June 30, 2020
Rapid urbanisation and aging infrastructures are creating global water challenges, but contemporary technologies like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offer a solution. Water is a precious natural resource becoming more scarce with rapid urbanisation. According to the World Economic Forum, water scarcity is one of the most significant challenges of our time. And as the global population
...June 29, 2020
Secrets for circular supply chain partnerships from Interface and Aquafil Elsa Wenzel Mon, 06/29/2020 - 02:00 It’s an enviable alliance that has outlasted most marriages. For two decades, Interface and Aquafil have worked together to close the loop on carpeting, an example that other companies have followed. The carpet maker and the nylon supplier moved long ago past the early steps
...June 29, 2020
Meet Terry the Fracosaurus and other cartoon characters that really shouldn't exist.
June 29, 2020
16 congregations of Dominican nuns recently debuted a collaboration with Morgan Stanley to create a $130 million climate solutions fund.
June 28, 2020
Australian builders are calling on construction industry professionals to take a stand on the climate change and biodiversity emergency. The Australian Builders Declare initiative sees builders joining architects in publicly acknowledging that we are facing a climate emergency, and that business as usual cannot continue if we want a prosperous future for our children and natural
...June 26, 2020
Where Unilever's product labeling initiative could have a huge impact Jim Giles Fri, 06/26/2020 - 01:00 One of the most significant projects in sustainable food in 2020 was unveiled last week. The news is important partly because of the company involved: CPG behemoth Unilever, which reaches 2.5 billion consumers every day through 400 brands, which range from Ben & Jerry’s to
...June 25, 2020
A report released by ENEA Consulting reveals that a suite of technologies is required to address power quality issues caused by increasing electricity generation from rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This report is a timely addition to drive solutions for Australia’s energy transition as consumers’ appetite for rooftop PV continues to grow. The Future Grid for Distributed
...June 25, 2020
To B or not to B? More tech companies should ask themselves that question Heather Clancy Thu, 06/25/2020 - 02:00 Fifth Wall, the biggest venture fund dedicated to funding disruptive ideas in real estate and retail, this week revealed that it has become a Certified B Corporation (B Corp) — a move that requires it to embed concerns about equity, inclusiveness and sustainability into its
...June 24, 2020
REDWAVE MATE from REDWAVE is an artificial intelligence system designed to monitor and optimise recycling plants. The system measures quality and records and analyses information during production, with collected data used to ensure optimal plant and sorting operation. Artificial intelligence is designed to increase plant availability and sorting efficiency, as well as maximise yield and
...June 24, 2020
UNSW has entered into an agreement with Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco, aiming to boost the development of electric vehicles in Australia. The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will promote further research and development of sustainable transport. UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs said the partnership reflects UNSW’s
...June 24, 2020
Wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has partnered with German hybrid tower producer Max Bögl Wind AG in a cooperation model set to propel wind power in Germany. Under the framework partnership agreement, project developers planning a Siemens Gamesa wind turbine will be able to purchase hybrid towers directly from Max Bögl, reducing the number of interfaces and further
...June 24, 2020
Lyft's 100% EV strategy requires a policy blitz Katie Fehrenbacher Wed, 06/24/2020 - 02:00 ICYMI, ride-hailing biggie Lyft announced last week that it plans to electrify every single car offering services on its platform by 2030, including both those that Lyft owns and rents to drivers and ones that its drivers own. It's a colossal task for an 8-year-old company that says it
...June 23, 2020
Leigh Creek Energy turned to Rockwell Automation to design, build and commission a pilot plant to produce synthetic natural gas and monitor the technical and environmental performance of the process. The Leigh Creek Energy Project uses in situ gasification (ISG) to convert coal from its solid state into its gaseous form, resulting in the generation of synthetic natural gas (syngas). The challenge was
...June 23, 2020
Let’s incubate the Green Swans hatched by the COVID-19 Black Swan Tom Baruch Tue, 06/23/2020 - 01:30 The global COVID-19 pandemic is a historic Black Swan event that offers a Green Swan of opportunities to harvest innovation from 50 years of converging exponential technologies. We are presented with a rare opportunity to invest in new innovations, rebuild our data and power
...June 23, 2020
Alpine resorts get creative to combat rising temperatures.
