Showing posts with label rules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rules. Show all posts

World Agrees on a Treaty Restricting Mercury

After protracted negotiations that spanned almost half a decade more than 140 countries have signed on to the world's first legally binding international agreement to control mercury emissions. The agreement puts in place rules that limit mercury emissions from power plants and industrial boilers as well as certain kinds of smelters handling metals like zinc and gold. The treaty phases out mercury laden products, like batteries and thermometers as well as certain types of fluorescent lamps, soaps and cosmetics. The agreement also establishes rules for direct mining of mercury and addresses safe storage of mercury waste.

The treaty sets mercury reduction targets on a range of products, processes and industries. The agreement provides clear guidelines for industry and will reduce mercury emissions which are a known threat to human health.

"Mercury has been known as a toxin and a hazard for centuries-but today we have many of the alternative technologies and processes needed to reduce the risks for tens of millions of people, including pregnant mothers and their babies. A good outcome can also assist in a more sustainable future for generations to come," said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

In small-scale gold mining for example there are now mercury-free methods and other low-cost solutions for reducing emissions.

The new agreement will ban the production, export and import of a range of mercury-containing products. Nations that have small-scale gold mining operations, (a leading cause of mercury contamination) will be required to draw up national plans to limit mercury emissions.

This agreement will reduce cases of neurological and behavioral disorders, and other health problems linked to mercury, as well as the contamination of soils and rivers caused by man-made emissions of the metal.

The treaty will be signed at a special meeting in Japan this October and it will come into force in 2020. In the interim Japan, Norway and Switzerland have pledged funds to fast-track action.

Because of the long life of mercury, once released it can remain in the environment for centuries. This means that it is likely to be several years or decades before reductions in mercury emissions have a demonstrable effect on mercury levels in nature and the food chain.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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UNEP Mercury Study: Levels of the Toxic Metal are Increasing

A UNEP study released in January 2013 found mercury pollution in the top layer of the world’s oceans has doubled in the past century. In the past 100 years, man-made emissions have caused the amount of mercury in the top 100 metres of the world's oceans to double. Concentrations in deeper waters have increased by up to 25 percent. The study also indicates that hundreds of tons of mercury have leaked from the soil into rivers and lakes around the world. The report says an estimated 260 tonnes of mercury - previously held in soils - are being released into rivers and lakes.

The study titled Global Mercury Assessment 2013 indicates that communities in developing countries are facing increasing health and environmental risks linked to exposure to mercury. Most of the mercury contamination in Africa, Asia and South America are largely attributable to the use of the toxic element in small-scale gold mining, and through the burning of coal for electricity generation. Coal burning is responsible for some 475 tonnes of mercury emissions annually, or around 24 per cent of the global total.

Annual emissions from small-scale gold mining are estimated at 727 tonnes, or 35 per cent of the global total. Greater exposure to mercury poses a direct threat to the health of some 10-15 million people who are directly involved in small-scale gold mining, mainly in Africa, Asia and South America. An estimated 3 million women and children work in the industry.

Much human exposure to mercury is through the consumption of contaminated fish, making aquatic environments the critical link to human health.

The study, which provides a comprehensive breakdown of mercury emissions by region and economic sector, also highlights significant releases into the environment linked to contaminated sites and deforestation. Asia is the largest regional emitter of mercury, and accounts for just under half of all global releases.

The UNEP studies reiterates the need for swift action by governments, industry and civil society to strengthen efforts to reduce mercury emissions and releases. Delays in action, say the reports, will lead to slower recovery of ecosystems and a greater legacy of pollution.

The report highlights rising mercury levels in the Arctic which is far from its point of origination. An estimated 200 tonnes of mercury are deposited in the Arctic each year. The study points a ten-fold increase in levels of mercury in certain Arctic wildlife species in the past 150 years.

