BSR Insight

A Weekly Newsletter for BSR Members | October 20, 2009

   
 

In This Issue

Editor's Note

Insider’s Guide to the BSR Conference (Whether or Not You’re Coming)

The BSR Conference 2009, beginning today in San Francisco, will gather close to a thousand leaders from industry, civil society, and government to learn about leading practices and trends in sustainable business that will help them succeed in a Reset World.

Whether or not you can join us this year, our insider's guide to the Conference will show you how to make the most out of the insights and experiences coming out of the event.

Also in this edition of the Insight, learn about issues related to the recent drought in southern China and a new report on the "low-carbon world."

A Guide to the BSR Conference 2009, Reset Economy. Reset World. Department Icon

In Depth

A Guide to the BSR Conference 2009, Reset Economy. Reset World.

Whether you are attending this week's BSR Conference 2009 in San Francisco or following from afar, this guide will help you make the most of your experience. Find out how to choose the right sessions, and learn how we are covering the Conference—through comprehensive session notes, video excerpts, and more—to share the ideas and tools generated at the Conference with a broader audience.

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Spotlight

Another Year, Another Drought: Water Scarcity in China’s Manufacturing Zone

Reports that 50,000 people in southern China (and at least a million more in the western and central regions) are suffering from a severe drought underscores a perennial question about the impact of water shortages in the country: How can companies with supply chains and manufacturing in China reconcile the water needs of their business with competing demands from industry, agriculture, and local residents?

BSR recommends that companies take a diversified response to both minimize their water footprint and contribute to local solutions. Earlier this year, we began training factory managers on efficient water use and treatment, sharing case studies of factories in Guangdong that now reuse all of their wastewater. We also recommend that effective solutions to address water allocation concerns begin with the engagement of diverse stakeholders to ensure equitable and mutually acceptable outcomes. To this end, BSR facilitates dialogue and cooperation among companies, researchers, government, and civil society.

For more information, please contact Laura Ediger, Environmental Manager, BSR.

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Toolbox

Business Models in a Low-Carbon World

Arthur D. Little's report "Business Models in a Low-Carbon World" asserts that the global economic recession triggered a radical change toward a less carbon-intensive world. According to the report, this new "low-carbon agenda" will affect every company, whether due to brand recognition implications, impacts on operating costs, or changes in investors’ perceptions of value.

According to the authors, there are four main reasons why companies should act now:

  1. Political momentum to address carbon issues is strong. Movement might not proceed as quickly as the experts would like, but it will be fast enough to hurt those who are unprepared.
  2. Carbon is a real cost that will affect companies.
  3. Investors will see companies differently. Although investment is still about risk and reward, the sources of risks and rewards will change.
  4. Now is the time to consider a far-reaching response.