June 22, 2020
The 2020 GreenBiz 30 Under 30 GreenBiz Editors Mon, 06/22/2020 - 02:30 If you're looking for the light of inspiration during one of the darkest periods the world has seen in decades, you've come to the right place. We are proud to introduce our fifth annual cohort of twentysomethings who are sustainability leaders within — and without — their companies,
...June 22, 2020
Chefs could be the missing ingredient to circular food systems Lauren Phipps Mon, 06/22/2020 - 01:00 It’s often said that the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach. The same principle could apply to fixing the broken food system. Food loss and waste, the carbon-intensive production and distribution of food, hunger and food deserts: These are just a few
...June 22, 2020
The key to lowering your microfiber footprint: wash your clothes on cold.
June 22, 2020
A new study reveals that the continent's green patches act as a carbon sink.
June 21, 2020
Cities are eyeing microtransit to create a responsive system. But experts say there are tradeoffs.
June 19, 2020
Timberland invests in regenerative leather ranches Deonna Anderson Fri, 06/19/2020 - 02:45 Regenerative agriculture practices have received a lot of attention in recent years, and much of the focus has been on food production. But more companies outside of the food space are figuring out how they can invest in or use regenerative practices in the supply chain for their
...June 19, 2020
Lyft said it would transition to 100% electric vehicles by 2030. But its electrifying news leaves some questions unanswered.
June 19, 2020
Not pictured: Toxic fumes.
June 19, 2020
Finally, a one-stop shop for researching food systems data Jim Giles Fri, 06/19/2020 - 00:15 Parts of our food systems are so bewilderingly complex that attempts to answer even basic questions can result in hours of frustrated searching. If you can relate to this, I have some good news for you — not quite a fully-fledged solution, but certainly a step toward one. The genesis of this
...June 18, 2020
Companies are a vital part of the social fabric. They provide livelihoods, their outputs power economic activity, and their goods and services are depended upon the world over. Image: Channels: Communications & ReportingTags: pandemicBuild Back BetterCWBACHRBSDGsILOBangladesh Garment ManufacturersHuman rightssupply chains
...June 17, 2020
“We’re creating regulations for an ecosystem that we don’t understand.”
June 17, 2020
Keep yourself (and the planet) cool with these lessons on extreme heat.
June 17, 2020
3 keys for scaling nature-based solutions for climate adaptation Jonathan Cook Wed, 06/17/2020 - 00:30 This article originally was published in World Resources Institute. In Indonesia, climate change is already a pernicious threat. More than 30 million people across northern Java suffer from coastal flooding and erosion related to more severe storms and sea level rise. In some
...June 17, 2020
Dow’s Jim Fitterling on tackling plastic waste and the company’s sustainability goals In a conversation with GreenBiz Executive Editor Joel Makower, Dow CEO Jim Fitterling details strategy for the company’s latest sustainability commitments — including being carbon neutral by 2050. “That includes looking at Scope 1 through 3 emissions. And also taking a look at
...June 16, 2020
“Low-cost”, “flat-pack”, ”Swedish”, “yellow”. Mention of the word “IKEA” and many word associations spring to mind. True aficionados of the world’s largest furniture retailer may think “Poäng chair” or “Billy bookcase”, or even “meatballs”. One term that is unlikely to crop up,
...June 16, 2020
The launch of the streamlined self-service digital textile collection service means that households can elect a convenient time to have their unwanted clothes, shoes and textiles picked up from home to be recycled. Following Manrags’ recently launched textile recycling initiative that receives old textiles from consumers for re-use or recycling, the company has joined forces with
...June 16, 2020
Unilever unveils climate and nature fund worth more than $1 billion Cecilia Keating Tue, 06/16/2020 - 00:30 Unilever has announced it will invest €1 billion (about $1.12 billion based on exchange rates this week) over the next decade in efforts to tackle climate change and deliver on a new goal to ensure net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039. The consumer goods giant
...June 15, 2020
A 20/20 view of sustainable packaging Cheryl Baldwin Mon, 06/15/2020 - 00:00 This article is sponsored by Pure Strategies. Sustainable packaging is a keystone issue for corporate sustainability. As one of the first environmental concerns companies began to tackle proactively, interest and efforts had notable resurgence in the last few years, partly spurred by the attention on ocean
...June 14, 2020
Developer Sekisui House Australia and energy partner WINConnect share a common vision to make Ripley Town Centre in south-east Queensland the largest private community energy network in the state. While the concept of embedded energy networks is not new, WINConnect Executive Chairman Tom Patsakos said Ripley Town Centre is the first ever township to commission one. “To my knowledge, there is
...June 14, 2020
An artist talks about his environmentally responsive artwork.