Other sources of mercury highlighted in the UNEP publications include:

  • Metal and cement production, through fuel extraction and combustion of fossil fuels 
  • Consumer products such as electronic devices, switches, batteries, energy-efficient light bulbs and cosmetics such as skin-lightening creams and mascara. 
  • Mercury contained in such goods can also enter the waste stream. 
  • Dentistry: Around 340 tonnes of mercury are used annually to make fillings and other dental products, of which up to 100 tonnes are likely to enter the waste stream 
  • Plastic production - particularly the manufacture of poly vinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is in high demand in many countries where there are extensive building projects 
  • Chlor-alkali industry (production of chlorine and caustic soda from salt) 
  • Primary mining - although the practice is now limited to a handful of countries with only one (Kyrgyzstan) still exporting

To see the UNET report "Mercury: Time to Act is available" click here

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Legally Binding Treaty to Reduce Mercury Emissions

On Sunday January 13 delegates from more than 130 nations began a final round of negotiations with the intent of creating the world's first legally binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions. Mercury contamination is a major problem which has serious implications for pregnant women, women of childbearing age and young children. Mercury accumulates in fish and wildlife and goes up the food chain.

According to the U.N. environment program, which is also one of the sponsors of these talks, over the past century ocean based mercury contamination has doubled. The report demonstrates that hundreds of tons of mercury have leaked from the soil into rivers and lakes around the world. High rates of mercury pollution are largely attributable to coal burning, chemical production and small-scale mining, particularly what is known as artisanal gold production.

David Piper of the U.N. Environment Program stated that about 70 countries are involved in artisanal gold mining, putting up to 15 million miners at risk of exposure to mercury, including 3 million women and children. Developing countries are most at risk from mercury contamination.

If successful the treaty will set enforceable limits on the emissions of mercury which account for approximately 30 percent of mercury pollution, There is a good deal of confidence that this treaty will get the support of participants. The almost 900 delegates and dozens of non-governmental organizations have already agreed on a draft text to be used this week for negotiations.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Stock Exchanges Increasingly Recommending Sustainability Reporting

A growing number of stock exchanges around the world are recommending sustainability reporting. A number of diverse groups support sustainability reporting including the Rio+20 (negotiating text) and the U.N. (secretary general’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability).

The Brazilian stock exchange (BM&FBOVESPA), also recommends that its listed companies either publish sustainability reports or explain why they do not. The initiative is intended to create a public database of reporting which was made available at Rio+20. BM&FBOVESPA says it was the second exchange in the world and the first in the Americas to use the GRI sustainability reporting model in its own annual report, starting in 2010.

Sustainability reporting is already a requirement for listing in the stock exchanges of South Africa, France and Denmark, and for state-owned enterprises in Sweden. The European Union is also considering the introduction of mandatory sustainability reporting for all member states.

In addition to recommending sustainability reporting, stock exchanges themselves are working towards reducing their environmental impacts. The NYSE Euronext announced it had become first carbon-neutral global exchange operator. The exchange’s recent environmental initiatives have included installing super-insulating SeriousGlass in the New York Stock Exchange building. NYSE also recently launched three regionally-focused clean energy stock indices together with Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The EPA Seeks Historic Proposal to Protect Clean Air

In the last couple of months, more than 2 million Americans have submitted comments in support of the EPA's efforts to reduce carbon pollution. The proposal has received more comments than any agency has ever received. Carbon pollution is linked to significant health hazards like asthma-inducing smog. Carbon pollution is a pandemic in the US with half of Americans (158 million) living in counties with unacceptable air pollution levels.

Big Coal has done everything in its power to stop the EPA from curbing carbon pollution. There is currently no federal limit on how much life-threatening carbon pollution can be spewed by coal plants. Infamous corporate polluters like the Koch Brothers want to keep it that way. This climate denying duo are amongst that group of billionaires who put their profits ahead of human health and use their fortunes to undermine efforts to address pollution.

