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Securing healthy returns
The NHS, social care, and public health system face challenging times to ensure the investments we make have the best possible outcomes for current and future generations.
Mondelez calls for 'brave' collaboration to bring cocoa supply chain out of poverty
EXCLUSIVE: The head of Mondelez's Cocoa Life sourcing programme has called on the cocoa industry to "be brave" when exploring new ways to enhance supply chain practices that ensure cocoa is sourced sustainably while bringing smallholder farmers out of poverty.
Accelerating the shift: 10 industry game-changers for low-carbon vehicles
This insight report, produced in partnership with UK Power Networks Services, investigates some of the game-changing developments which are driving green mobility.
Consumer demand for transparency to disrupt food sector, report finds
Public trust in the food sector has eroded to an "all-time low", with a new report commissioned by premium food supplier Cranswick warning that heightened consumer demand for increased transparency looks set to disrupt the sector.
Olam unveils new 'net-positive' supply chain policy
Multinational agri-business Olam has launched a new sustainability strategy which supports a 'net-positive' approach to supply chain and landscape management.
Hershey commits £355m to supply chain sustainability
Global confectionery company Hershey has committed $500m (£355m) to tackling child labour and links to deforestation in its supply chains, as part of a comprehensive new sustainability strategy.
How Icebreaker's first transparency report aims to disrupt the outdoor apparel industry
A New Zealand-based outdoor apparel company's attempt to disrupt the industry by reducing plastic synthetics has been highlighted through its first Transparency report, which provides complete disclosure into supply chain contracts, living wage commitments and edible packaging innovations.
Supply chain roundtable: Going 'beyond audit' to drive sustainability action
Sustainability and procurement professionals from some of the world's largest businesses recently came together for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and DNV GL to discuss the strategic steps required to take supply chain sustainability onto the next level.
Easter sustainability: Chocolate firms urged to become 'good eggs' for green business
Chocolate companies still have "a huge amount of work to do" in implementing truly sustainable policies, with some doing much better than others, the Washington-based NGO Mighty Earth concluded in a consumer guide ranking chocolate producers on their sustainability leadership.
Meat industry driving 'astounding' levels of deforestation, report finds
Global agribusinesses have been implored to improve the traceability of their soy and soybean supply chains, after a new report linked food products sold in European supermarkets with severe deforestation cases in South America.
McDonald's to reduce emissions by a third under approved science-based targets
McDonald's has become the first global restaurant company to have an emissions reduction target approved by the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTI), as the fast food giant outlines plans to reduce carbon emissions by 150 million tonnes.
Financial incentives for recyclability the way forward, says Co-op
A fiscal system that rewards recyclability and labelling, coupled with reducing the range of polymers available for use, would enable retailers and waste management firms to better tackle the rise of plastics pollution, according to the Co-op's environment manager Iain Ferguson.
Hotelier coalition calls on industry to make modern slavery top priority
A coalition of hospitality firms with a collective annual turnover of more than £14bn is calling on the industry to drive change in supply chains by treating modern slavery as a critical corporate responsibility.
Energy resilience roundtable: Paving the path to a clean energy future
Energy management experts from some of the world's biggest manufacturers and retailers recently came together for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and Centrica Business Solutions to explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities when it comes to building energy resilience.
Apple moves towards greener supply chain with zero-waste and clean energy milestones
Apple has made progress in its ongoing effort towards a greener supply chain, with big achievements over the past year in key areas such as waste and low-carbon energy procurement.
British retailers linked to polluting supplier factories
Marks & Spencer, H&M and ASOS are among the global companies that have agreed to incorporate new measures into sourcing policies for textile fibres, after a new report linked Tesco, Asda and Next to Asian viscose factories that are polluting the environment and contributing to premature deaths.
How Twinings is championing women's rights in the tea supply chain
EXCLUSIVE: Twinings' decision to increase its funding initiative with UNICEF for vulnerable tea farmers in Assam was built on a belief that improving skills, health and wellbeing is critical to securing the long-term security of the supply chain, the company's head of social impact has revealed.