June 12, 2020
It’s time to put people first Lise Kingo Fri, 06/12/2020 - 02:00 Editor's note: Lise Kingo is stepping down as CEO and executive director effective June 16. The organization's new leader, Sanda Ojiambo, begins June 17. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations set out to put the world on a path to recovery, pledging "never again" to allow the horrors of two
...June 12, 2020
How we can fight the pandemic by embracing circularity Garry Cooper Fri, 06/12/2020 - 01:30 Throughout the pandemic response, a key issue has been a lack of communication and coordination to get personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies to where they are most needed, with many areas of the country suffering from severe resource shortages as a result. The only truly
...June 11, 2020
Water vapour from the atmosphere could be used as a source of renewable energy, according to a new study. The research from Tel Aviv University — led by Professor Colin Price in collaboration with Professor Hadas Saaroni and doctoral student Judi Lax, all from TAU’s Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences — is based on the discovery that electricity materialises in the
...June 11, 2020
Christchurch has become the first city in New Zealand to launch a secure solution for commuter bikes, e-bikes and scooters with the unveiling of Locky Docks. Locky Docks offer locals a secure parking and charging solution for conventional bikes, e-bikes or scooters in convenient locations, without the need for a bike lock. Safe cycle routes are displayed on the Locky Dock screens. The docks are free for
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June 11, 2020
Ethical Corporation by Reuters Events launches the new Reuters Events Transform Europe Virtual Series to address the big issues facing businesses as they look to deliver a new blueprint fit for a worldwide recovery post Covid-19.
June 11, 2020
It’s difficult to understate the impact Covid-19 has had on the meat industry. At the time of writing, in the US alone, over 24,000 workers across 271 plants have already contracted coronavirus, with supply chain failures predicted to cost over $13bn to the cattle industry, according to the Food & Environment Reporting Network.Image: Channels: Communications &
...June 11, 2020
Mitigating and adapting to climate change is perhaps humanity’s biggest project ever, and it’s expensive.
June 10, 2020
A new report lays out a clear path to clean power in 15 years.
June 10, 2020
Melbourne-based water and sanitation services provider Jacobs has partnered with Yarra Valley Water to investigate the potential of an Australian hydrogen industry supported by co-located hydrogen production at wastewater treatment plants. With findings presented in the thought-leadership paper ‘Toward a Zero Carbon Future’, the study examines commercial barriers to sustainable
...June 10, 2020
Paying farmers a living wage is essential to ensuring sustainable coffee production Dean Cycon Wed, 06/10/2020 - 01:00 When you sit back with a good cup of coffee, you will be engulfed in the warmth, aroma, taste, acidity and body of the brew. Yet, swirling beneath the surface all of the major issues of the 21st century — climate change, globalization, immigration, women’s
...June 9, 2020
The world has changed immensely in recent months, but so, it would seem, have we as individuals. Most significant is the shift in our thinking on environmental threats, particularly climate change. In a global survey of 29 countries, pollster Ipsos MORI finds that seven out of 10 (71%) of those polled agree that long-term climate change is “as serious” at the Covid-19
...June 9, 2020
Sonia Shah's new book questions assumptions about life on the move.
