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In This Issue
Editor's Note
Ten Top Green Business Trends
In this week's feature article, guest author and GreenBiz.com Executive Editor Joel Makower reveals today's 10 leading green business trends—from "radical transparency" to the outside-the-box thinking of packaging companies. After reviewing thousands of articles and podcasts for GreenBiz's "State of Green Business 2010" report, Makower shares the happy headline that green business not only survived but thrived in a tumultuous year.
For an example of item No. 3 on Makower's list—"green innovation becomes a great idea"—read about GreenXchange, a new web-based marketplace for companies to share their intellectual property to drive innovation for sustainability.
Finally (related to Makower's No. 8, "food companies put their supply chains on the menu"), BSR's Ryan Flaherty shares insights from our recent work with Central American agricultural producers on how companies can help suppliers identify and address capacity needs to boost their sustainability performance.
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In Depth
Guest Perspective: GreenBiz on Ten Trends Shaping the State of Green Business
By Joel Makower, Executive Editor, GreenBiz.com
As we enter a new decade in sustainability, GreenBiz.com shares insights from its annual report on green business with a look at the top 10 trends of 2009.
Read more →
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Spotlight
Integration: The Key to Improving Supplier Sustainability Performance
By Ryan Flaherty, Manager, Advisory Services, BSR
Increasing demands for traceability are forcing food companies throughout the supply chain to improve labor and environmental performance. While suppliers understand what to implement, BSR's work with Central American agricultural producers has revealed that they are struggling with how to implement these changes within their existing culture and operations. And this integration is key to sustainable performance.
International brands and suppliers can benefit—and sustainability performance can improve—when the suppliers have the necessary skills to integrate sustainability requirements into their operations. BSR recommends that international brands promote skill development by taking the following steps:
- Build buy-in by ensuring that suppliers understand the motivation behind the additional requirements and the potential benefits for the company.
- Work with suppliers to develop an implementation plan that details roles and responsibilities.
- Assess suppliers' needs by evaluating existing skills and determining key gaps that could impede implementation.
- Provide training to fill these gaps, either directly or through local organizations.
- Maintain contact to help solve challenges that arise during implementation.
Toolbox
Web-Based Marketplace Promotes Open Innovation
GreenXchange, a new web-based marketplace launched at the World Economic Forum in January, allows companies to collaborate and share intellectual property (IP) that can lead to new sustainable business models.
When placing their IP on GreenXchange, companies can choose a licensing approach that they feel comfortable with—from research and attribution to non-competitive use and simple fee structures. For example, Nike plans to share 400 of its patents on GreenXchange for research, Best Buy committed to licensing patents that support sustainable innovation, and Salesforce.com will provide the technology to enable the exchange of IP, which will include private forums where patent holders and seekers can discuss confidential details.
The marketplace—founded by 2degrees, Best Buy, Creative Commons, IDEO, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Nike, nGenera, the Outdoor Industry Association, Salesforce.com, and Yahoo!—is open to new members from all sectors.
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