Unilever implements 'radical step' on palm oil traceability
Unilever has become the first consumer goods firm to publicly disclose palm oil suppliers and mills that it sources from, both directly and indirectly, a move described by the firm as a "major milestone" in driving sustainability through the industry.
Primark's Global Sourcing Map emphasises the importance of brand transparency
Primark's decision to publish a Global Sourcing Map to its website is part of an ongoing journey of supply chain transparency, and a reflection that there is a greater appetite amongst retailers to collaborate on societal and environmental issues.
Apple and Sky among swelling list of green procurement leaders
The number of top companies leading the way on tackling emissions on the supplier chain has doubled in the past year, but many corporates are still missing out on the business opportunities of supplier engagement.
Unilever to increase sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia
Global consumer goods firm Unilever has struck a deal with a government-owned palm oil plantation firm in Indonesia to create a support framework that enables local mills and smallholders to produce palm oil according to standards of no deforestation and no peatland deterioration.
What does the future role look like for the sustainability manager?
Sustainability leaders from AkzoNobel, Asda, Rolls Royce and Taylor Wimpey gave their thoughts on the future role of the sustainability manager during an action-packed first morning of the edie Sustainability Leaders Forum.
Dell targets e-waste with recycled gold initiative
Fresh from incorporating ocean plastics into products, technology firm Dell has announced an industry pilot aimed at using recycled gold from discarded electronics in new computer motherboards.
Sustainable cotton fund reached 600,000 farmers in past year
More than 600,000 farmers have benefited from a Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) fund thanks to an almost doubled membership size in the past year.
Marks & Spencer is first supermarket to publish data on antibiotics in supply chain
Marks & Spencer has become the first supermarket chain in the UK to publish details of the use of antibiotics in its farm supply chain, in a step towards reducing the use of vital human medicines in livestock-rearing.
Corporates set to miss zero-deforestation targets for 2020
A new report has found that no sector is on track to achieve a deforestation-free supply chain by 2020, with individual companies adopting a "piecemeal approach" by largely ignoring big contribution areas to deforestation, such as cattle production.
Report: UK jewellers 'must do more' to combat potential human rights abuses
The billion-pound jewellery industry is still "tainted" by hidden cases of human rights abuses and modern slavery, with a new report urging large UK brands to increase reporting responsibilities to ensure supply chains are fully-mapped and audited.
Sainsbury's and Unilever sign up to blockchain trials for supply chain practices
Global brands Unilever and Sainsbury's have partnered with leading investors to trial how blockchain technology can financially reward sustainable farming practices for Malawian tea makers.
Transparency focus helps Kraft Heinz accelerate towards supply chain goals
EXCLUSIVE: Food processing company Kraft Heinz has enrolled in a journey of transparency to help deliver its CSR strategy, with the company's first ever sustainability report highlighting achievements with palm oil sourcing and challenges related to water consumption.
Dell spearheads global initiative to combat ocean plastics
Technology giant Dell is forming a collaborative initiative alongside General Motors and Interface to create the world's first commercial-scale supply chain for ocean-bound plastics, before they seep into waterways.
Nestlé to redistribute site-level food waste set aside for animal feed
A new initiative from Nestlé and food redistribution organisation Company Shop could increase the amount of food redistributed from UK operations by two million meals annually, by using site assessments to reduce waste at its source.
How to solve the plastics problem: Live edie webinar takes place AT 2PM TODAY
Interface, P&G, Surfdome and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation complete an all-star line-up of circular economy experts for edie's live, interactive webinar focused on plastic packaging sustainability - taking place today (Thursday 7 December) at 2pm.
edie explains: ISO 50001
This ISO 50001 guide, produced in association with edie's supporting partner NQA, provides an in-depth summary of the ISO 50001 Standard which can be used by an organisation to establish and maintain a continuous level of energy performance improvements.