June 8, 2020
Research from Australian telco Belong reveals that only 8% of Australians realise mobile data contributes to carbon emissions — and it is estimated that mobile data networks in Australia cause more than half a million tonnes of CO2 every year.1 In recognition of this impact, which is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from someone flying between Melbourne and Sydney more than three million times in a
...June 8, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has made clear what many scientists and economists already know – that destroying natural ecosystems and the animal habitats they shelter put our health and prosperity at grave risk.?? But what has been missing among the immediate responses to the coronavirus pandemic are action plans at the regional and national levels laying out how, exactly, safeguarding nature can protect
...June 8, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has made clear what many scientists and economists already know – that destroying natural ecosystems and the animal habitats they shelter put our health and prosperity at grave risk.?? But what has been missing among the immediate responses to the coronavirus pandemic are action plans at the regional and national levels laying out how, exactly, safeguarding nature can protect
...June 8, 2020
How on-demand food delivery apps could encourage low-carbon food Anna Zhang Mon, 06/08/2020 - 02:00 The COVID-19 crisis has affected most aspects of daily life, including how we get our food. Because the COVID-19 response has restricted restaurants to pick-up and delivery orders in many areas, business for on-demand food delivery apps such as DoorDash, Grubhub, Seamless and Uber Eats has
...June 6, 2020
In India, solar power’s reliance on lead batteries could harm some communities.
June 5, 2020
It’s no secret that I’m on a mission to remove as many toxic chemicals from my home as possible. I’ve tackled my makeup bag, skin, haircare and household cleaning products. Next on my list? My pads and tampons.
June 5, 2020
Winner of the Circular Innovation Award at last year’s Responsible Business Awards, IT products giant HP and manufacturing firm Sinctronics have partnered on a circular economy model in Brazil since 2012. HP has significant manufacturing operations in the country, and has a target to send zero waste to landfill.Image: Channels: EnvironmentTags: Ethical Corporation Responsible
...June 5, 2020
Winner of the Circular Innovation Award at last year’s Responsible Business Awards, IT products giant HP and manufacturing firm Sinctronics have partnered on a circular economy model in Brazil since 2012. HP has significant manufacturing operations in the country, and has a target to send zero waste to landfill.Image: Channels: EnvironmentTags: Ethical Corporation Responsible
...June 4, 2020
How Ocean Spray cranberries became America’s '100 percent sustainable' crop Jesse Klein Thu, 06/04/2020 - 01:45 Cranberries are more than just an American Thanksgiving Day tradition; they also are a tradition of the American land. The crop is one of only three native cultivated fruits in North America. Because the plant is actually meant to grow in the natural
...June 3, 2020
Veolia Water Technologies will assist in the creation of a soluble fertiliser in the Western Australian outback. Perth-based Salt Lake Potash is developing the Lake Way potash mining project, aiming to produce 245,000 tons per year of sulfate of potash (K2SO4) from dry salt lake deposits in the Northern Goldfields region. In order to recover low-cost, high-grade SOP, the production uses solar
...June 3, 2020
It takes a village to succeed in climate tech Ben Soltoff Wed, 06/03/2020 - 02:00 Solving climate change depends, to some extent, on technological innovation. The world’s leading climate authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published a landmark 2018 report highlighting the urgency of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The report outlines
...June 3, 2020
A tightrope walk ahead for corporate sustainability managers Rajat Panwar Wed, 06/03/2020 - 00:00 Amidst numerous uncertainties surrounding post-COVID corporate climate, one thing is certain: Sustainability managers will face multifaceted challenges. Many could face budget cuts, even as their stakeholders expect them to ramp up sustainability efforts and seize this
...June 2, 2020
The automotive sector is responsible for around a fifth of all CO2 emissions globally. At current rates of growth, it is on track to being solely responsible for more than 0.8C of global warming by the end of the century. Cars are also responsible for 90% of air pollution in cities and contain an average of 1.4 tonnes of material, according to EIT Climate-KIC. At the same time, the sector is a heavy consumer of other
...June 1, 2020
Aggregated and concrete supplier Holcim has received certification from Climate Active to sell carbon-neutral products. Administered by the Australian Government, Climate Active is a program to support businesses committed to sustainability, innovation and industry leadership to drive voluntary climate action. Climate-neutral certification confirms that a carbon-neutral claim is based on best
...June 1, 2020
The Terra AC wallbox from ABB Electrification is designed for connected charging in homes and businesses, and supports the growing generation of renewable energy users who want to harness and manage the consumption of their own power. The technology enables configuration and software updates via a dedicated app or remotely via the cloud. Each charger is equipped with a revenue-grade energy meter that
...June 1, 2020
Dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris, not-for-profit organisation Tangaroa Blue Foundation created the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) — an on-ground network of volunteers, communities and organisations that contribute data from rubbish collected at beach and river clean-up events to the AMDI database and devise solutions to stop the flow of litter at the source. AMDI
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