Click here to join the Sierra Club and let the EPA know Americans stand behind cleaner air and spread the word through social media portals like Facebook and Twitter with their handy share buttons.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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EPA's Carbon Pollution Standard has Strong Support

Over one million people have expressed their strong support for the EPA's proposed protections from dangerous carbon pollution produced by new coal-fired power plants. The EPA wants to create regulations as authorized by the Clean Air Act (see Laws Statutes for the Clean Air Act). NSR permits have been required by regulations since the 1970's but the EPA is working to update and improve these regulations. The EPA action to adopt carbon pollution standards will help clean up and modernize the way we power the country and prevent life-threatening air pollution like toxic mercury, dirty soot and the smog that triggers asthma attacks.

On May 24, 2012, Sierra Club activists and others packed two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public hearings in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Sierra Club activists joined health professionals, labor union leaders, parents, faith leaders, and public officials in testifying.

These are the first national limits on carbon pollution being spewed into the air by the nation’s largest sources, dirty coal-fired power plants. “We are here today to thank the Obama administration, and to show our ironclad support for limiting dangerous carbon pollution being dumped into our air,” said Mary Anne Hitt, Director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, who testified at the Washington, DC hearing with her 2-year-old daughter, Hazel. “These standards will allow EPA to focus on the industry that creates the lion’s share of the nation’s carbon pollution – Big Coal. For the sake of our kids and families who need clean air to breathe, workers who need good jobs, and all of us who need a stable climate, we urge the EPA to quickly finalize strong carbon pollution standards.”

In Chicago, the leaders that testified in favor of the carbon pollution standards include Brian Urbaszewski of the American Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago and Steve Frenkel, the director of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Midwest office.

In Washington, D.C., testifiers included Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign and Laura Anderko, RN, PHD, Endowed Chair at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies.

The EPA's public comment period for the proposed EPA carbon pollution standards began April 13 and concludes on June 25. The carbon pollution standard has already generated more supportive comments than any other EPA standard in history. More than 1.3 million Americans have already submitted public comments supporting EPA action to adopt carbon pollution standards.

Click here to add your name to a virtual rally for people to send messages to the EPA and to Administrator Lisa Jackson showing support for the carbon pollution standards.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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EPA's Top Green Powered Organizations (Q1 2012)

In April 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its list of the Top 50 Green-Powered Organizations. This quarterly list is part of the Green Power Partnership which works with a wide variety of leading organizations in the US. This includes Fortune 500® companies, local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities.

Combined, the green power use of Partners on the National Top 50 list amounts to nearly 16 billion kilowatt-hours annually, which represents nearly 70 percent of the green power commitments made by all EPA Green Power Partners.

Using green power helps reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and supports the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide. Organizations can meet EPA Partnership requirements using any combination of three different product options: (1) Renewable Energy Certificates, (2) On-site generation, and (3) Utility green power products.

The EPA's list of top green-powered organizations included number of companies who have made sizable investment in renewable energy. This shows an increasing demand for renewable energy as well as a rising commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

As reported in Earth Techling, Intel offsets 85% of its annual energy bill with RECs and 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours. While Microsoft is a new addition to the EPA's top 50. With over 265 ENERGY STAR certified stores, 63 LEED certified stores, and solar power installations on 100 stores in 6 statesKohl's has been a green power leader since 2007.

The following companies and organizations ranked in the top 10 on the EPA's list in Q1 2012:
  1. Intel
  2. Kohl's
  3. Microsoft
  4. Wal-Mart
  5. Whole Foods
  6. Staples
  7. City of Houston, TX
  8. Starbucks
  9. City of Austin, TX
  10. Hilton Worldwide
Find out how your organization can partner with EPA.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The New 2012 CEC Sustainability Requirements

The new Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) has incorporated the latest sustainability requirements for electrical professionals, as well as business and home owners. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) 22nd edition of the CEC's mandatory guidelines include 180 important updates and revisions. CSA Standards is a leading standards-based solutions organization in Canada. The CEC addresses electrical safety, shock, and fire hazards of electrical products.

