BSR Insight Articles About Environment

Improving Product Sustainability Performance

According to Parametric Technology Corporation's recent white paper, companies must embrace "design-for-the-environment" strategies that allow them to remain competitive—and stay ahead of new sustainability requirements—by improving the environmental performance of their products. Read more →

Posted: April 19, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Environment, Strategy & Integration, Sustainable Consumption, Toxicity & Product Design

Improving the Environmental Performance of Ports and Terminals

Raj Sapru, Former Director, Advisory Services Laura Ediger, Associate Director, Advisory Services

Around the world, the shipping industry accounts for more than a third of the value of all trade, and about 4 percent of global carbon emissions. While ports contribute a relatively small amount of the industry’s climate impacts—and of the overall impacts of supply chains—they often have a significant effect on local communities due to their contribution to air pollution. Emission sources include ships docked at the terminal, fuel used in cargo-handling equipment, and the various modes of transportation, especially trucks, that converge at ports to move goods onto the next leg of their journey. Read more →

Posted: April 12, 2011 | Topics: Environment, Strategy & Integration, Supply Chain, Transportation

U.S. ‘Proxy Preview’ Report: Environmental, Social Issues on the Rise

According to As You Sow's "Proxy Preview 2011"—a compendium of the 360 U.S. shareholder resolutions up for vote in 2011—investors now file about 50 percent more resolutions on social and environmental issues than they did 10 years ago. This year’s guide, which provides an overview of the major players, recent regulatory developments, shareholder proposal trends, and new issues, includes highlights such as: Read more →

Posted: April 12, 2011 | Topics: Environment, Investor Perspective, Reporting & Communications, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration

Energy Buzz at Fortune’s Brainstorm Green

Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services

Last week, sustainability thought leaders and business executives gathered at Fortune's Brainstorm Green in Laguna Niguel, California, to focus on emerging environmental trends and innovative ways to advance sustainability. Read more →

Posted: April 12, 2011 | Topics: Energy, Environment

Maximizing Benefits From Supply Chain Sustainability

Charlotte Bancilhon, Associate, Advisory Services

BSR's new issue brief presents the business case for improving social and environmental performance throughout companies’ supply chains. Through practical case studies, this brief illustrates that by helping suppliers improve their sustainability performance and by investing in opportunities such as energy management or workplace improvements, companies can achieve real benefits such as enhanced supply chain security and reduced costs. Read more →

Posted: April 5, 2011 | Topics: Energy, Environment, Human Rights, Strategy & Integration, Supply Chain