not only prevented passage of climate focused legislation, they have actively worked to dismantle the administration's Clean Power Plan. In one of the few pieces of legislation that did pass in 2015, the Democrats signed a deal with the devil that would allow fossil fuels to be exported outside of the US. Although it was vetoed by the President, Republicans passed legislation to kill the Clean Power Plan. 

2. Global Heat Records and Extreme Weather

Last year made history as the warmest year ever recorded. As the year come to an end record heat dominated the headlines and provided unseasonably warm Christmas temperatures. In addition to the highest average temperatures in recorded history, 2015 was marked by another year extreme weather events. The bad news is that while 2015 was the hottest year on record, 2016 is expected to be even hotter.

1. Exxon

By far the worst climate story in 2015 was the revelation that Exxon actively lobbied against climate action despite the fact that it has known the facts about the role of fossil fuels as the leading cause of anthropogenic climate change. Rather than heed their own scientific findings they knowingly tried to conceal the truth in an effort to bring as much oil to market as they could before the facts caught up with them. While lies and misinformation from the fossil fuel industry should come as no surprise, Exxon's malfeasance takes it to another level. Their actions warrant being described as a crime against humanity.

Read More»

The Top Sustainability Focused Innovations of 2015

Innovation is more than a buzzword, it is an absolutely essential component of the required efforts needed to address the environmental and climate crisis we are facing. Here is a summary of some of the best sustainability focused innovations of 2015 from Sustainia.

On December 6th, 2015 the fourth Sustainia awards celebrated a number of groundbreaking sustainability solutions, technologies and projects from around the world. In honor of COP21 the awards took place in Paris, home to the COP21 climate talks.

The Sustania Award Committee is composed of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Honorary Chair of Sustainia, Chair of Regions20 and Former Governor of California; Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC; Connie Hedegaard, Chair, KR Foundation, Former European Commissioner for Climate Action and Dr. Rajendra Pachauri Former Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC.

Sustania's top ten finalists for the most sustainable innovations of 2015 are:

Buildings: Archiblox (Australia) - energy-positive prefabricated houses.
Food: SunCulture (US) - solar-powered drip irrigation for smallholders.
Fashion: Vigga.us (Denmark) - leasing organic kids-wear.
IT: Mapdwell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US) - 3D solar potential mapping tool.
Education: Seoul Metropolitan Government (South Korea) - citizen engagement for voluntary behaviour change.
Energy: Mobisol (Germany) - micro-financed off-grid solar power.
Health: Solar Ear (Brazil) - solar-powered hearing aids with open source design.
Cities: City of Johannesburg (South Africa) - green bonds finance city climate action.

The winner of the 2015 Sustania Award

In 2015 the Sustania Award went to a transportation redesign for the Indian city Chennai. This innovation was created by the Corporation of Chennai, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy and Chennai City Connect Foundation (India). The redesign is focused on creating streets for walking and biking as a solution to the city’s air pollution and traffic casualties.

The solution requires at least 60 per cent of the city’s transport budget to be allocated to a full-scale redesign including expanded footpaths, safe pedestrian crossings, protected cycle tracks, properly scaled carriageways, conveniently placed bus stops and clearly designated on-street parking.

Smart transport adaptations will reduce air pollution which is Chennai’s (and many other cities) top health risk. Given that motorized transport in cities are a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, this is a solution with far-reaching health and environmental benefits. It is also designed to reduce the 10,000 traffic accidents and resulting deaths and injuries in Chennai.

Sustainia Community Award

The people's choice award known as the Sustainia Community Award went to resources finalist for a project called Social Plastic. It was designed by the: Plastic Bank (Canada) and it turns plastic waste into currency. This innovative solution to resource management offers communities a way to collect waste plastic and repurpose it as a form of currency. While removing plastic waste from the environment, it also gives individuals the chance to improve their livelihoods and encourages companies to purchase and use this recycled material. With as much as 12.7 tons of plastic washes into the ocean every year, this innovation is a way to save all the animals that are killed by plastic each year, it will also help protect human health from the toxins that leach from the plastic into the food chain.