On February 6, 2012, the CSA officially announced the launch of the 2012 CEC, Part 1. The code includes sections on renewable energy sources (ie solar photovoltaic installations, wind generated electricity) and new requirements for electric vehicles and charging stations (both commercial and residential). By 2018, there will be at least a half a million 500,000 plug-in electric-drive vehicles on Canadian roads, and even more hybrids.

According to a CSA press release, the New Canadian Electrical Code represents the most comprehensive set of changes ever. The guidelines include future-looking developments toward sustainable technologies that help address climate change issues.

The code also covers unique installation requirements for a variety of renewable energy systems including wind and fuel cells. Hydrokinetic generation systems that convert tidal or ocean current into energy, and micro-hydro systems that are very small versions of hydro power stations that convert the energy of streams creeks into usable electricity, are also covered. Lastly, existing requirements for solar power have been updated considerably to reflect new technologies, techniques, and calculations. CSA’s 2012 Canadian Electrical Safety Code may also be considered a roadmap for the enhanced safety and success of electric vehicles.

As stated by Bonnie Rose, President, CSA Standards. “With major manufacturers bringing these products to market in greater numbers, they can no longer be considered simply emerging technologies, but part of our daily lives.”

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Profiting from the New Rules of Green Marketing by Jacquie Ottman

On November 29th and 30th Humber College in Toronto Ontario is hosting a course and workshop entitled, Profiting from the New Rules of Green Marketing by Jacquie Ottman (SC 130). This workshop designed to bring to life the principles, strategies, tools and frameworks discussed in the award-winning book: The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding by Jacquelyn Ottman (Berrett-Koehler, 2011).

This highly interactive workshop empowers professionals to take advantage of opportunities stemming from mainstream consumers' growing environmental consciousness. Practical in orientation, it provides success strategies for eco design, communications, eco-labeling and stakeholder engagement illustrated by examples from sustainability leaders. Learning will be reinforced with hands-on exercises involving real and hypothetical cases studies.

Deliverables:

- 8 Content Modules over the 2 days
- A copy of the Award Winning Book: The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding (Berrett-Koehler, 2011)
- Pre-reading materials & pre-assessment survey
- Follow up 1 hour telephone consultation for Teams after the workshop (at a reduced rate)
- Access to the "Green Marketing" Community of Practice Forum and Resources
- Green Marketing Certificate of Completion

Upon completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

- Understand why greening is now mainstream and make the business case for addressing consumer's environmental and social concerns through green products and services.

- Identify emerging business opportunities related to sustainability and be equipped with strategies for enhancing their brand's sustainability profile over the next 3 – 5 years.

- Segment mainstream green consumers, key motivations and buying influencers relevant to their own product lines.

- Describe the "new green marketing paradigm" and compare and contrast it to conventional marketing

- Understand why a total life cycle approach to green product development is necessary and how such tools as Life Cycle Assessment can be used to identify opportunities to enhance, measure and communicate environmental and social performance of products and services.

- Identify key eco-strategies for improving environmental performance of existing products (Eco-design), and how sustainability can be used as a basis for innovation (eco-innovation) and apply these concepts to their own product lines.

- Identify and develop key success strategies for ensuring the relevance and credibility of green messaging, including gaining familiarity with key eco-labels and criteria for selection.

- Identify opportunities and strategies for enlisting stakeholders into the implementation of their green marketing plan.

- Learn about the key success factors in "best practice" green marketing concepts and brand initiatives from the leading sustainability marketers.

- Become familiar with key resources for partnering on green initiatives.

- Use a template for integrating critical environmental concepts into your brand strategy.

- Develop a marketing plan for positioning a new (or hypothetical) green product or initiative to mainstream consumers.

Bring a Team and gain additional insights and achievements, including:

- Learn a common and shared language, perspective and strategies for implementing green marketing concepts and opportunities as a Team.

- Create a collaborative initial marketing plan for taking a green initiative forward in your company.

- Identify emerging business opportunities related to sustainability and be equipped with strategies for enhancing your brand's sustainability profile over the next 3-5 years.

