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2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders

September 06, 2016 Add Comment Edit

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.

Related
2016 Green Business Award Winners
Green Business Award Winners in 2016 (Guardian and Environmental Leader)
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

GlaxoSmithKline Doing Well by Doing Good

August 30, 2016 Add Comment Edit

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.

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)
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

Green Business Award Winners in 2016 (Guardian and Environmental Leader)

August 19, 2016 Add Comment Edit

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.

Related
2016 Green Business Award Winners
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

The Best and the Worst of Sustainability and Climate in 2015

February 25, 2016 Add Comment Edit

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.

The Top Sustainability Focused Innovations of 2015

February 24, 2016 Add Comment Edit

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.

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

January 12, 2016 Add Comment Edit

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)
The Best and the Worst Sustainability and Climate Stories in 2015
2015 Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders
The Top Sustainability Focused Innovations of 2015

Chart - Efficiency National Rankings (GGEI)

October 28, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Chart - Green Investments and Markets National Rankings (GGEI)

October 28, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Chart - Sustainable Buildings National Rankings (GGEI)

October 27, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Chart - Green Cities Ranking (GGEI)

October 27, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Ranking of National Performance in the Green Economy (GGEI)

October 27, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Global Green Economy Index 2014

October 27, 2014 Add Comment Edit

The 4th edition of the Global Green Economy Index (GGEI) uses data and indicators to rank 60 countries and 70 cities. The report's publisher Dual Citizen LLC measured four dimensions in defining a green economy - political leadership & climate change, efficiency sectors, markets & investment, and environment & natural capital. Their performance and perception calculations reference both public and internally-generated datasets to calculate the rankings.

Here is a summary of their results:

• Germany (perception) and Sweden (performance) top the 2014 GGEI, confirming a trend observed in prior editions of strong results by Germany and the Nordic states. Besides performing well on both the economic and environmental areas of the GGEI, these nations display consistent green leadership and receive global recognition for it.

• Costa Rica performs extremely well, ranking third on the GGEI performance measure behind Sweden and Norway and receiving strong recognition on the perception survey, an impressive result for such a small country. Click here for the complete list of countries.

• Like in 2012, Copenhagen is the top green city as ranked by our survey of global experts, reinforcing the continued strength of the Danish green brand. Tracked for the first time this year, Vancouver and Singapore also rank in the top 10 of green cities.

Emerging Trends

• Many of the fastest growing economies in the world rank poorly on the GGEI performance measure, highlighting an urgent need to reorient their economies to greener growth pathways. Regionally, these countries are mostly in Africa (Ghana), the Gulf (Qatar,United Arab Emirates), and Asia (Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam);

• There are concerning results related to more developed countries as well – notably Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States – where perceptions of their green economic performance dramatically exceed their actual performance on the GGEI. These countries appear to receive more credit than they deserve, an information gap that requires further exploration;

• Despite its leadership founding the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), South Korea continues not to register as a green country brand on our survey and performs poorly, ranked 39th out of 60 on this year’s GGEI. Despite better perception results, Japan also performs poorly on the 2014 GGEI, ranked 44th out of 60;

• While the United Kingdom performs adequately in most areas of the GGEI, it doesn’t excel on any one topic, possibly due to inconsistent political rhetoric and policy related to green economy there. While gradually improving in each successive GGEI edition, the UK still lags behind its northern European and Nordic competitors;

• Five European nations - Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal and Spain – reveal performance scores that exceed their perception ones significantly – signaling an urgent need for better strategic communications and information exchange of their green merits and associated investment opportunities.

• The GGEI results reveal a similar observation for a variety of non-European states - including Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda and Zambia in Africa and Colombia, Chile and Peru in Latin America – again suggesting a need for these states to better position their green economies on the international stage.

The GGEI also suggests how to reorient global growth towards a low carbon, resource efficient pathways. To access the full report click here PDF.

Related
Ranking of National Performance in the Green Economy (GGEI)
Chart - Green Cities Ranking (GGEI)
Chart - Green Investments and Markets National Rankings (GGEI)
Chart - Efficiency National Rankings (GGEI)
Chart - Sustainable Buildings National Rankings (GGEI)
The Best and the Worst Climate Performers (CDP)

The Leading Clean Energy Nation in Terms of Both Investment and Installed Capacity

April 08, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Many nations are moving boldly forward with clean energy investments and installations, but there is one nation that has shown unparalleled leadership for the last several years. The clean energy global investment total for 2013 is about $254 billion and one nation is responsible for more than one fifth of this amount. This nation is leading renewable energy investments and dominating solar and wind installations. They installed more solar and wind capacity in 2013 than any other nation on Earth.

The most recent data gives China the distinction of being the world's clean energy leader. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts’ latest report titled "Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?," China made more investments and deployed more clean energy than any other country in the world in 2013. They invested a whopping total of $54.2 billion and installed 191 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity. Despite a strong year the US came in second with 138 GW of installed capacity.

According to Bloomberg China installed between 12 and 14 GW of photovoltaic (PV) projects in 2013. This is a global record beat out its nearest competitor by one third and more than tripled US totals. China's installed PV capacity for 2013 beat out Germany's record of 7.6 GW which was set in 2012. The US installed about 4.2 GW of PV capacity in 2013.

Chinese firms now dominate the global solar market. Three firms in particular are leading the world, they are China Power Investment Corp., China Three Gorges and China Huadian Corp.