The Plastic Bank (TPB) offers a concrete solution encouraging the behaviour change needed to meet this systemic challenge. Operating as a social enterprise , TPB removes plastic litter from beaches and oceans by offering local communities the opportunity to bring collected waste to a plastic bank facility, where it can be repurposed. In exchange, they receive basic goods and tools, in addition to access to 3D printers enabling them to create items for themselves and to sell within the community. Furthermore, TPB also encourages businesses to take part in the initiative by buying social plastic.

Over 400 people representing more than 70 different countries have already applied to operate a Social Plastic Recycling Market in their region. In 2015, meetings were held at the home offices of Unilever, Seventh Generation, Method Home and various other global brands to discuss the process for the ongoing purchase and promotion of Social Plastic®.. TPB was awarded the Recycling Council of British Columbia’s Innovation Award in May 2014 for developing 3D printing technology. Their open source 3D printing filament extruder can create the source stock for 3D printers using recycled Social Plastic®.

TPB’s Vancouver Lab is successfully producing recycled 3D printable filament for 30 cents per pound. This same filament can be used to create products that are worth $ 5, $ 10 or even $ 100 per pound, according to the organization. Repurposing at scale: Marine plastic waste can wash up on any shore, in any part of the world, as freely as the wind blows and the tides turn.

Click here for the complete list of Sutainia's 100 sustainable innovations for 2015.

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2015-2016 Awards for Reporting on the Environment (SEJ)
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The Best of Green in 2015: Products, Projects, Leaders, Corporations, CEOs and Chemistry

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The Best of Green in 2015: Products, Projects, Leaders, Corporations, CEOs and Chemistry

Here are some of the best of the best in the green economy from 2015. This includes the best products and projects of the year, the top sustainability leaders and corporate citizens, leading innovative bioeconomy CEOs and the best green chemistry companies. These lists are derived from Energy Manager Today, edie, Corporate Responsiblity (CR) Magazine, Il Bioeconomista and the EPA.

Products

In alphabetical order here are the inaugural Energy Manager Today Product and Project Award winners for 2015:

Adobe - Stem Energy Storage
Big Ass Solutions, Haiku with SenseME
Blue Pillar, Aurora
EnergyCAP, Inc., EnergyCAP
Green Charge Networks, Energy Storage Platform
GridPoint, GridPoint Energy Manager
Hyster Company, PSI Industrial Lift Truck Engines Featuring Hyster Variable Power Technology
JLL, IntelliCommand Smart Building Solutions
Lennox International, Energence Ultra Rooftop Units
Lucid BuildingOS
Meazon SA, Zi-Clamp
NexRev Inc., DrivePak HVAC Efficiency Retrofit
Panoramic Power, Device Level Energy Management
Schneider Electric, Altivar Process
Schneider Electric, EcoBreeze AirEconomizer
Schneider Electric, Resource Advisor’s, Performance Analytics and Energy Performance Services
Urjanet, Urjanet Utility Data

Projects
 
ABM, Wright State University Building and Energy Solutions
ABM Government  ServicesGSA LA ESPC GS-09P- 12-KS-C-0023
Big Ass Solutions, Cassidy Elementary School, Lexington, KY
Bueno Crown Casino - Energy and Operational Savings across a multi-use entertainment complex
Cascades, Heat Recovery Steam Generator
Caterpillar, Thinking Outside AND Inside the Box to Reduce CO2 Emissions
Daintree Networks, Universal Music Group Energy Efficiency Project
Digital Lumens, Atlas Box Deploys
Digital Lumens to Achieve Energy Intelligence
Ensight Pty. Ltd., Energy Leadership, Program, Richards Bay Minerals
FirstFuel Software E.ON UK Energy Toolkit for SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Customers
Powerhouse Dynamics, Saving the Bottom Line at Bertucci’s
Saint-Gobain Corporation
Vancouver Impact Mill, Heat Recovery
STV, Mother Clara Hale Bus Depot

UK Sustainability Leaders

The ninth edie Sustainability Leaders Awards celebrated a number of individuals and organizations in 2015. These people and companies setting the standard for more responsible business. 

