Corporations play an important part in the race for sustainability and meeting climate goals. Yet, despite this awareness, corporations still face a challenge in getting investors engaged on sustainability, according to a joint survey by Accenture and the United Nations Global Compact. A good company to emulate would be pencil-makers Faber-Castell, which has been recognised by the United Nations to be the world’s first private company to deal in carbon dioxide certificates from managed forests. Read more

Sneak preview of global CEO survey shows it is still a struggle to engage investors on sustainability

By Peter Lacy for Guardian Professional (14 August 2013):

Once every three years, Accenture joins forces with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to conduct the most comprehensive global study in existence on corporate views on sustainability.

In addition to in-depth interviews with 76 CEOs and a survey over of 1000 CEOs globally, we also conduct detailed assessments of investor and consumer attitudes to sustainability. We present the results in September at the UNGC Leaders’ Summit in New York. But some of the early findings are in.

Back in 2010, the last time we conducted the study, we heard a common refrain from CEOs: “We’d like to do more on sustainability,” they said, “but investors just don’t care.” This year, we set out to uncover how this relationship has changed, and understand the role that investors are playing in companies’ efforts to align business performance with sustainability leadership.

Before we began our programme of interviews with business leaders, we asked sustainability professionals, academics and civil society leaders what they thought we should be asking. Many of the suggestions we received focused on the role of investors:

• Do you think your share price currently includes any value directly related to sustainability?

• How many times have you gone on record to the analyst community to explain to them how your sustainability programme is generating value – and what did you tell them?

• How big an impediment are financial markets in terms of decisions where there is a trade-off between sustainability and profit?

• What changes could be made in the financial system to encourage companies and individuals to prioritise sustainability?

• What do you need from your investors to allow you to progress further with transforming your business towards a truly sustainable one?

Our conversations this year suggest that the investment community may be beginning to pay greater heed to sustainability. As one senior business leader put it: “We still find it challenging to convey to mainstream investors why and how sustainability can drive value creation, but they’re starting to appreciate the risks of working in an unsustainable system.”

But our survey data suggests that the pace of change may be slow: just 7% of CEOs in the communications industry, for example, regard investors as an important voice in guiding their approach to sustainability. And with signs that CEOs themselves may be struggling to quantify the value of sustainability to their business, we are seeing a more equivocal assessment than ever of the power of markets to find solutions to sustainability challenges.

Through our in-depth interviews and quantitative survey data across 27 industries and more than 100 countries, we’ll be looking to uncover the true dynamic between companies and investors on sustainability: how companies can communicate better; how investors can approach sustainability differently; how we can assess and value performance on sustainability; and how we can collectively align market incentives with sustainable development.

Early next year we will again be teaming up with the UNGC, and also the UN backed Principles for Responsible Investment, to conduct a parallel investor survey with their members, whose total assets under managements comes in at over $8 trillion. We hope to report on these additional findings in the autumn but in the meantime, we’d like to know what you think.

Get involved

How do you see investor approaches changing? Can companies communicate more effectively on the business value of sustainability? Let us know your views, join the conversation at @actsustainably, and watch this space as we build towards the launch of the UNGC-Accenture CEO Study on 19 September.

Peter Lacy is the managing director of Accenture Sustainability Services in Asia Pacific

Source: www.theguardian.com

Faber-Castell proves sustainable manufacturing has competitive edge

ecovoice (5 August 2013):

One of the oldest industrial manufacturing companies and family-owned businesses in the world, Faber-Castell, has enjoyed yet another year of healthy growth, after pioneering sustainable practices that have seen the business named by the United Nations as the world’s first private company to deal in carbon dioxide certificates from managed forests.

Creating a competitive edge from a true commitment to sustainable and socially responsible practices has proven to make good business sense as well as drive profitable results according to Australian based Regional Director for Faber-Castell, Count Andreas (Andy) von Faber-Castell.

Count Andy, an eighth generation descendant of the company founder, has personally overseen the introduction of self sustaining and community enhanced FSC-FM certified pine forests in Brazil and Colombia that have directly contributed to the prestigious United Nations accolade.

The South American forest projects contribute to around 75 per cent of the company’s global wood needs for the production of over three billion pencils globally a year. They also see over 70 farmers and their communities engaged in guaranteed employment, regeneration of their previously degraded lands from overuse as stock grazing lands, and a share of profits from the fast growing forest products harvested for Faber-Castell pencils.