This prodigious solar growth shows no signs of letting up in 2014. The Chinese government plans to add an additional 14 GW of PV capacity this year more than half of which will come from rooftop installations connected to the distribution grid.

When it comes to wind power China is also a dominant player. China has been the world’s biggest wind power market for years. In 2012, the nation increased its wind production by 41 percent. In 2013, China led the world by installing more than 16 GW of wind power last year. This is exponentially more than the number two and three spots for installed wind capacity in 2013. Germany installed 3.2 GW in 2013 and the UK installed 1.8 GW last year. In fact China's totals for 2013 are considerably more than the combined totals for the rest of the top ten nations in the world (16 GW vs. 12. GW)

China's total installed wind capacity is now at 91.4 GW. The next closest competitors are the US with a total installed capacity of 61 GW, followed by Germany with 34 GW.

Due to the government's ongoing commitment to wind, China will remain a world leader. They have raised the official wind target for 2020 to 200GW.

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Ranking of National Performance in the Green Economy (GGEI)
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Denmark's Climate Change Bill
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Finland's New Legislation will Reduce Emissions by 80%
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The Sustainability Yearbook 2013 Leading Countries
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Infographic - Purpose Driven Social Brands

April 04, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Event - Social Venture Network: Lead the Way

March 16, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Social Venture Network's (SVN) Spring Conference will take place on April 24 - 27, 2014 in San Diego, California. Connect, learn and collaborate with the top minds of socially responsible business and explore what matters most...in your work...in your life...and for our planet.

Featured speakers include:

Adnan Durrani American Halal/ Saffron Road
Reem Hassani Numi Organic Tea Konda Mason Impact HUB
Gary Hirshberg Stonyfield Farm Brooke Deterline Courageous Leadership
Justin Guilbert and Douglas Riboud Harmless Harvest
Mary Waldner and Dale Rodrigues Mary's Gone Crackers
Amory Lovins Rocky Mountain Institute
Megan Lowry United States Marine Corps Veteran

Registration

**Register by March 21st to receive $100 off conference registration fees!**

Conference Attendance Policy

SVN conferences and local gatherings are open to active members, affiliates and first-time prospective members.

If you're a former member, you can click here to sign in and renew your membership for 2014. If you're not a member, but have been to an SVN conference before and would like to join us again in San Diego, CA or Greenwich CT, you can apply for membership here.

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Patagonia Presents the World Premiere of “DamNation”

March 05, 2014 Add Comment Edit

Patagonia recently announced that it is presenting the world premiere of DamNation at the SXSW. This film explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers.

Dam removal has moved beyond the fictional Monkey Wrench Gang to go mainstream. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound back to life, giving salmon and other wild fish the right of return to primeval spawning grounds, after decades without access. DamNation's majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature.

A special panel at the world premiere of the film on March 10 at SXSW will feature Patagonia Founder/Owner Yvon Chouinard; DamNation director Travis Rummel; Joy Howard, Vice President of Marketing for Patagonia; and, Jeremy Boxer, Creative Director of Vimeo. The panel will be moderated by esteemed indie film journalist and digital innovator Eugene Hernandez, Director of Digital Strategy at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Chouinard states, “I'm proud to have been involved. Time and again, I've witnessed how removing an unnecessary dam is the responsible and, eventually, celebrated choice. Ben, Matt and Travis show us why, and they've made a beautiful film.”

DamNation is set for U.S. theatrical release in New York and select markets in April/May, coupled with a nine-city tour of regional film premieres, and followed by a tour to all Patagonia stores nationwide on May 29. The film will be available for pre-buy on the DamNation website through Vimeo On Demand in March, and will be released on Vimeo, along with iTunes and a number of other digital platforms in June.

DamNation is produced by Patagonia in association with a Stoecker Ecological & Felt Soul Media Production and is set for theatrical release in select cities beginning in April.

DamNation, 87 min, U.S., 2014. Directed by Ben Knight and Travis Rummel. Produced by Matt Stoecker and Travis Rummel. Editor: Ben Knight. Director of Photography: Ben Knight. Director of Underwater Photography: Matt Stoecker. Associate Producer: Beda Calhoun. Executive Producer: Yvon Chouinard. Featuring: David James Duncan, David Montgomery, Elmer Crow, Rebecca Miles Jim Waddell, Floyd Dominy, Katie Lee, Lee Spencer and Mikal Jakubal.

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Event - Green California Summit & Expo

February 09, 2014 Add Comment Edit

The 8th annual Green California Summit & Expo will be held in Sacramento on April 8-9, 2014 at the Sacramento Convention Center. The Green Market Oracle is proud to once again be an Outreach Partner for this important event. See details of how our readers can receive a special 20 percent discount at the bottom of the page.

The advisory board for the Summit is composed of leaders from government and the private sector and is chaired by CalEPA Secretary, Matt Rodriquez, Government Operations Secretary Marybel Batjers and Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Anna Caballero.

The conference includes an Expo with more than 100 companies offering green products and services, concurrent sessions addressing energy, water, transportation and other vital topics and a Leadership Awards reception.

Pre-Summit seminars on April 7 will address Prop 39 and recent changes to the state’s green building and energy codes. Keynote speakers will include Anne Simpson, Senior Portfolio Manager and Director of Global Governance for CalPERS.

Readers of The Green Market Oracle can receive a 20 percent discount on the education program by entering "Oracle" in the discount field when registering online. Keynotes and exhibit hall are free.

For information and to register, click here or call Cindy Dangberg at 626-577-5700.

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