December 30, 2020
Last year around this time, I focused on digital technology solutions for water with this essay, "2019: The Year Analog Solutions Died." I stand by this perspective, as the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated interest and adoption of digital technologies across the water value chain. However, I wanted to share six new learnings from this pandemic year related to digital transformation along with
...December 29, 2020
CO2 emissions dropped 7 percent in 2020 -- and scientists say they might never fully rebound.
December 29, 2020
Editor's note: Back by popular demand, smart cities consultant Sue Lebeck provides GreenBiz highlights from the past year in verse. You'll find her haiku from 2019 here. Rise before the Surprise Leaders gather for the first and last time in year of shelter-in-place. Learning on the Job Could ways to flatten coronavirus’ curve help bend climate’s curve
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December 28, 2020
The Green Business Bureau, a trusted authority in sustainable business practices, has a simple mission: to help make every business a greener business. This article introduces the organization, their mission and certification program. Hear from the founders on how they use their business as a platform for transformation.
December 28, 2020
Fixer Layel Camargo discusses the role of arts and culture in building movements and shares their priorities for the new year.
December 23, 2020
In January, Reuters Events Sustainable Business will launch a new monthly publication, The Sustainable Business Review, in which our specialist journalists will analyse the latest news from brands and NGOs, ESG investors and policymakers. Each month we will also bring you a timely industry feature or executive interview, and analysis of exclusive research from our new data partners, Signal ESG, on the 250
...December 23, 2020
The Solitary Gardens art project brings attention to the injustices of solitary confinement while fostering healing and growth in the community.
December 23, 2020
When you think of Colgate-Palmolive, the first thing likely to come to mind is its eponymous toothpaste or dish soap. But the company also owns a lot of other brands that offer other consumer packaged goods such as deodorant (Speed Stick), body soap (Irish Spring) and other household cleaning products (Fabuloso). And what are those items packaged in? Most of the time, plastic. The company was the eighth biggest
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December 23, 2020
Since the beginning of ages, we humans have prioritized our three basic necessities very well – food, clothing, and shelter. With changing times, different discoveries and revolutions have led these industries in society. However, in recent times our desire for luxury has ruled over ethics.
December 22, 2020
BlocPower CEO Donnel Baird predicts that electrification and energy efficiency -- especially in cities -- will play a key role in our COVID and climate response.
December 22, 2020
Ever wondered which sports team has the most sustainable fans? From the perspective of a rights holder, this is becoming a critical question. The answers will drive business decisions for venue operations, fan engagement and brand partnership activation. For the green sports movement, the answers may be the key to solidifying the importance of integrating sustainability into sports. A new report by
...December 21, 2020
A million-dollar prize has been awarded to the CSIRO-developed innovation FutureFeed — a livestock feed made from seaweed that reduces methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle by more than 80%. 2020 marks the launch of the Food Planet Prize, which recognises initiatives, organisations and individuals working to secure the world’s food supply while fostering a healthy and resilient
...December 21, 2020
The contraption Matt Sheffer wants to show me sits at the far end of a field of alfalfa and grasses, a weave of green and pale gold, broken only by the parallel grooves we’re trudging along, a path carved by the tires of a pickup truck. It’s Nov. 4, and America is in the midst of a presidential election that feels like being trapped, upside down and spinning, on a ramshackle carnival ride. So I’m
...December 21, 2020
As the year comes to a (welcome) close, it’s worth taking a moment to consider how the circular economy concept has emerged and evolved during this very particular year. Here are three trends that defined the circular economy in 2020, and what they might mean for the year to come. 1. Reuse is on the rise. Despite some setbacks posed by the pandemic (including misinformation about the safety of
...December 21, 2020
As the year comes to a (welcome) close, it’s worth taking a moment to consider how the circular economy concept has emerged and evolved during this very particular year. Here are three trends that defined the circular economy in 2020, and what they might mean for the year to come. 1. Reuse is on the rise. Despite some setbacks posed by the pandemic (including misinformation about the safety of
...December 20, 2020
The recent announcement that Sydney’s Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant will produce biomethane to power up to 24,000 homes is great news, as is the potential for New South Wales to utilise enough biogas to supply 1.4 million homes. However, the secret to maximising the greenhouse gas savings from any renewable energy project is to maximise efficiency at every stage of the process. In the case of anaerobic
...December 19, 2020
The U.S. central bank is joining the financial equivalent of the Paris Agreement, becoming one of the last of its peers to do so.