Opening the awards, edie editor Luke Nicholls said: "The Sustainability Leaders Awards have become a shining example of how the green industrial revolution is entering the corporate mainstream. All of this year's finalists have shifted from talking about ambitious sustainability initiatives to delivering them at scale and at pace. And in many cases, they’re already seeing a huge return on investment."

Sustainable Business of the Year - Willmott Dixon
Sustainability Leader - Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia
Carbon Management - National Grid
Energy Management - Heathrow Airport
Employee Engagement & Behaviour Change - Tesco with Global Action Plan
Sustainability Product Innovation - Genesis Biosciences
Sustainability Product Innovation: Energy Efficiency - Lontra
Sustainability Professional - Anthony Kingsley, Vacherin
Sustainable Business Models - Mud Jeans
Sustainability Reporting - Marks & Spencer
Sustainable Packaging - LINPAC Packaging
Sustainable Supply Chains - KPMG
Waste & Resource Management - DS Smith
Water Management - Southern Water

Best Corporate Citizens

The fifth annual ranking of Corporate Responsiblity Magazine's best corporate citizens including the top performers in the following sectors: business services, consumer items, consumer staples, energy, financial, healthcare, information technology, materials, media and entertainment, and utilities.

By industry, the best corporate citizens for 2015 are:

Business Services — Ecolab
Consumer Items — Hasbro
Consumer Staples — Campbell Soup Co.
Energy — Hess
Financials/Insurance/Real Estate — Jones Lang LaSalle
Healthcare — Johnson & Johnson
Information Technology — Microsoft
Materials — Sigma-Aldrich
Media & Entertainment — Walt Disney Co.
Utilities — Entergy

Innovative Bioeconomy CEOs

Here is Il Bioeconomista's inaugural list of the most innovative bioeconomy CEOs for 2015:

Vincent Chornet, Ceo of Enerkem (Canada)
Carlos Fadigas, Ceo of Braskem (Brazil)
Benjamin Gonzalez, Ceo of Metabolix Explorer (France)
Ilkka Hämälä, Ceo of Metsä Fibre (Finland)
Jennifer Holmgren, Ceo of Lanzatech (New Zealand/USA)
Maxim Katinov, Ceo of GFBiochemicals (Italy)
Hariolf Kottmann, Ceo of Clariant (Switzerland)
Jussi Pesonen, Ceo of UPM (Finland)
Marc Simmers, Ceo of Celtic Renewables (Scotland)
Tom van Aken, Ceo of Avantium (The Netherlands)

Green Chemistry

Here are the EPA's winning companies in the 2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge:

Algenol in Fort Myers, Florida, was recognized for developing a blue-green algae to produce ethanol and other fuels. The algae uses CO2 from air or industrial emitters with sunlight and saltwater to create fuel while reducing the carbon footprint, costs and water usage, with no reliance on food crops as feedstocks.

Hybrid Coating Technologies/Nanotech Industries of Daly City, California, was recognized for developing a safer, plant-based polyurethane for use on floors, furniture and in foam insulation. The technology eliminates the use of isocyanates, the top cause of workplace asthma.

LanzaTech in Skokie, Illinois, was recognized for the development of a process that uses waste gas to produce fuels and chemicals, reducing companies’ carbon footprint. LanzaTech has partnered with Global Fortune 500 Companies and others to use this technology, including facilities that can each produce 100,000 gallons per year of ethanol, and a number of chemical ingredients for the manufacture of plastics.

SOLTEX (Synthetic Oils and Lubricants of Texas) in Houston, Texas, was recognized for developing a new chemical reaction process that eliminates the use of water and reduces hazardous chemicals in the production of additives for lubricants and gasoline. If widely used, this technology has the potential to eliminate millions of gallons of wastewater per year and reduce the use of a hazardous chemical by 50 percent.

