US Fracking Rules Would Disclose Drilling Chemicals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pressing companies for more information about the chemicals in fluids, something they say is a trade secret. The agency holds the last in a series of community meetings on hydraulic fracturing, called fracking, on Wednesday in New York. The new Wyoming rules say companies must submit to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission [3] a full list of chemicals they plan to use in fracking operations on a well-by-well basis. Companies will also have to report the concentration of each chemical used once the job is done. Drillers retain the right to claim …

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10 Ways to Cut Carbon Emissions in Your Buildings

Johnson Controls Inc. and its Make Your Buildings Work program offer 10 tips on how your company can reduce its carbon footprint and emissions by minimizing the environmental impacts of facilities and operations.  The advice is part of Johnson Controls’ campaign to emphasize practical solutions for building owners, managers and operators to improve the energy efficiency and performance of their properties. The company’s “10 Tips” series is among resources available on the JCI microsite MakeYourBuildingsWork.com. Here are Johnson Controls’ recommendations for cutting carbon emissions: 1. Consider investigating in renewable energy technologies to become less dependent on the grid. This is …

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States call for solar subsidy cut

Annabel Hepworth – The Australian March 07, 2011 12:00AM JULIA Gillard is under pressure from the states to roll back generous subsidies for rooftop solar schemes amid predictions that escalating costs from the federal renewable energy scheme will add as much as $90 to yearly household power bills… more “Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” Conference 15th& 16th September – Radisson Resort, Gold Coast

A sustainable approach makes business sense

By santos | Published: March 4, 2010 An integrated sustainability framework delivers value beyond traditional economic measures. The efficiency and effectiveness in which environmental resources are managed is the pathway to the licence to operate within communities and with government regulators. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the use of clean water, land disturbance and waste to landfill contributes to the key concept of “doing more with less” and has a positive effect on operating and regulatory costs – ultimately benefiting both the company and the environment. Government regulators and financial stakeholders demand high standards of environmental and social performance. Strong relationships …

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Australia’s first modern large electric car consortium

Five local companies have joined forces to build prototypes of Australia’s first modern large electric car. Supported by the Australian Government, the consortium hopes to produce a family car which could revolutionise the Australian car industry. Announcing more than $3.5 million in funding from the Green Car Innovation Fund for the consortium’s project worth nearly $26 million, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the concept for the car was based on the Holden Commodore. “The government understands that Australia’s future relies on our ability to green our industries. This includes manufacturing environmentally friendly vehicles,” Senator Carr said. “This Melbourne-based consortium, …

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Heinz, Coca-Cola Announce PlantBottle Partnership

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: CO) and H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) today announced a strategic partnership that enables Heinz to produce its ketchup bottles using Coca-Cola’s PlantBottleTM packaging. The PET plastic bottles are made partially (up to 30%) from plant materials and have a lower reliance on non-renewable resources compared with traditional PET plastic bottles. Currently, PlantBottle is made using sugarcane ethanol from Brazil. Heinz said its adoption of the PlantBottle technology will be the biggest change to its iconic ketchup bottles since they first introduced plastic in 1983… more Heinz, Coca-Cola Announce PlantBottle Partnership.

People.Productivity.Planet report

Beaton Research and Consulting, in collaboration with The Nossal Institute for Global Health and WellmarkPerspexa, presented the findings from Australia’s most broad-reaching study into business sustainability. The research Scope: A national survey of more than 10,000 leaders and employees of Australian businesses Aim: To identify the stimulus for and obstacles against businesses engaging in sustainability reporting Sustainability reporting is poised to take off The strongest message emerging from the study is the huge latent potential in sustainability reporting in Australia – the will is there, but a substantial proportion of organisations are yet to find the way. Around a third …

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Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation Conference September 2011

I would like to invite you to take part in the ‘Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation’ Conference on the Gold Coast this September. Join the Australian and International sustainability business community as they gather at this key industry event. The Conference host organisation is committed to ensuring that the highest calibre of plenary and symposium speakers attend this meeting, and have already confirmed participation of some outstanding speakers. This year the streams dedicated to commercialisation will feature case studies by start-up companies; how to take a product from discovery to market; capital raising; IP; regulatory issues; and more.  There …

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Sustainability: The ‘Embracers’ Seize Advantage

SPECIAL REPORT: Sustainability & Innovation February 10, 2011 MIT Sloan Management Review How fast are businesses adopting sustainability-driven management? New study results reveal two distinct camps: ’embracers’ and ‘cautious adopters.’ And the practices of the embracers may be providing a snapshot of how the management future will look.  This report on the second annual Sustainability & Innovation Global Executive Study by MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group reveals two distinct camps of companies: “embracers” — those who place sustainability high on their agenda — and “cautious adopters,” who have yet to focus on more than energy cost …

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