December 18, 2020
For companies getting serious about sustainability, it often starts with establishing priorities and formally writing an environmental mission statement or “green mission statement”. This guide provides the steps and process for writing a mission statement that captures your company's sustainability priorities.
...December 18, 2020
Linda Cheung is forging ahead with AR public art projects she hopes will inspire a greener society post-COVID.
December 18, 2020
Last week, I unpacked three hype-worthy trends shaping our food systems. Now I want to shine a light on three behind-the-scenes forces that aren’t generating headlines but should be. Let’s drive straight in. 1. Our two-tier food system The story: Online marketplaces that connect consumers with small-scale producers have boomed during the pandemic. Membership at Crowd Cow, a marketplace
...December 17, 2020
Without the benefit of their favorite search engine, I’m certain many readers would be hard-pressed to name the largest, pure-play agricultural equipment company in the world. But digging into innovations being advanced by that organization — AGCO, based in Duluth, Georgia — reveals much about the potential future of technology for cultivating regenerative and precision
...December 17, 2020
A recent announcement by Europe’s largest iron ore producer, LKAB, may seem like a technical detail only relevant for metallurgists and steel nerds. However, the company’s plan to invest up to $46 billion over the next 15–20 years to expand into an emissions-free iron process being piloted in Northern Sweden is big news for Sweden, the global steel industry and future
...December 16, 2020
Have you ever been more ready for a year to be over? In a little over two weeks, this dumpster fire of a year will be relegated to history. And while the world will be dealing with COVID-19 for many more months into 2021, something just feels so good about leaving 2020 behind. Many books will be written about 2020 as a turning point in — you name it: American power. China relations. Democracy. In my
...December 15, 2020
The semantic trick that allows oil companies to "cut" emissions and grow them at the same time.
December 15, 2020
As sustainability professionals, we’ve been talking for years about how consumers are increasingly influenced by values and sustainability. We search the data for proof points that people would prefer to buy from a more sustainable company. Indeed, even when we find the proof points, we also find a large action gap between what people say and what they do. We think the action gap is about to
...December 14, 2020
Solar and wind continue to be the cheapest source of energy in Australia, according to a new report from CSIRO which has calculated the integration costs of renewables in electricity generation. Each year, CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) work with a range of industry stakeholders to give an updated estimate of the cost to generate electricity for new power plants in Australia, through
...December 14, 2020
Amazon has positioned itself as the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, announcing 26 new global utility-scale wind and solar energy projects totalling 3.4 GW of electricity production capacity. The announcement brings Amazon’s total investment in renewable energy in 2020 to 35 projects and more than 4 GW of capacity. One of the 26 global solar energy projects is the Hawkesdale Wind
...December 14, 2020
There’s a way to cut down on medical waste and emissions without compromising patient safety.
December 14, 2020
One of the world’s largest oil and gas companies is betting that the future of flying is carbon-neutral. That may seem an audacious notion from a company whose business model for well over a century has centered around bringing fossil fuels to market — and is banking on petroleum being a key, albeit declining, fuel for decades to come. And it may seem unlikely that an industry as carbon-intensive as
...December 14, 2020
December marks the five-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement — a turning point for the movement to limit dangerous climate change and environmental destruction. But that is not the only pivotal milestone we should commemorate this month. In December 2015, as a response to increasingly frequent environmental disasters that disrupted ecosystems and human health — plus caused unforeseen
...December 13, 2020
McDonald’s Australia has heralded a new era of sustainability by opening its 1000th restaurant as the company’s sustainability flagship for Australia. As part of the project, WaterGroup has deployed its smart water metering solution into the flagship restaurant, forming one of 25 core sustainability initiatives the restaurant is using to reduce its environmental impact with the aim to
...December 13, 2020
Two ABB synchronous condensers are enabling the new Darlington Point Solar Farm in NSW to feed a large amount of clean electricity into the local power network while maintaining grid stability and reliability. With a projected annual output of 685,000 MWh, the 275 MW (AC), 333 MW (DC) solar photovoltaic farm commenced operation in August 2020 and is reported to be the largest solar farm connected to
...December 13, 2020
What opportunities do you predict for the growth of your industry in 2021? 2021 will be an exciting year for the process automation industry. This past 12 months we’ve seen how businesses with technology enabled strategies showed flexibility and resilience, and delivered innovative responses, through what many found to be a turbulent time. The next 12 months will distinguish even further those who
...December 12, 2020
Predictions, good news, and gift guides to give you hope for the new year.