The global and local corporate policy on quality, environment and social responsibility was introduced decades ago, and Andy believes it was potentially easier to embed in a family run business that is intuitively focused on legacies of fortune and sustainability for future generations. But such a large globally competitive business also means these policies have to be accountable in the here and now for profitability, growth and competitive advantage. Faber-Castell is a world-leading example proving the way in these attributes.

“As a family company now in its eighth generation of ownership, Faber-Castell understands the importance of ensuring the resources are there for future generations by providing a sustainable quality product,” said Count Andy.

Count Andy said the company’s long term investment and belief in social and environmental practices was well balanced with its position as a premium, high quality manufacturer and had proved to be good business practice with a global group turn-over of 570 million Euros in the fiscal year 2011/12, up 6% on the previous fiscal year and the 12/13 fiscal year achieved a 600 million Euro turn-over.

“We’re a long-standing business not interested in short-term profit-seeking, so the ability to generate sustained profit is vital. For me, business and integrity go hand in hand and the integrity that embodies values such as social and ecological responsibility, trust, honesty and fairness is fully compatible with profitability,” said Count Andy.

Unlike other companies who have been forced to use wood blends in their pencils due to diminishing wood supply figures, Faber-Castell’s sustainable plantations ensure all pencils are of ecological and superior quality. The long-term gains are the result of an ecological commitment from as early on as 1926 when Faber-Castell began recycling its use of paint solvents and use of wood waste for electricity. This longstanding commitment has resulted in some impressive figures, including:

75% of the total quantity of timber required by Faber-Castell can be covered by its own certified forests

A recycling proportion of 88% throughout the companies

More than 60% of all packaging elements are made from cardboard

The company covers the predominant part of the energy required from wood waste and water power

To further its sustainable culture, plastic waste materials from production are almost completely re-used and by separating the waste into up to 28 different material groups.

In addition to environmental awareness, Faber-Castell also has a global commitment to social responsibility. In 2000, it signed an international binding agreement with German trade union IG Metall to guarantee conditions of employment and labour in all companies of the Faber-Castell group around the world. The Social Charter comprises a ban on child labour, equal opportunities and equal treatment of employees regardless of race, religion, sex or nationality, guarantee of safe and hygienic working conditions, and payment of adequate wages under decent working conditions.

Source: www.ecovoice.com.au and www.faber-castell.com

The aviation industry forms an important pillar of a nation’s economy. A new report by the cross-industry aviation organisation the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) reveals that aviation supports some 26.8 million jobs and $1.1 trillion in GDP across the 21 APEC economies. It is thus important for this industry to grow in a systematic and sustainable matter. To push that along, Singapore Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore are doing a joint research on the benefits, requirements and cost of using alternative fuel which causes less pollution. Read more

By Karamjit Kaur for The Straits Times (6 September 2013):

CAAS, SIA to study alternative fuel use

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) are doing a joint research on the benefits, requirements and cost of using alternative fuel.

In a push for cleaner skies, Singapore is studying for the first time the feasibility of airlines using alternative fuels.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) are doing the joint research, with the aid of hired consultants.

They will look into the benefits, requirements and cost of using alternatives, a CAAS spokesman told The Straits Times.

The study, expected to start later this year, should take about six months. The cost has not been finalised.

Whether the intention is to eventually draft policies to require or encourage Singapore carriers to make the switch is premature to say, industry observers said.

SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said the new collaborative effort will take the studies it has done on its own to the next level.

Its move is also in concert with the International Air Transport Association’s (Iata) global drive to get airlines to eventually switch from fossil fuels like oil to alternative sources, namely biofuels, which cause less pollution.

It will help to further reduce the industry’s carbon emission, which is about 2 per cent of man-made greenhouse emissions currently.

But it wants to do better. Said Iata’s assistant director of environment (technology), Mr Thomas Roetger: “We must put in place appropriate steps to further limit and reduce carbon emissions.”

Iata has pledged that from 2020, the industry will achieve growth without increasing its carbon emission. By 2050, the target is for its carbon emission to be half that of 2005.

The focus on biofuels follows the significant strides made by the industry in recent years in reducing its carbon footprint, Mr Roetger said, citing the investment in more fuel-efficient planes and air traffic service providers helping to shorten flight times.

Biofuels used in aviation are typically extracted from plant sources that are not used in food, such as algae.

Since 2011, they have been certified safe for planes when used with today’s jet fuel. Further studies and tests are being done on whether a complete switch is safe.