Plastic pollution: Circular economy experts to discuss packaging solutions in live webinar TOMORROW
Representatives from Interface, P&G, Surfdome and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation complete an all-star line-up for edie's live, interactive webinar focused on plastic packaging sustainability - taking place this Thursday (7 December) at 2pm.
Top car manufacturers launch sustainable raw materials partnership
Some of the world's biggest global carmakers, including BMW, Ford and Toyota, have teamed up to launch a project to address the sustainability issues in the sourcing of raw materials.
Public sector bodies: Is now the time to monitor, analyse and manage your energy consumption?
Businesses and Public sector bodies spend the equivalent of £22bn on energy every year. Yet it is often overlooked by these organisations, who lack the knowledge of how much they are consuming or even potentially wasting.
Fairtrade: Competition law hinders food supply chain sustainability
New research from the Fairtrade Foundation reveals that businesses are wary of working with rivals to strengthen supply chains as they fear falling foul of competition law.
Global firms accused of importing timber linked to Amazon massacre
More than a dozen US and European companies have been importing timber from a Brazilian logging firm whose owner is implicated in one of the most brutal Amazonian massacres in recent memory, according to a Greenpeace investigation.
Corporates risk $941bn due to deforestation failure, CDP warns
The business community is risking up to $941bn on commodities linked to deforestation, according to research, but the vast majority of corporates are reportedly failing to take action.
Homebase pledges ban on bee-harming chemicals amid green group pressure
Retail giant Homebase has committed to phase out toxic pesticides from its garden plant range after months of heavy pressure from green campaigners.
How the SDGs can create a framework to fix a 'broken' agriculture sector
Businesses must collaborate to create global platforms that can fix a "completely broken" agriculture system in a way that improves land management and farming practices that can drag smallholders out of poverty.
2 Sisters chicken scandal a 'wake-up call' for food watchdog, MPs warn
MPs have issued a "wake-up call" to monitoring bodies in the food supply chain after an investigation revealed breaches of health and safety procedures at 2 Sisters Food Group.
The needs of the many: Why Fibria's corporate plan has transformed to a 'shared value' approach
With the UK announcing a new £62 investment to combat deforestation across key areas of Brazil, one of the largest pulp companies from the country, Fibria, outlines its new corporate strategy that seeks to give back to society.
Renewable energy in the supply chain
This new report focuses on the opportunity for companies to amplify their carbon reduction efforts by driving renewables through their supply chains. Given how easy it is to choose renewable electricity in the UK, businesses could be doing more to engage with their suppliers.
Furniture retailer becomes first UK company to be fined under illegal logging laws
Designer furniture retailer Lombok has become the first UK business to be fined for breaching restrictions on the importing and sale of illegally harvested timber.
Domino effect: Businesses urged to promote renewables into supply chains
Corporates that leverage their purchasing power for renewable energy could create a "domino effect" that improves the energy efficiency of supply chains to create more clean generation capacity, a new report from SmartestEnergy has found.
Autonomous shelf-scanning robots to assist Walmart workers
US retailer Walmart is expanding a trial to explore how autonomous shelf-scanning robots can streamline work for staff, by scanning item labels to see if they are out of date, out of stock, or displaying incorrect information.
Nestlé, Hershey and Mars 'breaking promises over palm oil use'
Nestlé, Mars and Hershey have been accused of breaking pledges to stop using "conflict palm oil" from deforested Indonesian jungles, just days before the annual Halloween confectionery frenzy.
Will the role of a sustainability professional ever become obsolete?
As sustainability becomes more embedded in core business operations, will the role of a sustainability professional ever become obsolete? Not in the eyes of Asda's sustainable business director Chris Brown, who believes an ever-changing CSR agenda makes the role more important than ever.