AGENDA

DAY 1 MORNING

Introduction
Goals and Agenda

Module 1: The Marketplace Goes Green
Exercise: The business case for your brand (small group discussion & presentation)

Module 2: We Are All Green Consumers
Exercise: What shade of green are your consumers (possible mind mapping or scenario exercise)

Module 3: The New Green Marketing Paradigm
Exercise: Envisioning your brand within the new green marketing paradigm

DAY 1 AFTERNOON

Module 3: The New Green Marketing Paradigm (continued)
Exercise: Envisioning your brand within the new green marketing paradigm

Module 4: Reimaging our Product in a Sustainable World
Exercise: Designing Greener Products: A Life Cycle Approach & Opportunities to green our Product

DAY 2 MORNING

Module 5: Communicating Sustainability with Impact
Exercise: Rules of Thumb for good and bad communication

Module 6: Establishing Credibility. Avoiding Greenwash
Exercise: Scenario examination, "Is this Greenwash"?

Module 7: Partnering for Success
Small Group Work – Opportunity & Plan Development

DAY 2 AFTERNOON

Module 8: Completion of Green Marketing Plan & Examination of Two "Best Practice" Companies.

Interactive Case Exercise: Developing a Plan to Position and Market Your New Green Initiative (or hypothetical case study) to Mainstream Consumers and receive feedback and next determine steps.

Jacquie Ottman is considered to be North America's foremost expert on green marketing. After spending over a decade in major NY advertising agencies learning the marketing ropes from the likes of Procter & Gamble and Ralston Purina, Jacquie founded J. Ottman Consulting, Inc. and pioneered green marketing. Her goal: apply her finely-honed consumer packaged goods skills, her creative bent for dreaming up new products, and her strategic instincts to the toughest issues involved in meeting consumers' needs sustainably.

She and her colleagues have helped more than 60 Fortune 500 businesses and various U.S. government labeling programs, including U.S. EPA's Energy Star and the USDA's new USDA Certified Biobased label, develop and launch exciting new products and create credible and profitable strategies for reaching mainstream green consumers.

Ottman is a founding co-chair of the Sustainable Brands conference, at which she has given several keynote addresses. She is also the founding co-chair of the Sustainable Business Committee of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York, and its wildly successful "Making Green from Green Certificate Series", now in its third year. In 2004, she created the Design: Green educational initiative under an US EPA Innovation Grant with the goal of jumpstarting eco-design education among practitioners and students. The former co-chair of the NYC chapter of O2, the global network of green designers and marketers, for seven years she chaired the jury of the American Marketing Association's Special Edison Awards for Environmental Achievement.

She is the author of the newly released, The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding (Berrett-Koehler (U.S.), Greenleaf Publishing (U.K.), February 2011, which has been named by the University of Cambridge (U.K) as a top 40 Sustainability book, and by Ecolibris as a top ten green book. Previous books include: Green Marketing: Opportunity for Innovation (McGrawHill, 1993), hailed as "the definitive text on the subject." She keeps the business community abreast of her learning by writing for her blog, Jacquie Ottman's Green Marketing Blog, and numerous business publications.

This course will be of value to Sustainability and Marketing personnel in any consumer product or service sector, particularly individuals in the following positions –

• Marketing Managers & VPs
• Category Managers
• Sustainability Directors
• Advertising Directors
• Green Marketing and Business Professionals
• Eco-Entrepreneurs
• Marketing Educators
• Brand Teams at the Start of a Project - Jump start your project, bring your marketing Team and work on a potential "green marketing" plan for your company (Team Discounts available)

Regular rate: $ 1,800 pp
Groups of 3 or more: Regular Rate: $ 1,500 pp

Each attendee will receive Green Marketing Certificate of Completion.