Sixteen airlines have tried out the mix since then, completing more than 1,500 commercial passenger flights. The carriers include Air France, Air China and Thai Airways.

SIA has not done any such test flights.

The biggest obstacle to the widespread use of biofuels is price, which is almost double that of jet fuel, Mr Roetger said.

But he foresees prices falling in the coming years as demand grows and suppliers achieve economies of scale.

Iata is also talking to governments on how they can incentivise the use of alternative fuels for aviation, he said.

Mr Ionides shares his vision: “The way forward is to ensure there is enough supply and ready infrastructure to support the deployment of alternative fuels in an economically viable manner.”

http://www.eco-business.com/news/caas-sia-study-alternative-fuel-use/

Aviation supports 26.8 million APEC jobs

ATAG reports from  Geneva and Tokyo (4 September 2013):

As Ministers of Transport from across the APEC region gather in Tokyo, a new report has been released by the cross-industry aviation organisation the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), looking at the role aviation plays in the APEC region. The report, Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders APEC, reveals that aviation supports some 26.8 million jobs and $1.1 trillion in GDP across the 21 APEC economies.

ATAG Executive Director, Paul Steele, says: “The breadth and importance of air transport to economies in APEC is impressive. The fact that, ranked by GDP, the region’s air transport industry would be the fifth largest APEC economy shows how large the industry is. But more important than the size of aviation is the important role it plays in transporting passengers and goods across the region. Aviation drives high-value trade and is a vital player in the region’s tourism industry.”

Globally, air transport facilitates around 35% of the value of world trade and in APEC, it handled 23.2 million tonnes of high-value trade in 2010. The report estimates that, by 2030, air transport will support up to 45 million jobs and $3.2 trillion in GDP, but also cautions that if growth were to be just one percent lower each year, the impact could be up to eight million jobs not created.

Steele comments, “Aviation is a great facilitator and catalyst for economic growth, but it needs to be growth in a sustainable and systematic way. We must ensure that the industry and governments work together to build the needed infrastructure to facilitate this growth. But any new infrastructure must fit in to a broader strategic plan. I am glad to say that the industry and governments are working through APEC on some of these issues and this cooperation should be broadened wherever possible.”

Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders APEC also provides an overview of the scope of air transport across the APEC economies. Airlines in the region carried 1.4 billion passengers in 2010. There are 857 commercial airports, 1,344 airlines, 21 air traffic control organisations and 16,782 aircraft that make up the APEC air transport system.

The meeting of the APEC transport ministers comes at a key time when governments are preparing to meet in Montreal at the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the 38th triennial ICAO Assembly, beginning at the end of September. The aviation industry has been urging governments to make progress on the issue of aviation and climate change and in particular on the development of a single global market-based measure for aviation emissions to complement efforts on technology, operations and infrastructure improvements.

“We would like to send a strong message to the APEC Transport Ministers and their colleagues in governments around the world to provide leadership on climate change and how any global policy response might impact aviation. As an industry, we have provided our suggestion of an approach we think is the most practical and easy to implement. It is now up to governments to set in place the way forward,” says Paul Steele.

“The report we have released today allows us to explore the important role that aviation plays across the APEC region – and the world – on a daily basis. Our industry is committed to a sustainable future for air transport and providing all the benefits that aviation brings for global economies. What we are hoping to achieve at ICAO is a key building block of that sustainable future and we urge all governments, including the APEC Ministers meeting in Tokyo, to support this global effort.”

Notes:

The Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders APEC report can be found at this direct link.

APEC is the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation organisation, a forum designed to facilitate economic growth through greater cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. It consists of the following governments: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. www.apec.org

APEC is working on a number of aviation projects with member countries and industry, including the recently-announced initiatives in aviation security, connectivity, infrastructure and passenger facilitation improvements.

The full, global, Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders report can be found at www.aviationbenefitsbeyondborders.org

The industry’s position on climate change for the 38th ICAO Assembly.

A comprehensive story on the aviation industry’s position can be found on page 8 of this publication for the ICAO Assembly.

A Boeing report released last week estimates the number of pilots that will be required to be trained and employed in the Asia-Pacific region over the next year to be 192,300, along with 215,300 aircraft technicians.

Source: www.atag.org

The roads of the near future may look and sound different from todays. They would be quieter and cleaner, from the increased adoption of electric vehicles which are gaining traction in Hong Kong with financial and policy support from the government. Folding cars too may feature on the roads of the future, aimed at making parking an easier affair. These new technologies, though, still face significant safety, financial and administrative challenges. Read more

By Li Xueying for The Straits Times (31 August 2013):

THE taxi purrs up the slope as cabby Sammy Ho Kam Lok steps on the gas – or rather, the electricity.

