Guest Columns

Four Things Your Company Needs to Know about the Carbon Disclosure Project

Four Things Your Company Needs to Know about the Carbon Disclosure ProjectIt's that time of year again when thousands of companies start preparing their annual Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report. In 2011, more than three thousand organizations participated, and if you are one of them ...

May 24, 2012

Burning Down the House: The Shocking Economics of Energy

Burning Down the House: The Shocking Economics of EnergyImagine if Mitt Romney's sons burned through their entire family fortune in less time than it takes to watch Titanic in 3D. That would be crazy, right? But that's exactly what we're doing when it comes to energy: we're burning ...

May 24, 2012

How Gaming Can Deliver Your Sustainability Targets

How Gaming Can Deliver Your Sustainability TargetsTo compete with rivals, it is a good idea to think ahead. Even though green legislation affecting business is relatively new, it pays for companies to review their green strategy to protect themselves from penalties as new laws ...

May 23, 2012

Financing Goes ‘Green’

Financing Goes ‘Green’Energy prices and consumption seem to be on an upward trajectory. In fact, energy costs have steadily risen over the last decade and are expected to carry on doing so as consumption grows worldwide. Businesses Eager to Introduce Energy ...

May 23, 2012

Collaboration: Challenge for the Water Industry

Collaboration: Challenge for the Water IndustryWhat is the best way to manage water? Until recently, most of us have not given this question much attention. True enough, we may have realized at some point that water is an essential resource for supporting ...

May 22, 2012

Solving the World’s Water Problems through Technology

Solving the World’s Water Problems through TechnologyAs I read report after report about the daunting water infrastructure and scarcity challenges we all face, I am heartened by the promise of technological innovation. Everywhere I look in the water world, I see talented, dedicated people ...

May 22, 2012

Ten Steps to Quality Supplier Relations

Ten Steps to Quality Supplier RelationsProbing the 2012 regulatory landscape, quality and risk managers want to know, "Specifically, how do we start a program of compliance?" The answer is:  start with #1 below. Then proceed to #2. Quality programs don’t have to be ...

May 21, 2012

The Many Moving Pieces of California’s Cap and Trade Program

The Many Moving Pieces of California’s Cap and Trade ProgramThe calendar says May 2012, so what does that mean for California's attempts to implement a first-in-the-nation, economy-wide Cap and Trade Program? Actually quite a bit. There are many moving parts in this complex regulatory puzzle being ...

May 21, 2012

Ultracapacitors Give Power Lift to Automated Guided Vehicles

Ultracapacitors Give Power Lift to Automated Guided VehiclesThe commercial and consumer vehicle markets have made significant inroads in cleaning their technology and improving the performance and lifespan of their energy storage systems. One way to achieve this is by using ultracapacitors in combination with batteries ...

May 17, 2012

Innovation a Part of BASF’s DNA

Innovation a Part of BASF’s DNAA key element of future-proof brands is innovation. As someone with a particular interest in building tough, resilient brands of the future, I’m always curious how big companies keep their innovation, well, innovative. After all, innovation tends ...

May 17, 2012

Putting a Price on the Ocean

Putting a Price on the OceanFor most businesses, the environmental impact of climate change on the oceans is not a top priority. Unless your business is directly reliant on a clean and sustainable ocean, for example fisheries or cruise lines, there is little ...

May 16, 2012

Corporate Responsibility Education for Senior Executives – How Important Is It?

Corporate Responsibility Education for Senior Executives – How Important Is It?As corporate responsibility (CR) has grown rapidly over the past years, CR key issues are dynamic and therefore create the need for new, innovative directions in the development and implementation of effective and integrated CSR strategies. Do senior executives ...

May 15, 2012

Don’t Board the ‘Fracking Banned’ Wagon

Don’t Board the ‘Fracking Banned’ WagonIn my last column, I preached patience for those who question the safety of extracting shale gas via fracking. In this month’s column, I profile the growing trend of states and localities electing to ...

May 14, 2012

Traditional, Tried and True Campaigning Tactics for your Energy Project

Traditional, Tried and True Campaigning Tactics for your Energy ProjectWhen working to combat opposition, campaigns often employ the use of new mediums of communication. Facebook, Twitter, and various real-time social media platforms have become a central focus of many public affairs organizations. Utilizing these platforms ...

May 14, 2012

Places to Look for Energy Losses in Commercial Buildings

Places to Look for Energy Losses in Commercial BuildingsData from millions of businesses, institutions and manufacturers show that sustainability issues fall into four main categories: rising energy costs, growing disposal costs, limited water supply and health concerns over the quality of indoor ...

May 14, 2012

GAO Report Finds Feds Not Always Managing Own E-Waste Responsibly

GAO Report Finds Feds Not Always Managing Own E-Waste ResponsiblyA report, "Electronic Waste: Actions Needed to Provide Assurance That Used Federal Electronics Are Disposed of in an Environmentally Responsible Manner," released in March from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that federal agencies ...

May 10, 2012

Changing Attitudes about Waterways in Post-Irene Vermont

Changing Attitudes about Waterways in Post-Irene VermontIn the immediate aftermath of last summer's Hurricane Irene, an anecdote made the rounds featuring Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. According to the story, Governor Shumlin was looking on as a road crew repaired some flood damage, rebuilding ...

May 10, 2012

Where Even the Mighty Falter: Integrating Sustainability

Where Even the Mighty Falter: Integrating SustainabilityWe all know and understand the importance and significant impact sustainability has on businesses and communities. But do we truly understand its potential? In order for companies to reap the ultimate benefits, companies must integrate sustainability into every ...

May 9, 2012

A Papermaker’s Perspective on Sustainable Forestry

A Papermaker’s Perspective on Sustainable ForestryThere is not a single matter related to papermaking that touches each of us as personally and emotionally as forestry. Simply put, people love trees. Some people envision responsible paper manufacturer as engaging in deforestation but, ...

May 9, 2012

Carbon Emissions Are Like Cholesterol

Carbon Emissions Are Like CholesterolIn seminars around the world, I have talked about how carbon emissions are analogous to fat in a diet. It is something we don’t want, but is often an unavoidable part of our daily lives. We ...

May 8, 2012

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