All Articles About Consumer Products

BSR Insight Article: The Sustainability Opportunity in Product Obsolescence

Marshall Chase, Associate Director, Advisory Services

On the last day of the BSR Conference 2011, Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn noted that we have about five years to address the world’s critical sustainability challenges. But to do this, he added, we need new business models. Read more →

Posted: November 15, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Information & Communications Technology, Strategy & Integration, Toxicity & Product Design

BSR Insight Article: Reflections From the BSR Conference 2011: We Have the Will—and the Power—to Act

Kara Hurst, Former Vice President

In his opening address at the BSR Conference 2011, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore talked about the “functional insanity” of CEOs and CFOs who choose short-term gains over long-term sustainability. He referenced a study in which these leaders were asked what they would do if they were given a chance to make an investment that would increase their company’s profitability and sustainability—with the catch being that they would miss their quarterly targets. Eighty percent said they would not make the investment.   Read more →

Posted: November 7, 2011 | Topics: Conflict Minerals, Consumer Products, Environment, Governance & Accountability, Health Care, Human Rights, Strategy & Integration, Supply Chain, Transportation, Travel & Tourism

BSR Insight Article: A Practical Guide to Social and Environmental Compliance in the Licensing Industry

Cody Sisco, Former Manager, Advisory Services

BSR’s new guide—created with the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association and BSR’s Licensing Working Group (which includes representatives from Hasbro, NBCUniversal, Time Warner, and the Walt Disney Company)—helps the licensing industry promote social and environmental standards among a complex network of licensors, licensees, agents, suppliers, factories, and retailers. Read more →

Posted: November 1, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Environment, Reporting & Communications, Supply Chain

Report: Good Practices for Complying with Licensors’ Social and Environmental Requirements

This guide serves as a starting point for licensee executives and professionals to understand how they can meet licensors’ requirements related to social and environmental compliance. It also provides guidance on how licensees can improve working conditions within their direct and contract manufacturing operations and supply chains. Read more →

Posted: October 30, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Environment, Human Rights, Reporting & Communications, Supply Chain | Download (PDF)

BSR Insight Article: Re-Scaling for the New Local

Linda Hwang, Former Manager, Research

In the next decade, rapidly growing urban regions will need redesigned infrastructure, goods, and services to match peoples’ needs and work within planetary constraints. New efforts to track well-being and happiness, ecological systems under stress, and community and culture shocks like forced water restrictions and food-safety scares are driving people to pursue more resilient solutions such as low-impact housing, off-grid water and energy, seed-sharing programs, and community-supported agriculture. Read more →

Posted: October 25, 2011 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Consumer Products, Energy, Environment, Food, Beverage & Agriculture, Health Care, Information & Communications Technology, Toxicity & Product Design, Transportation, Travel & Tourism, Water