“I can go faster now. It’s quieter too,” says the 53-year-old of his new sedan painted the jaunty red of Hong Kong’s cabs.

It is one of 14 new electric taxis now plying streets here, marking the start of what many hope will be a wave of electric vehicles that can help curb the city’s pollution.

Just last week, Hong Kong was shrouded yet again in smog. Tourism officials put up a giant banner at the Tsim Sha Tsui pier of a clear city skyline, so visitors could take their holiday snaps against it.

A key culprit is road transport, especially belching lorries, buses and taxis. It makes up two-thirds of the carbon monoxide and a third of the nitrogen oxides here, says Ms Tiffany Leung of environment advocacy group Clean Air Network. Marine vessels and power generators also contribute.

“Electric vehicles will thus be significant in helping us deal with pollution,” Ms Leung says.

There are now 482 such vehicles here, up from 74 in 2010. They form a small fraction of the city’s 658,000 vehicles, but plans are afoot to increase their usage.

The use of electric taxis might be “an experiment” for now, says Mr Charles Tran, the president of the Hong Kong Taxi & Public Light Bus Association, which rents them from China carmaker BYD. But it hopes to raise the number to 45 in coming months and eventually buy its own.

BYD is targeting 3,000 by 2015. Hong Kong has a fleet of more than 18,000 taxis, most of which run on LPG.

A trial to run electric buses will start at the end of next year, with the government funnelling HK$180 million (S$30 million) to bus firms to buy 36 such vehicles.

“The ultimate policy objective is to have zero-emission buses running across the territory,” says a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department.

As an incentive for private-car owners – electric cars cost two or three times more than conventional ones – it waives the first registration tax, which is 40 to 115 per cent of the car’s listed price.

The government will take the lead, adding 120 electric vehicles to its current 98 within the year.

But the drive to go electric is not without bumps.

Cost is one issue. For instance, repairs will be problematic and expensive after the warranty expires, says electrical engineering academic Eric Cheng of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

“No technicians in Hong Kong are specifically trained in repairing electric vehicles,” he notes.

Another is the lack of charging infrastructure, with just 1,000 points around the city. Canada mandates chargers in all new buildings.

Also, some drivers are daunted by perceived risks, especially after a charger at a carpark melted in June because of a faulty connection to the electricity grid.

Moreover, professional training in related fields has yet to catch up with the technology.

Says Dr Cheng: “If there’s a crash, what should firemen do? Spray water or use powder? And the high-voltage electricity?”

Thus, the government must take even “more aggressive” steps on various fronts, say experts.

Professor Chan Ching Chuen of Hong Kong University says Shenzhen, where heavy subsidies make electric cars cheaper than conventional ones, has 4,300 out of an overall pool of two million. Japan has more than 40,000 out of a pool of 74 million.

Still, Hong Kong is ahead of Singapore, which has just one privately registered electric car.

Hopefully, more Hong Kong motorists will jump on the bandwagon. Mr Ho’s new taxi has already received the thumbs-up from passengers.

“They say it is amazing!” he declares proudly.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

Folding car is answer to parking nightmare

A car, which folds up to make it easier to squeeze into the smallest parking space, has been developed in South Korea.

By David Millward for The Telegraph (4 September 2013):

Known as the Armadillo, the car could be the answer to a motorist’s prayers especially in supermarkets and urban car parks where spaces can be a challenge.

All a motorist needs to do is drive up to the space, get out of the car and press a switch on a mobile phone.

Then the rear of the car folds over the rest of the vehicle, mimicking how an armadillo uses a protective shell to ward of hostile predators.

This cuts the length of the car almost in half to 1.65 metres – 65 inches.

The mobile is also used to park the car itself thanks to a Windows based computer system.

Space has also been saved by replacing the wing mirrors with small cameras, which project onto a screen on the dashboard.

The Armadillo is an electric two-seater car capable of travelling 62 miles on a 10-minute charge.

However there is one small snag, the South Korean authorities have yet to agree to allow the car on the road because it does not meet the country’s crash resistance standards.

An AA spokesman however voiced doubts about the technology.

”We can see a bit of a problem in that, having folded over for parking, what happens if another car parks ‘bumper to bumper’ and prevents the Armadillo from unfolding again?