In practice: Landsec's BREEAM Outstanding headquarters designed to WELL standards
As more companies look to create the right work environments for staff wellbeing, Landsec created the UK's largest fully WELL Certified space for staff health, which also achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
Top firms act on deforestation as UK urged not to 'turn a blind eye'
A pioneering study has illustrated the overseas impact of UK imports on forests, wildfire and nature, as a host of global firms make pledges to help prevent deforestation in Brazil's tropical savanna.
Aldi joins World Banana Forum to strengthen supply chain
Aldi UK and Ireland has backed its commitment to sourcing 100% sustainable bananas by joining a global forum that promotes fair working conditions and environmental standards for banana production.
Sustainability Leaders Awards 2018 shortlist revealed!
After a record-breaking number of entries, the judging panel has met, the decisions have been made and edie is proud to reveal the finalists for the 2018 Sustainability Leaders Awards.
Innovative trucks help Smurfit Kappa slash supply chain emissions
Global packaging firm Smurfit Kappa has pioneered innovative new trucks which are claimed to have slashed emissions by 20% and reduced the number of annual trips by almost one-third.
Stella McCartney backs first Life Cycle Assessment for man-made cellulosic fibers
Luxury fashion brand Stella McCartney will be able to better map the environmental impacts of its raw materials, after commissioning the first ever Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for man-made cellulose fiber (MMCF) used in production.
Target commits to 100% renewables as part of science-based targets approach
Clothing giant Target has unveiled a revamped climate policy that will see the retailer commit to the Science-Based Targets Initiative to reduce emissions by 25% and source 100% renewable electricity "in the coming years".
Evolving global supply chain risks must raise 'red flag' for EV manufacturers
As the demand for raw materials grows over the next 15 years, EV manufacturers must prepare for greater supply chain risks or face brand damage and regulatory penalties from emerging legislation.
Kering championing 'disruptive' innovations to push towards science-based targets
Luxury fashion group Kering is partnering with "disruptive" new minds to uncover innovations that will help reach ambitious science-based targets, and the firm's chief sustainability officer Marie-Claire Daveu wants to pass these learnings to the sector through an open-sourced approach.
edie Explains: Energy resilience
Energy resilience is about ensuring a business has a reliable, regular supply of energy and contingency measures in place in the event of a power failure.
Greenpeace: Tech giants neglecting environmental responsibility
Some of the world's biggest tech firms are failing to show ambition in their efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of their supply chains, according to Greenpeace, which claims the current model cannot be maintained.
The Salvation Army: Labour exploitation in England and Wales on the rise
More than 600 people required support from The Salvation Army for labour exploitation in 2016, as a new report from the organisation reveals that there has been a more than 300% increase in modern slavery victim referrals over the last six years.
edie roundtable: Driving renewables through the supply chain
Sustainability and energy management experts from some of the world's biggest businesses recently gathered in London for an exclusive roundtable hosted by edie and Smartest Energy, to explore how companies can reach out to supply chains to improve carbon performance.
Plastic packaging: Are producers ready for their 'diesel moment'?
As CDP's new report warns that "rapid process innovations" are needed to help the chemical sector align to the goals of the Paris Agreement, the organisation's head of investor research Carole Ferguson tells edie that plastic packaging is on the cusp of regulatory and consumer backlash.
What can blockchain do for corporate sustainability?
The fruits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution continue to accelerate how businesses act within society; but nestled in alongside automation and the Internet of Things, can little-known blockchain truly revolutionise sustainability?
How P&G formed a new supply chain to combat ocean plastics
EXCLUSIVE: The Procter & Gamble (P&G) Company's new Fairy Ocean Plastic Bottle serves to highlight a "totally new supply chain and approach" to incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic into products, as the firm closes in on a 2020 packaging target.
Sky to ban single-use plastics by 2020
Broadcasting company Sky has announced that all single-use plastics will be removed from its products, operations and supply chain by 2020 and will also invest £25m into an Ocean Rescue Innovation Fund to develop remedies to the amount of waste seeping into oceans.
Food and beverage giants agree to strengthen supply chain management
Companies such as Unilever, Mars and PepsiCo are part of a new collaborative partnership aiming to develop free science-based decision tools that improve farm-level sustainability reporting metrics and data collection.