December 11, 2020
I’m going to try to make sense of this tumultuous year, starting with three trends from the past 12 months that I see as key to the immediate future of food. 1. An insane year for alternative proteins The trend: By Dec. 1, venture capitalists invested a whopping $1.5 billion in alternative proteins during 2020, according to the latest data from the Good Food Institute. That money — close to double
...December 11, 2020
Four "Fix-perts" on creative non-gifts and COVID-safe activities that’ll help you celebrate the holidays (without the mountain of trash).
December 11, 2020
They’re ready to talk about carbon removal. Are you?
December 10, 2020
Food waste recycling is the number one opportunity for businesses to take a bite out of the general waste bin and grow their sustainability credentials. The cost of food waste to the Australian economy is estimated to be around $20 billion each year with 2.2 million tonnes being disposed of by the commercial and industrial sector alone. It’s a surprisingly large amount of wastage, especially given the
...December 10, 2020
A battery recycling program is allowing the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) to reduce its environmental footprint and prevent 2500 tonnes of potential waste from going to landfill each year. Club spokesperson Lucinda Ross said around 90% of batteries replaced by RACQ Roadside Assistance patrols and contractors are recovered for recycling. “In the past financial year we
...December 10, 2020
Food waste recycling is the number one opportunity for businesses to take a bite out of the general waste bin and grow their sustainability credentials. The cost of food waste to the Australian economy is estimated to be around $20 billion each year with 2.2 million tonnes being disposed of by the commercial and industrial sector alone. It’s a surprisingly large amount of wastage, especially given the
...December 10, 2020
Did you know Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (aka Woz) has a cryptocurrency named after him? Here’s the backstory. A mere three years ago, my inbox was bloated with news about startups such as South Africa’s Sun Exchange or Estonia’s WePower or Australia’s Power Ledger focused on "democratizing" the ability of individual investors to back solar projects, often in
...December 9, 2020
The nation's third-largest pension fund will withdraw investments from companies that aren't prepared to survive in a low-carbon economy.
December 9, 2020
To offset plastic consumption, companies like Nature's Logic are going Certified Plastic Neutral.
December 9, 2020
Shutting down the nation’s fossil fuel–burning power plants in the next 15 years wouldn't be as economically risky as previously thought, a new study shows.
December 9, 2020
Two new films about tending the earth offer very different world views
December 8, 2020
I’ve been following the money this past week. "The money," in this case, is the sprawling and spiraling world of sustainable finance. The occasion, as you may have guessed, was our announcement Nov. 30 of our newest annual event: GreenFin, taking place in April. It drew the attention of a number of friends, colleagues and veritable strangers who wanted to discuss the
...December 7, 2020
Australia and New Zealand’s smart cities leaders have accelerated their efforts this year, with new technology solutions and innovative projects tackling the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic head on. The third annual Smart Cities Awards was presented virtually by Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand, acknowledging 18 winners across seven categories for their visionary leadership,
...December 7, 2020
A team of skilled personnel has successfully installed the first wind turbine of ACCIONA’s Mortlake South Wind Farm project, erecting the installation over a four-day period. The four steel tower sections were installed first, followed by the nacelle and hub, and finally, the three blades, which were bolted into place on 28 November. The crane that lifted all the elements for the top of the turbine
...December 7, 2020
Nestlé digs deeper into regenerative ag, puts $3.6B behind net-zero plan Heather Clancy Mon, 12/07/2020 - 02:00 The world’s largest food company, Nestlé, last week said it plans to spend roughly $3.6 billion over the next five years to meet its net-zero by 2050 aspirations. But CEO Mark Schneider took pains to position this investment as one that will be
...December 7, 2020
HSBC invests in world’s first ‘reef credit’ system Jesse Klein Mon, 12/07/2020 - 01:45 Traditionally, offset markets have been focused on credits for atmospheric carbon sequestration or restoration projects. But there are many other ways industrial and agricultural operations harm the planet. Australian-based environmental project developer GreenCollar decided to
...December 7, 2020
How do you avoid getting distracted and stay focused on the mission? Trisa Thompson Mon, 12/07/2020 - 00:10 Much has been said, and will be said, about 2020. The word "unprecedented" has been used an unprecedented number of times. We are constantly bombarded by the media, whether it be about politics, COVID-19 or the state of the economy. The media barely lets an hour pass without reporting
...December 6, 2020
In a bid to increase uptake and help customers gain more benefits from advanced metering technology, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has committed to review the rules governing electricity meters. The Review of the Regulatory Framework for Metering Services will focus on driving retail innovation and consumer participation in a two-sided energy market — where all types of energy
...December 6, 2020
Solar and wind are energy powerhouses until the sky is dark or the air is still. An ancient source of energy — the tides — could soon offer a predictable alternative.