”The Nottingham workplace parking levy is about to meet its nemesis if micro cars like this mean you can get two cars into one parking space. Other councils may have to re-write their parking charges and halve their fines if they find two Armadillos getting cosy in one parking space.”

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

The importance of collaboration in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability became the dominant message at the International Summit in Singapore.  Businesses must accept that they must collaborate and work with their competitors, NGOs and Government to achieve results that are sustainable and enduring. And the organisers put sustainability into effect with the event itself by engaging Ecoinvest Services to measure its carbon footprint and introduce an offset project for support. Read More

Corporate Social Responsibility is gaining traction and the Singapore Compact’s International CSR Summit has become a platform to raise issues and raise standards in  the practice of CSR globally and in the region, and also to hear from leaders in sustainability on the application of in industry, business and the community.

Ken Hickson attended the two-day event and gives his impressions:

A highlight was the presentation by Professor David Grayson, Director, Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield University, UK. A seasoned observer with an excellent grasp of global CSR and sustainability efforts, he effectively communicated trends and needs.

The importance of collaboration was raised.  It is not longer advisable to work on your own in a CSR bubble within an organisation. Businesses must accept that they must collaborate and work with their competitors, NGOs and Govrnment. And sometimes all three, advises Dr Grayson, to achieve results that are sustainable and  enduring.

He gave examples of where this was happening effectively, citing work involving Unliever and Oxfod in Indonesia.

This was reinforced by Dr Puvan Selvanathan, Member, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, a seasoned observer of trends and practices of CSR and sustainability in Asia Pacific. He also noted that it is not possible to separate human rights and labour practices – ethical issues – from the role of CSR practitioners or for businesses to only focus on the “easy choices”.

It was valuable to hear from speakers, panelists and delegates who are involved in the application of sustainability and CSR “on the ground”:

• Thirukumaran Jallenran – or TJ – the new Head of Sustainability for Lend Lease in Asia on how his company applies sustainability to all areas of its business, internally and externally;
• Ben Gunneberg, Secretary General of PEFC, the world’s largest forest certification system, on the importance of accepting and maintaining sustainability standards to avoid deforestation and effectively deal with illegal logging;
• Tan Tian Chong from BCA and the Singapore Green Building Council on the important linkages between advances in green building certification beyond structures to interiors and operations which lead to better and healthier workplaces;
• Yuen Sai Kuan from the National Climate Change Secretariat on aligning climate change, with extreme weather events and what we can do to reduce emissions and in Singapore, do more to reduce our consumption of resources and get serious about energy efficiency.
• Grattan MacGiffin of Ecoinvest Services, who was producing a full carbon footprint report sustainability plan for the Summit and introducing an offset project.

BRINGING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) TO THE NEXT LEVEL

CSR Summit is designed to encourage innovative application of best practices to create business value and the mobilisation of youths as change makers, reports the organisers Singapore Compact.

More than 460 delegates and guests registered for the 5th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit, organised by Singapore Compact for Corporate Social Responsibility (Singapore Compact) this year, signalling a growing interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and business sustainability in Singapore.

The opening ceremony, held at the Stamford Ballroom, Raffles City Convention Centre was graced by Madam Halimah Yacob, Speaker of Parliament, Singapore. In her speech, Madam Halimah highlighted the dynamic role that businesses have on the communities they operate in.

She said: “We know Singaporeans would like to see a Singapore with a strong and vibrant economy, but one that also ensures our social well-being and offers a more fulfilling pace of life. Much of these can be achieved if we apply CSR principles to businesses”.

These can be through socially responsible labour practices, creating a more inclusive workplace environment and nurturing the spirit of creativity and innovation in workplaces. She also said that in the face of the widening income gap, business can focus on ‘social innovation’ that “can bring about new business opportunities, new forms of collaboration and an increase in productivity, which in turn can contribute towards narrowing the gap”.

In his welcome address, President of Singapore Compact, Mr Kwek Leng Joo, who is also the Managing Director of City Development Limited, spoke of the need for companies to take a long term view of their business to enjoy sustainable success in the face of a fast changing global landscape, maturing economy and civil society.

He said: “I believe that CSR is the answer to business sustainability. Businesses are faced with main challenges such as corporate transparency, customer loyalty, labour shortage, resource scarcity and waste management, regulatory compliance, financial uncertainty and sustainable growth. Whether you run a global or local business, the scrutiny and expectations by stakeholders and the public have never been higher….it is crucial that companies make that leap and embrace CSR as part of their corporate DNA in order to build a flourishing and sustainable business”.