To register or for more information: mailto:kathryncooper@sustainabilitylearningcentre.com

UPDATE: This workshop has been postponed until Spring 2012.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Free Webinar: The Carbon Tax & Your Business

GreenBizCheck will be holding a free webinar on 29 November at 11 AM AEST. This webinar will help business owners gain a better understanding of the carbon tax and how it will affect their business.

This webinar will help businesses to:
  • Gain a better understanding of the Carbon Tax
  • Discover how the tax will affect your business
  • Access tools that are available to your business now
  • Understand the cost savings associated with Green Business
  • Have your questions answered by industry professionals
Dave Johnston, Director of GreenBizCheck Gold Coast and David de Closey, Oculus Financial will be presenting information on the carbon tax, revealing the benefits of sustainable business, answering any questions you may have and giving you access to tools that are available to your business now.

Dave Johnston GreenBizCheck Gold Coast

Dave has successfully helped many businesses with their environmental strategies. He has a wealth of knowledge about the carbon tax and it's affect on small to medium size business. Dave will guide participants through strategies that can be implemented now to save money.

David de Closey Oculus Financial

David has dedicated the best part of his 28 years in the Accounting and Finance industry to making a difference to people's lives. As a financial specialist, he has the knowledge and tools to help all size businesses find a carbon tax solution that is right for their needs.

To register click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

10 Steps to Sustainability-Driven Innovation

1. Make innovating for sustainability a part of your company's vision: Update your company's stated visions, mission and list of values or principles to ensure that sustainability is at the heart, so that your company is publicly identified, both internally and externally, as sustainability-driven.

2. Formulate a strategy with sustainability at its heart: To really be effective, sustainability must be included in a new formulation of your business strategy. Simply bolting it on to an existing strategy is likely to leave it marginalised and insignificant.

3. Embed sustainability in every part of your business: Create an ongoing process for getting each part of the company to recognise and understand its environmental, economic and social impacts, and get each part thinking about how they can use that knowledge to innovate through a systematic and integrated approach.

4. Walk the talk: Top leadership in the business has to believe in it. Staff and other stakeholders need to hear their leaders explain regularly what responsibility and sustainability mean for the business and the innovation possibilities they hold, and see the actual programs implemented.

5. Set up a body with the power to make sustainability matter: Many of the leading sustainability-driven companies have a board committee devoted to ensuring that things move ahead. Others have a leading non-executive director in charge, while others still have a mixed committee of executives and non-executives. Whatever the arrangement, it is essential that the company regularly addresses sustainability and its strategic opportunities at the very highest level of decision making. Consider, review, evaluate and supervise integrated environmental, social and ethical policies. In collaboration with top management, make sure that responsibility and sustainability are taken into account during strategy formulations Advise the board of directors on responsibility and sustainability issues.

6. Set firm rules: Establish a code of conduct on sustainability covering both your employees and other stakeholders in your business, stating clearly that anyone who doesn't adhere to it has no place in your company or connected to your company.

7. Bring your stakeholders on board: Identify all the stakeholders in your business - shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, the communities in which you operate - and engage with them on thinking about sustainability. Actively encourage them to participate in your innovation and encourage them to develop sustainable opportunities themselves.

8. Use people power: Ensure that sustainability is a clearly stated value at every stage of your people management process, whether it's advertising for staff, hiring, induction, performance appraisal, remuneration or promotion. Create a training department that includes a strong focus on creativity and innovation based on sustainability.

9. Join networks: A growing number of organisations, networks and other bodies dedicated to encouraging sustainable business are emerging. Get involved with groups such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the UN Global Compact, the International Business Leaders Forum and similar local bodies. Take part in sustainability investment rankings and monitors such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and the Corporate Responsibility Index.

10. Think beyond reporting: Align all business systems with the company's vision of sustainability. Corporate social responsibility reporting helps focus but it should not be viewed as an end in itself. Sustainability should run through every core system, from talent management to supplier evaluation, customer relationship management (CRM), and, of course, the balanced scorecard. This approach can turn focus into coordinated action that matters.

Source: A New Mindset for Corporate Sustainability
_________________________________

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