Renmatix in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was recognized for developing a process using supercritical water to more cost effectively break down plant material into sugars used as building blocks for renewable chemicals and fuels. This low-cost process could result in a sizeable increase in the production of plant-based chemicals and fuels, and reduce the dependence on petroleum fuels.

Professor Eugene Chen of Colorado State University was recognized for developing a process that uses plant-based materials in the production of renewable chemicals and liquid fuels. This new technology is waste-free and metal-free.

Related
2016 Green Business Award Winners
2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Green Business Award Winners in 2016 (Guardian and Environmental Leader)
2015-2016 Awards for Reporting on the Environment (SEJ)
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2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders 
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Video - Summary of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report Synthesis Report

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IPCC Synthesis Report: Background and Summary

In November the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its final world Synthesis Report. This is the world's most comprehensive assessment of scientific knowledge on climate change. The conclusions in the report are the starkest warnings yet. Urgent action is required as we are rapidly running out of time.

The final Synthesis Report summarizes three massive climate investigations:

1. The report on the physical science of climate change was released in September 2013. It reiterated the finding that humans are the leading cause of climate change. They further demonstrated that as measured by a number of indicators (ice sheet melt, glacial melt and sea level rise), climate change is occurred faster than predicted. It further stated that this is impacting meteorological conditions by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

2. The report on impacts, adaptations, and vulnerability was released in March 2014. It found that people everywhere are vulnerable to climate change and we have done little to adapt to them. It further concluded that climate change is already harming agricultural yields and affecting food availability and prices. In the absence of immediate action temperatures increases will exceed the internationally agreed upon upper threshold limit of 2ºC.

3. The report on mitigation measures was released in April 2014 it concluded that we must see massive reductions in carbon emissions from the energy sector. It further indicated that our use of renewable forms of energy must quadruple by 2050. It stated that with the cost of renewables declines, deforestation slowing we still have a chance to stay within the 2ºC upper temperature limit, if we act soon. It further stated that we cannot afford to keep investing in fossil fuel infrastructure without surpassing the upper temperature limits.

Brief Review of the Synthesis Report

The final report restates the fact that the scientific case is irrefutable and immediate action is needed. Humans are the cause of climate change and we are already seeing its impacts on every continent. If we do not reign-in greenhouse gases we will see profound impacts that will fundamentally alter the natural world and human society.

Policy Action Required

What we need in terms of action is serious policy shifts. Youba Sokona, co-chair of IPCC Working Group III (Mitigation), finds it technically feasible to transition to a low-carbon economy. However, he notes, "what is lacking are appropriate policies and institutions. The longer we wait to take action, the more it will cost to adapt and mitigate climate change."

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video - India's Use of Solar in Rural Villages

Solar lanterns are popping up in rural villages all over northern India. This An ADB-assisted project helps communities to study, do chores and lead more productive lives at night. Solar lanterns complement solar energy which is now present in many of India's rural areas. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the ambitious goal of bringing electricity to the 400,000,000 Indians who do not currently have access to it. By 2019, says Narendra Taneja — Modi's energy spokesperson — every household will be able to run at least two light bulbs, a television and also cook with a solar cooker.

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Video - Iran's Renewable Energy Revolution

This 2012 video shows that Iran was already exploring cleaner energy two years ago. Iran may be an oil producing state that is at odds with the West over its desire to exploit its nuclear options, but the country is also investing in renewable energy and solar power in particular. In May 2014, Iran approved the allocation of €500 million from national development fund for renewable energy projects. Iran is diversifying its energy portfolio a necessity.and this includes growing amounts of investment in solar and wind. As reported in Cleantechnica earlier this year, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian announced plans to increase Iran's solar and wind portfolio by 5,000 MW by 2018. This is an ambitious undertaking when you consider that Iran is currently producing only 200 megawatts for photovoltaic solar.

The Iranian government has allocated $60m this year to develop photovoltaic solar projects compared to just $12m last year. Large scale solar projects have been implemented under President Hassan Rouhani. One such project is located in the arid hills of rural Iran. The Taleghan Renewable Energy Site, 160 kilometres northwest of Tehran, has photovoltaic solar panels and parabolic trough collectors that concentrate the sunlight for energy conversion into electricity.