He added that providing solutions and support through tools and training such as the International Singapore Compact CSR Summit is one of the ways in which Singapore Compact can help companies in their CSR missions. 5th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit – Innovative integration of CSR to add value to businesses

The theme of this year’s International Singapore Compact CSR Summit is “CSR: Making The Difference; Innovation – Best Practices – Ideas” and aims to highlight the value of CSR in driving inclusiveness, growth and innovation in times of economic uncertainty, both from the business and social perspectives of sustainability.

The 2-day Summit, to be held on 4 and 5 September 2013, features a distinguished panel of more than 40 speakers including Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office; Professor Dr Professor Dr. Roel Nieuwenkamp, Chair of OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct; Professor David Grayson; Director, Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield University, UK; Dr Puvan Selvanathan, Member, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights; Mr Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer, National Environment Agency; Mr Jack Sim, Founding Advisor, BoP Hub and Mr Ramlee Bin Buang, Executive Vice President & Group, Chief Financial Officer, Cerebos Pacific Limited

In addition, a pre-Summit Workshop on “Building a Culture of Innovation and Sustainability – How CSR can help you develop an engaged workforce”, was held on 3 September 2013 and offered delegates insights on how to leverage CSR as a management tool to develop an ethical, responsible and creative organisational culture and an engaged and productive workforce.

Mobilising Young CSR Champions as Change Makers of Tomorrow

A key feature of last year’s Summit was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Youth Achievements Award Council (NYAA) to launch the Youth Membership Network to strengthen the CSR agenda. Engaging the Youth has been a key priority area for Singapore Compact as the importance of instilling CSR in the youth is extremely vital to ensure that they will bring CSR ideas to the workplace when they join the workforce.

As part of Singapore Compact’s efforts, an inaugural CSR Youth Forum was also launched by Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Mayor, North East District, earlier this year. Currently, some 250 youth have joined the network. There are other plans in Singapore Compact’s pipeline to develop synergies for members with other existing and new student networks of the Youth Membership Network to strengthen affiliations, create more CSR exposure and engagement opportunities.

“I have always believed in the potential of youths and the importance of cultivating their passion for CSR. My vision for the Singapore Compact Youth Membership Network is to nurture a civic-minded generation who can champion responsible business practices. The Network may be just budding, but I am most encouraged by the positive response and feedback received from the youth. With such active engagement, I hope to soon see a new generation of young CSR Champions who will become change-makers and transform the way we do business tomorrow,” said Mr Kwek.

The Summit also saw the culmination of the CDL-Singapore Compact Young CSR Leaders Awards 2013. The third instalment of the case-study competition has attracted submissions with refreshing and practical CSR ideas from students from tertiary education institutions.

CDL-Singapore Compact Young CSR Leaders Award

This competition, into its third year, is organised by Singapore Compact in partnership with City Developments Limited (CDL). This case competition, which aims to promote thought leadership amongst our future leaders to foster greater awareness of embracing CSR principles into a company’s business strategy and practices , is open to youths between 17 and 30 years of age, who have to form teams of three to six.

The Competition engages 10 Singapore-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from diverse industries and the SMEs identify specific CSR aspects that they are concerned with. Each participating team works on a CSR strategy proposal for the SME it is matched with. 10 finalist teams are then selected and provided with practical work attachments at the chosen SMEs as well as mentorship by CSR consultants to help refine and improve on their proposals.

First Prize, Nanyang Technological University (Team Chasers) for Sin Hwa Dee Foodstuff Industries

Second Prize National University of Singapore (Team Springboards) for Matex International Ltd

Third Prize INSEAD (Team Endeavour) for Asia Capital Holdings (ACR) Pte Ltd

Singapore Compact CSR Awards 2013

The Awards aim to recognise Singapore-based organisations which have responsible business practice across the areas of environment, community and their people, and demonstrate working in partnership with stakeholders to achieve long-term sustainability of the business. This is the fourth year Singapore Compact is giving out the Awards.

“Green Champion” Award  Winner: Keppel Land Limited

Last year, Keppel Land won a special mention for “Green Champion” Award, and continues to show progress in its environment sustainability initiatives.

