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In This Issue
Editor's Note
Redefining ‘Do No Harm’ in Health Care
Traditionally, “do no harm” in health care has referred to the ethical mandate of medical practitioners. But this week, we hear a different take on that concept. According to Health Care Without Harm Founder Gary Cohen, the health care sector has an opportunity to reposition itself as “an anchor for community health and resilience.”
Cohen spoke with BSR’s Chloe Poynton about how environmental challenges in particular are relevant. As he points out, the health effects of climate change have largely been left out of the debate. “The imagery we have around climate change has a lot to do with polar bears on melting ice caps, and that’s not really the way most people will experience it,” Cohen says.
Though Cohen is talking about the health care sector, his idea could apply to all industries: When viewed through the lens of sustainability, how can you reimagine the challenges and opportunities of your company?
We also highlight two new reports on ecosystem services (full disclosure: one is our own), and we hear from Levi Strauss & Co.’s Michael Kobori on why, when it comes to supply chain workers’ lives, compliance should not be a competitive issue.
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In Depth
Health Care’s New Definition of ‘Do No Harm’
Chloë Poynton, Associate, Advisory Services, BSR and Gary Cohen, Founder and President, Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth
Health Care Without Harm's Gary Cohen talks about the opportunity for pharmaceutical and medical device companies to address environmental issues in their value chain and reframe the debate on climate change.
Read more →
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Toolbox
Report Proposes Economic, Policy Approaches to Protect Ecosystems
By Julia Robinson, Communications Associate, BSR
A policy brief commissioned by the Planet Under Pressure Conference calls for new economic and management models, as well as global institutions, to protect declining biodiversity and ecosystems. According to the brief, modern production has put "unprecedented" pressure on ecosystem services--the flows from natural systems from which people benefit--and biodiversity. While affluent populations tend to consume the most resources, the less affluent suffer a disproportionate amount of the consequences of degradation. The brief's main recommendations include: * Incorporate biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) values into policy and management decisions. * Integrate BES into water- and land-use planning. * Restructure governance arrangements to accommodate ecosystems that transcend political boundaries. * Implement policies and practices that address unequal access to the benefits derived from BES. BSR's Ecosystem Services Working Group studies the risks and opportunities of changing ecosystems. The working group released a report today that examines the emerging trends in the uptake of ecosystem services. Such research of new methods for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems will be central to discussions at Rio+20 in June.
On the Record
Levi Strauss’ Michael Kobori on Supply Chain Sustainability
By Julia Robinson, Communications Associate, BSR
At last week's Ceres Conference, the "Great Expectations: Building a Sustainable Supply Chain" session examined how companies are improving workers' well-being in the supply chain. Michael Kobori, Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) vice president of social and environmental sustainability, called on industry leaders to adopt open-source, transparent policies to encourage other companies to make changes: "The bottom line is that we are working to improve workers' lives, and that demands collaboration. Compliance should not be a competitive issue, and companies should avoid branding their approach. Make it generic and put it out there in the public sphere for other companies to adopt." --Michael Kobori, Vice President, Social and Environmental Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co. (April 25, 2012) For more details on how LS&Co. is working with BSR to improve worker well-being in its supply chain, read our recent feature article.
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