BSR Insight Articles About Energy

Bettercoal Launches to Advance CSR in the Coal Supply Chain

Angie Farrag, Associate Director, Transport and Logistics

Bettercoal, a global, not-for-profit initiative supporting the continuous improvement of corporate responsibility in the international coal supply chain, launched last week. DONG Energy, EDF, Enel, E.ON, GDF Suez, RWE, and Vattenfall established the initiative to promote on-the-ground changes around coal mines for the benefit of workers, communities, businesses, and the environment. Eventually, Bettercoal will look beyond the mine level to support responsible practices throughout the coal supply chain. Nordic energy company Fortum recently became the first new member, and membership is open to all major users of coal worldwide. Since January 2011, BSR has actively supported the founding members as a lead facilitator and expert on a range of issues, including the ethical, social, and environmental risks and impacts of mining. BSR believes that Bettercoal has the potential to make a real and meaningful impact on an industry that is set to grow significantly in the next 50 years. Read more →

Posted: April 24, 2012 | Topics: Energy, Mining, Supply Chain

Taking Ethics to the Cloud

Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services Ryan Schuchard, Manager, Climate and Energy

Just a decade ago, it would have been hard for all but the most tech-savvy to imagine the extent of cloud computing today. A complex system of data centers worldwide that store, process, and deliver information on demand over the internet, the cloud provides users with resources, applications, and information that they previously would have stored locally. The cloud—what some are calling “the factory of the 21st century”—is run by a network of IT service companies, internet firms, and telecommunications services providers, and it offers services to all of us: from banks and retailers to individuals like you and me. It is both real—requiring traditional inputs such as electricity—and virtual. Read more →

Posted: April 10, 2012 | Topics: Climate Change, Energy, Human Rights, Information & Communications Technology

KPMG Report Picks 10 Sustainability ‘Megaforces’

Population growth, material resource scarcity, climate change, and energy and fuel are among the issues in sustainability that could have significant impact on the business landscape over the next 20 years, according to a recent report by KPMG International. The “Expect the Unexpected: Building Business Value in a Changing World” report outlines 10 global sustainability “megaforces” that are putting the world on a development trajectory that is “not sustainable.” Others on the list include water scarcity, wealth, urbanization, food security, ecosystem decline, and deforestation. (The report is 180 pages; the executive summary is here.) The report notes that all of these forces are interconnected, and insists that in order to manage the risks, businesses must use a systems thinking approach that addresses the ways megaforces relate to each other. Specific recommendations include: * Companies should turn strategic plans into ambitious targets and actions for sustainability supply chain management. * Companies should seek collaboration with business partners on sustainability issues. * Governments should increase collaboration with the private sector. Read more →

Posted: April 3, 2012 | Topics: Climate Change, Ecosystem Services, Energy, Environment, Financial Services, Food, Beverage & Agriculture, Land Use & Biodiversity, Strategy & Integration, Sustainable Consumption, Water

Report: U.S. Consumer Support for Clean Energy Waning

In the United States, consumer support for clean energy declined significantly between 2009 and 2011, according to a report released last month by Pike Research, a sustainability market research company. Pike’s annual Energy and Environment Consumer Survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults found that the average percentage of consumers with an “extremely” or “very” favorable view of 13 clean energy concepts declined from 50 percent in 2009 to 43 percent in 2011. Among the 13 concepts surveyed, biofuels suffered the largest decline in favorability, dropping 17 percentage points to 39 percent in 2011 from 56 percent in 2009. Carbon offsets and nuclear power garnered the highest percentage of unfavorable reactions, scoring 25 and 23 percent, respectively. Other concepts on the interview list included solar energy, wind energy, clean coal, hybrid vehicles, natural gas cars, electric cars, smart grid, smart meters, cap and trade, and LEED certification. Read more →

Posted: March 13, 2012 | Topics: Climate Change, Energy

Sustainability Leadership in Manufacturing

Raj Sapru, Former Director, Advisory Services

Despite persistent volatility in the markets, the manufacturing sector is cautiously optimistic about growth. Sustaining this growth will require that sector become a lot more adept at anticipating the future. Read more →

Posted: February 28, 2012 | Topics: Climate Change, Energy, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration, Transportation