December 5, 2020
Whether you are a well-established firm or a start-up, green business certification is a necessity for any company committed to the planet and its people. GBB’s informative, step-by-step guide shows you how to get started on your company’s green certification journey.
...December 4, 2020
An answer to aquaculture's unsustainable fish feed habit? Jim Giles Fri, 12/04/2020 - 00:15 Sustainability can be a game of Whac-A-Mole: We roll out a promising solution to an environmental problem, only to discover that the solution generates problems of its own. It certainly feels that way in aquaculture. On paper, fish farms should be a win for sustainability. A third of wild stocks are
...December 3, 2020
New benchmark shows that biodiversity is in fashion Liesl Truscott Thu, 12/03/2020 - 01:00 This week, in advance of World Soil Day — Dec. 5 — the Textile Exchange Corporate Fiber and Materials Benchmark (CFMB) Program is launching a new tool to help the fashion and textile industry take urgent action on biodiversity. The Biodiversity Benchmark, developed in partnership with The Biodiversity
...December 3, 2020
New benchmark shows that biodiversity is in fashion Liesl Truscott Thu, 12/03/2020 - 01:00 This week, in advance of World Soil Day — Dec. 5 — the Textile Exchange Corporate Fiber and Materials Benchmark (CFMB) Program is launching a new tool to help the fashion and textile industry take urgent action on biodiversity. The Biodiversity Benchmark, developed in partnership with The
...December 2, 2020
A Joint Industry Program to develop a supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power plant has been agreed by CSIRO and US-based GTI, a leader in the development and deployment of technology solutions to address energy and environmental challenges. The power plant could assist mining companies to reach large renewable energy targets. sCO2 turbines offer an autonomous, high-efficiency power cycle that doesn’t
...December 2, 2020
The race to mainstream electric vehicles by 2030 Katie Fehrenbacher Wed, 12/02/2020 - 00:30 The world's leading companies and policymakers are coalescing around setting targets for adopting zero-emission vehicles around a 2030 time frame. The latest — and one of the most aggressive to come from a country leader — was issued a few weeks ago by U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
...December 2, 2020
The race to mainstream electric vehicles by 2030 Katie Fehrenbacher Wed, 12/02/2020 - 00:30 The world's leading companies and policymakers are coalescing around setting targets for adopting zero-emission vehicles around a 2030 time frame. The latest — and one of the most aggressive to come from a country leader — was issued a few weeks ago by U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who revealed a
...December 2, 2020
Why investor Green Century has taken an active interest in fighting deforestation Julie Nash Wed, 12/02/2020 - 00:15 Jessye Waxman is a shareholder advocate at Green Century Capital Management, where she uses the environmentally responsible investment firm’s leverage as a shareholder to protect forests. Ceres talked with Waxman about Green Century’s focus on
...December 1, 2020
The Australian Government has announced $10.5 million in grants to support waste recovery in Australia, with 11 successful applicants to be awarded funding as part of the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund. Grant winner BioPak will use the funding to develop and support its new nationwide program, The Compost Network — an initiative set to bring industry participants together to
...December 1, 2020
Levi’s has launched the Sustainability Shop in Shop — a unique retail design concept created in partnership with David Jones Australia. Created using environmentally friendly Tasmanian timber supplied by Hydrowood*, the innovative space is leading the way for sustainable fashion in the retail industry and offers consumers a conscious and sustainable way to shop. After more than a
...December 1, 2020
Researchers from the University of Sydney have devised a method to efficiently convert water into hydrogen, making strides in its development as a clean energy store for fuel cells. Historically, the uptake of hydrogen as a fuel has been hindered by high costs and the vast amount of energy required for its production. Although hydrogen is part of the water compound H2O, highly reactive, pure hydrogen is
...December 1, 2020
Can big data, AI and chemical footprinting help the renewable energy sector avoid a toxic waste legacy? Krishna Rajan Tue, 12/01/2020 - 01:00 The launch of the digital economy has brought with it an expansion of disruptive technologies such as predictive analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics that are readily being used to transform the marketplace. But can we also use these breakthrough
...December 1, 2020
The number of abandoned oil and gas wells is on the verge of exploding. These industry insiders want to be part of the solution.
December 1, 2020
A new policy platform is thinking big on forests and climate Kylie Clay Tue, 12/01/2020 - 00:30 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has sent a clear message: to keep catastrophic climate change impacts at bay, we need to keep our warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the land sector must play a central role in achieving that. We need to stop emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
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