Cradle to Cradle: How C&A is leading the fashion industry's circular transition
EXCLUSIVE: Fashion retailer C&A is driving circularity by selling apparel products made from sustainable cotton, and the Dutch-based firm is eager to bring the rest of the industry on its journey.
From climate science to global goals: How Tetra Pak is realigning its sustainability strategy
As Tetra Pak's latest sustainability report reveals that the company looks set to outperform its original goals, the firm's vice president of environment Mario Abreu explains how the food packaging company is preparing to shoot for approved science-based targets.
Cargill targets zero deforestation as part of SDG alignment for cocoa sourcing
Food and agricultural company Cargill has updated its sustainable cocoa sourcing strategy to align with the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to boost farmer prosperity, reduce environmental impacts and enhance the traceability of its supply chain.
Asda and Co-op team up to share supply chain data
Competing retailers Asda and the Co-op have taken collaborative action to drive supply chain efficiencies by aligning the environmental data they request from mutual suppliers.
Top brands doing 'little or nothing' about sustainable cotton
Major brands such as Next and Ralph Lauren are failing to make sufficient progress on sourcing sustainable cotton, according to the findings of a new report.
Velvet owner accused of sourcing pulp from protected forest region
The owner of well-known UK-based toilet paper brands Velvet and Cushelle is facing accusations of sourcing pulp from protected areas of the Great Northern Forest in Sweden.
Walmart strengthens commitment to slash chemical footprint
Walmart has pledged to reduce its chemical footprint by 10% over the next five years, in the same week that research found that nearly two-third of British citizens want to keep EU chemical safety standards post-Brexit.
How AkzoNobel intends to reach carbon neutrality by 2050
AkzoNobel will need to embrace disruptive technologies such as automation and ensure the commitment of customers and suppliers to meet the paint and coating manufacturer's bold vision to become a carbon-neutral business by 2050.
First batch of African Fairtrade gold arrives in the UK
Fairtrade has announced the first ever shipment of certified African Fairtrade gold into the UK, in a move backed by Philips that could unlock new ethical sourcing opportunities for businesses ranging from jewellers to tech specialists.
Uncle Ben's to source all basmati rice through certified sustainability standard
All basmati rice sold under the world's largest rice brand will be sourced under a sustainability platform to address human rights issues in supply chains and improve the environmental impact of farming practices.
Tesco agrees pioneering deal with suppliers to halve food waste
Tesco has struck a deal with its largest food suppliers for them to adopt the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to halve food waste by 2030, on the same day a new global initiative has called on major international food producers to reduce food loss and waste.
How the English Tea Shop's shared value approach has coupled ethics with profits
EXCLUSIVE: A UK-based independent speciality tea company is calling on the rest of the industry to mirror its focus on ethical sourcing after achieving a 60% annual growth rate in the last seven years.
Nike and other major apparel firms commit to Science Based Targets initiative
A surge of clothing companies including Nike and Levi Strauss have all committed to set emission reduction targets through the Science Based Targets initiative, pushing the number of companies pledged to the scheme beyond 300.
Chocolate industry drives rainforest disaster in Ivory Coast
The world's chocolate industry is driving deforestation on a devastating scale in West Africa, the Guardian can reveal.
Water-hungry food companies ignoring supply chain risks, report finds
Just six of the world's largest food companies have set sustainable water-sourcing targets for the majority of their agricultural inputs, as a new report reveals that water risks in the supply chain are still largely ignored.
BRE launches guidelines to combat modern slavery in the construction sector
A new eight-step guidance plan has been launched to help companies in the property and construction sectors become "best in class" in combatting global human rights abuses across value chains.
Building the story: How Mars got boardroom buy-in for its $1bn sustainability strategy
As Mars unveils a new corporate strategy to reduce emissions by 67% by 2050, edie's senior reporter Matt Mace speaks to the company's global director of sustainability Kevin Rabinovitch, to discuss how his team secured a $1bn backing from the company's chief executive.