Iran is ideally suited to solar energy as it gets an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. Solar is also a great way to power rural Iran The government is offering subsidies for on-site (distributed) solar panel installation to ordinary families. Solar panels have been installed at some 1,000 locations across Iran, including the on rooftops of mosques, schools and government buildings.

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National Laws and a Global Climate Agreement

National laws are an important precursor to a UN climate agreement. Countries around the world are passing legislation ahead of the UN climate meeting in Paris scheduled for the end of 2015. These laws are essential for an international agreement. While some nations are passing comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) legislation others have passed sector-specific laws to tackle emissions.

A GLOBE International and CDKN Study found that there was a correlation between strong climate change legislation and high ambition at international climate talks. The study found that a total of almost 500 national climate change laws have been passed in 66 countries, according to the 2014 GLOBE Climate Legislation Study. All developed and major economies are expected to deliver emission reduction targets to the UN by the end of March 2015.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced plans to cut carbon from the power sector by 30 percent. However, passing climate and energy legislation in the US is impossible for the foreseeable future. Consequently the Obama administration has come up with a clever approach for a national climate strategy that unlike a treaty does not require the approval of the Senate.

One European nation that is emerging as a climate leader is France. The county has proposed a bill that will radically reduce greenhouse gases a total of 75 percent by 2050.

No nation has shown more climate leadership than Finland. On June 6 Finland approved a proposal for a National Climate Act that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions a total of 80 percent by 2050.

The UK government was the first to pass emissions reduction legislation in 2008 and they recently reiterated their plans to cut GHGs under its climate change act. Earlier this summer Denmark ratified a plan that will reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2020.

The EU will meet in October to finalize their climate and energy framework to 2030. Part of this initiative is an EU wide Emissions Trading Scheme that focuses on European energy and industry.

Senior Chinese officials indicated that they are working on proposals to cap emissions as are Ireland, South Korea, Mexico and Vietnam

At a UN meeting in Mexico earlier this year a resolution was passed by the majority of the 400 MPs present. These representatives hailed from 80 countries and they agreed to push for tougher climate legislation in their domestic parliaments.

The UN has released a set of guidelines for governments to follow when submitting their ‘nationally determined contributions’ to a proposed UN climate deal.

Christiana Figueres, head of the UN’s climate body, said that legislation was key in carrying forward a “clean revolution”.

She said: "Domestic legislation is critical because it is the linchpin between action on the ground and the international agreement."

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Denmark's Climate Change Bill

In June Denmark passed a climate change bill that will reduce emissions a total of 40 percent by 2020. The bill had widespread support from its coalition government. This is but the latest measure in a country that is a global wind energy leader. The country is also an international climate leader for its efforts to free itself from fossil fuels in its energy sector by 2050.

The country has a science based approach to managing climate change while at the same time focusing on the nation's economic well being. It is setting up a climate change council that will ensure the nation meets its goals both from a scientific and economic perspective.

This legislation legally binds Denmark to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. It also give confidence to the business community which fears uncertainty and seeks to understand the regulatory environment in which they must operate.

Such broad legislation will have repercussions across various sectors. It will impact energy policy, industrial policy, economic policy, agricultural policy, land policy and forestry policy.

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Failure to Reduce Emissions will Result in an Ecological and Economic Catastrophe (IPCC's Leaked "Synthesis" Report)

The latest leaked Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report reiterates three points that we already know and warns us of dire consequences if we fail to act. Climate change is here, it is caused by humans and it has a number of dangerous impacts. It is noted that extreme weather like heat waves, drought, flooding and rising seas are already serious problems today.

The document specifically states that as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise we can expect the situation to worsen. This means more "severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems."