In 2012, Keppel Land developed respective Environmental Operations Plans for managing its completed commercial buildings in Singapore and hospitality properties overseas. In particular, for Ocean Financial Centre, a Green Fit-Out guide was produced for all tenants in 2011, and a Green Office Operations Guide produced in 2012 which provided practical guidance to tenants on incorporating environmentally-friendly practices in their daily operations. S

“Green Champion” Award Special Mention: Ricoh Singapore

Ricoh Singapore has several customer programmes in place as part of their environment conservation efforts. These include recycling of toner plastics (2,527.63 kg collected in fiscal year 2012); printer products collected from customers undergo ‘Reuse or Recycle’ evaluation, to minimise waste. In addition, Ricoh also provides monthly environmental analysis of print equipment (including paper usage, carbon tradeoffs and electricity used) to customers’ office environments, where possible.

“Best Workplace” Award Winner: Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium

“Caring Employer” Award Winner: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium and Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, both hotels under the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), are lauded this year for their progressive labour practices in creating excellent work environment for their employees.

“Caring Employer” Award, Special Mention: SPC Wearnes Pte Ltd

Long before the Yellow Ribbon Project Singapore (which was launched in 2004), SPC Wearnes was already in partnership with the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) to hire ex-offenders, to help them reintegrate into society. Since 1993, SPC Wearnes has hired more than 440 ex-offenders. To support these new hires, the newcomer is assigned a mentor for close guidance, and are put through various training programmes for as long as a month to get them ready for work. A handful of these employees have stayed on with the company for more than three years.

“Best Community Developer” Award Winner: NTUC FairPrice

NTUC FairPrice has had a long history of community outreach, including its 30-year programme “FairPrice Share-A-Textbook Project” and 12 year support for the “Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift” programme during the Christmas festive season. Its staff volunteer programme, which was set up last year, completed about 2,800 hours of community service through more than 80 activities.

Source: www.csrsingapore.org

Ecoinvest Offset Project in the Philippines

Ecoinvest Services will be offsetting the emissions incurred by the 5th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2013. The summit has chosen to do this through the Bataan 2020 12.5 MW Power Rice Hull Cogeneration Project.

The project is a 12.5 MW cogeneration plant whereby steam and electricity are generated by using rice hulls as a source of fuel. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction is achieved through displacement of fossil fuel based grid electricity, which is the norm in this province.

The project owner, Bataan 2020 Inc., sets an excellent example of community development through its social initiatives, such as tree plantations and livelihood programmes. The project has supported several local education and training initiatives and is an important investor in the local value chain. As an employer, approximately 400 workers were hired to construct the project with around 100 employed in day-to-day operations.

An “Outreach Program” focuses on the social development of the most needy in the local community and for example made aid contributions to the victims of the Ondoy Typhoon in 2009.

In addition, Ecoinvest will provide the organisers with a full carbon footprint report on the energy use, on site travel, delegate flights, hotel accommodation and waste associated with the event.

Source: www.ecoinvestservices.com

The Future Cities Laboratory held a Midterm Exhibition last week, attended by Singapore’s Minister of Environment and Water Resources, showcasing the work and the development of FCL in its mission to tackle some of the most pressing challenges for the future of the built environment. And Malaysia plays host to the International Green Purchasing Network next week to draw attention to the important ethical and social factors in developing Green Procurement policies internationally and by local government. Read More

Singapore, 5 September 2013

The Future Cities Laboratory (FCL), as the first research programme of the Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability (SEC), was formally established in 2010 by ETH Zurich and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) with the aim to develop solutions for the sustainable development of future cities, districts and regions.

Now, after three years of research, the team has put together a Midterm Exhibition to showcase the work and the development of FCL in its mission to tackle some of the most pressing challenges for the future of the built environment.

It was attended by the Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan was diverted from attended to serious flooding in the city on the day and questioned by media on what action Government is taken to deal with it.

Cities accommodate more people today than at any point in history and are more interconnected than ever before. Many of the world’s contemporary social, political and economic dilemmas are also found in cities. As such, cities are likely to be the places where the challenges of urbanisation and environmental sustainability can be most productively addressed.

In this light, the team of approximately 140 researchers from over 30 countries study cities and urbanisation in the context of global environmental sustainability. In doing so, they help to shape sustainable future cities. Research in FCL is conducted in multiple scales, from building materials and systems, to urban neighbourhoods, quarters and precincts, hinterlands and territories, to extensive networks and their flows of people, material, energy and information.