First ISO 20400 sustainable procurement assessment issued in the UK public sector
A purchasing consortium for higher education facilities in London has become the first in the global education sector to be assessed to the ISO 20400 standard for sustainable procurement, in what's believed to be the first such assessment in the UK public sector.
Whitbread first hospitality firm to be granted water self-supply licence
Regulator Ofwat has granted hospitality giant Whitbread a self-supply licence to deliver its own water and wastewater services for all of its brands in England.
Responsible Retailer: How House of Fraser is reinvigorating its sustainability approach
From being ahead of the curve on supply chain ethics to exploring the adoption of science-based targets, House of Fraser is rapidly making waves in the industry through its "fast moving" Responsible Retailer strategy.
IBM blockchain food safety programme attracts global firms
A host of major firms including Nestlé, Unilever and Walmart have established a collaboration with tech giant IBM to explore how the global food supply chain can benefit from blockchain technology.
Homebase caught in dispute over use of bee-harming pesticides
Homebase has clashed with Friends of the Earth after claims the garden retailer has failed to publicly commit to end the use and sale of restricted pesticides in its plant ranges.
Report: Migrant crisis escalating European modern slavery risk
Businesses have been urged to stay alert to modern slavery risks in their European supply chains after new research highlighted rising levels of exploitation across large swathes of the continent, including the UK.
Pyjamas become first products made using Primark's Sustainable Cotton Programme
Cotton sourced from Primark's Sustainable Cotton Programme, which has helped rural female farmers increase average profits, is being used in production for the first time.
Chemical footprinting 'moves to the mainstream' for big businesses
Companies with more than $670bn in revenue, including Adidas, HP and Walmart, have collectively reduced the use of hazardous chemicals in products by around 416m pounds in the last two years, according to a new report.
Shareholder demands driving commitments on deforestation, report finds
Shareholder resolutions are an increasingly viable way to drive company action on deforestation, with more than half of proposals to address risks leading to business commitments from the likes of Kraft, DuPont and Mondelez, according to new analysis.
UK's largest foodservice firm commits to sustainable seafood pledge
Compass UK & Ireland is the first major food foodservice company to join the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC), committing to voluntary codes of conduct regarding the sourcing and labelling of all seafood products.
UK hotel group launches comprehensive anti-slavery programme
A privately-owned UK hotel group has launched what it claims is the first "industry-leading" anti-slavery programme in the sector, including plans to educate more than 400 staff members on identifying cases of modern slavery and human trafficking.
TODAY AT 11AM: Tune into edie's free webinar on supply chain ethics
Sustainability and CSR professionals can tune into a live, interactive webinar on Tuesday 25 July, which will discuss how businesses can enhance social sustainability through ethical supply chain management.
Pepsico, Unilever and Nestlé accused of complicity in illegal rainforest destruction
Pepsico, Unilever and Nestlé have been accused of complicity in the destruction of Sumatra's last tract of rainforest shared by elephants, orangutans, rhinos, and tigers together in one ecosystem.
Brewing for the future: How MillerCoors slashed its water footprint through supplier engagement
A supply chain management philosophy built on engagement over enforcement enabled brewer MillerCoors to reduce its water footprint by 17% last year. Here, Matt Mace investigates how the firm has been galvanising the farmer community to create resilient, future-proofed beer supply chains.
Tesco commits to detox chemicals in clothing supply chain
Supermarket heavyweight Tesco has vowed to phase-out toxic chemicals in the supply chain of its F&F clothing line, by signing up to Greenpeace's DETOX campaign.
RE100 targets 500 companies after hitting 100-member milestone
EXCLUSIVE: The Climate Group's RE100 initiative to get firms to source 100% renewable electricity is targeting 500 members by 2020, with each signatory encouraged to promote the initiative to its suppliers, after passing the 100-member milestone on Tuesday (11 July).
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