Despite many claims to the contrary, the shopping bags of most SA retailers are not actually being recycled because of one additive. In spite of wording on their plastic shopping bags such as "Recycle me - set a trend" (Woolworths), "Reduce, reuse, recycle" (Pick 'n Pay & Shoprite) and "We love our country, please recycle" (Spar), these bags are not being recycled … [Read more...]
Become a Conservation Champion
The WWF brought together stakeholders from the wine industry and conservation to create the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) in 2005. Over the next decade, the initiative fostered greater awareness of the Cape’s unique natural heritage and encouraged many farms to implement biodiversity-friendly farming. The partnership also saw South Africa’s voluntary sustainable … [Read more...]
HSBC: what they’ve said about funding deforestation, and why it’s wrong
Over three weeks ago, we exposed how HSBC is funding palm oil companies that are tearing up Indonesia's forests. Since then, thousands of emails have been sent to the CEO. Now HSBC is responding to those emails, but what it's saying is at times misguided, and other times just plain wrong. More than 200,000 people across the world - including many HSBC customers - have … [Read more...]
The state of green business in 2017
In 2016, among the world's largest companies showed positive signals in sustainable business KPIs. The challenge of 2017? To identify business models that decouple growth from resource use and pollution, says Trucost CEO Richard Mattison. 2016 was undoubtedly a year of change. Aside from major political shifts, there were also significant shifts in climate action. The … [Read more...]
76 Samsung workers dead after chemical exposure
Samsung deliberately kept secret the harmful chemicals its South Korean workers were exposed to, fearing its competitors would learn trade secrets. 76 workers are now dead. Most of the dead were in their 20s or 30s. One former worker—a breast cancer survivor—reported that Samsung brought in “uninformed kids” and treated them like they were “disposable cups.” Samsung … [Read more...]
Apple commits to zero environmental waste in China
Apple announced on Wednesday that all 14 of its final assembly sites in China are now compliant with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) zero waste standards. “It means that all the manufacturing waste from the 14 facilities is either reused, recycled, or composted,” said Lisa Jackson, vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives at Apple. The tech giant now … [Read more...]
Setting the bar for sustainability in hospitality
Cornell University’s Center for Hospitality Research, in collaboration with 11 international hotel companies, last week released the latest set of benchmarks measuring the sustainability level of a hotel. The publication of the index is part of an ongoing project to empower hotel owners, operators and buyers to check and understand water and electrity usage and carbon … [Read more...]
The future belongs to sustainable brands
The need for innovation in the responsible design of plastic packaging and the essential focus on the post-consumer life of this material was discussed during a workshop at the Sustainable Brands HOW NOW conference in Cape Town. The conference created an opportunity for professionals from various industries to network and learn from their peers and a collection of thought … [Read more...]
Climate change will wipe $2.5tn off global financial assets
Climate change could cut the value of the world’s financial assets by $2.5tn (£1.7tn), according to the first estimate from economic modelling. In the worst case scenarios, often used by regulators to check the financial health of companies and economies, the losses could soar to $24tn, or 17% of the world’s assets, and wreck the global economy. The research also showed … [Read more...]
Investor interest in sustainability performance on the rise
Long relegated as a fringe issue on the corporate agenda, sustainability is fast becoming a rising concern among investors and shareholders, said business heads from leading Singapore companies on Wednesday. Speaking at a panel discussion on sustainability and climate change hosted by the Singapore Exchange, representatives from Singapore-listed companies DBS Bank, City … [Read more...]
How oil spills can literally break fish hearts
There is a new plight to hit our shores - that of the baby fish altered for life by the oil spills off the Gulf of Mexico. Oil-slathered birds were a potent symbol of the ecological cost of millions of gallons of oil that flowed into the Gulf of Mexico five years ago. But the less-visible plight of baby fish may offer a more far-reaching legacy. Lab experiments show that … [Read more...]
Concerns abound over amended Fuleni coal mine application
Is it a good idea to develop an anthracite coal mine right on the boundary of the world-renowned Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park? WESSA is deeply concerned about the renewed attempt by Ibutho Coal to do so. The proposed Fuleni mine has the potential to severely and irreversibly impact this flagship nature reserve as well as the communities of the Fuleni-Umhlana area. WESSA … [Read more...]
Achieving practical sustainable goals for South Africa
We have constantly been made aware of the dangers of climate change in recent years, as global temperatures continue to rise and natural disasters affect human settlement more frequently. The dialogue of world leaders repeatedly emphasises the need to focus on the development of a green economy to ensure the wellbeing of our planet. In working towards achieving the county’s … [Read more...]