“Research in FCL takes place in three ways – fundamental research by scholars, design research studios with students and applied research by scholars and designers,” explained Professor Kees Christiaanse, Programme Leader of FCL. “Geographically we work on three scales, the building scale, the urban scale and the regional scale. The relevance of the rich palette of research in Singapore is also shown on three levels, projects directly related to Singapore, projects related to sustainable development in the East-Asian region, and projects that are relevant to the planet’s sustainable future. This three times three combination produces an amazing spectrum of in-depth research.”

The Midterm Exhibition is part of a review held in accordance with ETH Zurich and NRF’s review guidelines. A Midterm Review Panel, comprising well regarded international academics, industry practitioners and senior representatives from local agencies, will evaluate where FCL stands internationally and how well visions and strategies are corroborated by past activities, future plans and resources.

“The story of how SEC came to be is one of collaboration and partnership between Singapore and Switzerland,” said Prof Dr Gerhard Schmitt, Director of SEC. “We are proud to be the first academic and research example of this partnership, and would like to take this opportunity to express our most sincere gratitude to all our partners for their invaluable support in the last three years. We aim to continue being an integral part of the research and development community in Singapore and around the world.”

ABOUT FUTURE CITIES LABORATORY

The Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) is a transdisciplinary research institute focused on urban sustainability in a global frame and aims to build a foundation for a new curriculum of urban science. FCL is run under the auspices of the Singapore-ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability (SEC), which was established by ETH Zurich and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF).

Research work at FCL encompasses material science, advanced fabrication, architecture, engineering, landscape ecology, computer science, transportation planning, and urban and territorial design. FCL aims to develop integrated solutions for the sustainable development of future cities, districts and regions.

Source: www.futurecities.ethz.ch

4th International Conference on Green Purchasing and  Green Purchasing EXPO 2013, 18 – 20 September 2013, Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

MAXIMISING GREEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANISATIONS

The three day conference will bring together world renowned experts and practitioners with more than a decade of green purchasing and green productivity experiences. Experts will share the critical factors & conditions for the successful implementation of green purchasing and green productivity; and how to formulate a strategic approach to resource productivity in industry, agriculture, retail and service sectors.

Day 1 and 2: will examine how the roadmap for government green procurement (GGP) has been successfully implemented in advanced green purchasing countries. Japan has successfully implemented 100% Green Procurement in 22 local governments and is working to achieve 100% implementation for all other local government in Japan.Strategies, techniques and mechanism such as resource productivity, eco design and materials, eco-labels, biomass and green supply chain to achieve successful green purchasing in governments, private enterprises and the retail sectors will be shared.

Day 3: will discuss how to build Safe and Green Commercial complexes and high rise buildings. Case studies will be taken from Kuala Lumpur City. Techniques for keeping complexes safe and green through the mobilization of safety strategies and the efficient use of waste resources will ensure better bottom lines for all owners.

DRIVING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PROCUREMENT PRACTICES

Buying and selling ‘green’ is no longer a trend but an essential part of building and driving sustainable business practices. Now more than ever supply chain practitioners have to heed the clarion call to adopt more efficient spending and investment processes in order to achieve environmental, social, and economic objectives (UNEP 2012).

Green buyers have the opportunity to adopt a myriad of green and ethical purchasing options. This passive solution allows for new markets to be created with emphasis on innovations in green technology, green productivity practices, and eco-friendly business operation.

CONFERENCE COVERAGE :

• Rationale for green purchasing and how to tap on this opportunity

• Ethical, social and Government Green Procurement policies internationally and by local government

• The best way of implementing Green Purchasing and Green Productivity and the resulting benefits

• How to measure GP processes?

• Strategic Green Productivity through Green Purchasing

• Best practises and case studies on Green Purchasing and Green Productivity process

• Update on the latest Fire Hazards Abatement strategies and Effective control on waste resource recovery to maximize profits for owners

• To enhance safety in work place and create fire safety awareness through the efficient management of fire risks, waste recycling and fire certification.

For the full programme and how to attend go to:  www.gpnm.org

“Even with the latest and best vehicles, machinery, technology and buildings, if we continue to use resources irresponsibly – to waste food, water and energy – we are not even in the race.”

That’s a key point made by Ken Hickson in and about his latest book, “Race for Sustainability” in which advocates and entertains in this portfolio of stories, profiles and case studies, covering what he calls the four E’s of Sustainability: Energy Economy Environment Ethics

He writes convincingly and persuasively that we need to get on the fast track…

• To clear the air and drive to a sustainable, low-carbon future.

• To focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

• To stop the burning and stop wasting resources.

Go here to view the brochure, or here to order your copy now at the special 30% discount price.