The report spells out the high level of risk associated with failing to significantly reduce emissions. These risks include sea-level rise causing widespread coastal flooding (effecting 70 percent of the world’s coastlines by the end of the century), more severe and enduring heat waves and droughts, torrential downpours, diminished agricultural yields resulting in widespread food shortages, species extinction and pest outbreaks. Ocean acidification is another major concern that could have serious implications for the entire interrelated web of marine life.

These climate impacts will have major economic and social consequences described in the report as "catastrophic," this includes massive material costs, violent conflicts, environmental refugees and significant increases in global poverty.

The 127 page climate draft of the Synthesis Report (SYN) was leaked at the end of August, it essentially summarizes the findings in the three preceding IPCC reports:

WGI: The Physical Science Basis - September 2013

WG II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – March 2014

WG III: Mitigation of Climate Change – April 2014

We have already documented a temperature increase of .85 Celsius since 1880. This is the fastest temperature rise since well before the dawn of human civilization more than 10,000 years ago. It is expected to get much hotter as we go forward.

The report sets the stage for climate talks scheduled for LIma, Peru this coming December and the all important global climate agreement hoped for at the meeting in Paris planned for the end of 2015. In 2009 countries committed themselves to finding solutions that would keep global temperature increases below the internationally agreed upon 2 C (3.6 F) upper threshold limit. Without major reductions in carbon emissions we are on track to substantially exceed this limit. Conservatives estimates suggest that we will see a temperature increases of 3.7 C by the end of the century, which is almost twice the prescribed upper threshold limit.

The leaked report clearly indicates that we are not doing nearly enough to stave off catastrophe, even if we get serious about climate action it will be very difficult to stay within the prescribed upper threshold limits. Perhaps the most sobering fact is that even if we act now, there’s a real risk of “abrupt and irreversible” changes.

The Synthesis Report (SYR) is expected to be finalized and released for review at a Copenhagen meeting scheduled for October.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Obama's End Run Around the Senate to Secure a Climate Deal

In an effort to bypass obstructionist Republicans the Obama administration is working on an international climate deal that does not require the approval of the Senate. A legally binding treaty would require the approval of two-thirds of the Senate. To circumvent partisan gridlock, in particular the anti science stance of Republican lawmakers, Obama is looking to craft a political agreement rather than a binding treaty. Republicans in the senate (alongside a handful of fossil fuel Democrats) will never ratify such a treaty. The sad reality is that these lawmakers, who represent less than 10 percent of the American population, have the power to kill a binding treaty.

This political agreement is being sought ahead of the December 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (IPCCC) meeting in Paris.

By doing an end run around the Senate, the Obama administration will be able to avoid the fate of the Kyoto protocol which was approved by then president Clinton in 1997 only to be shot down by legislators.

The end run may have been in the works for quite some time. At the 2011 United Nations climate change conference in Durban, South Africa, it was agreed that the goal for the 2015 Paris meeting was an, "outcome with legal force under the convention applicable to all parties." However the US succeeded in changing the language at the 2013 conference. At the conclusion of the IPCCC meeting last year, the negotiating document removed language calling for a legally binding treaty under international law.

The political agreement being developed by the Obama administration is actually an updated version of a preexisting climate agreement which the Senate ratified in 1992.

Even if Obama succeeds in cobbling together such an agreement there will still be stiff opposition. Particularly vociferous resistance can be expected from the Conservative fossil fuel obsessed governments in Australia and Canada. Even the UK has back peddled on a climate agreement under Conservative rule, which calls one to question the intelligence of the white English speaking world.

If we are to have any hope of signing an international climate deal the US must be on-board. Without support for some kind of climate deal from the US it is very unlikely that other nations will follow suit. In the absence of a legally binding treaty, the Obama administration intends to use a name and shame approach to securing participation from other nations which is premised on global peer pressure.

The absence of a legally binding treaty will not please the EU and developing nations, however, there are few alternatives to the political deal being proposed given the legislative obstacles in the US.

President Obama is working within the framework of the powers allotted to him by the constitution. At the end of the day, a politically binding treaty is far better than allowing the process to be killed by the small minded ignorance of a few dozen legislators.

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