The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility

Tag Archive for ‘Environment’

“Business in Society” Program Covers CSR Issues on TV

A new television/video program, “Business In Society,” delivering news and analysis on how business is addressing global society’s macro problems — among them, the environment, energy conservation, and women’s empowerment — debuts Saturday, March 30th, 2013.

Obama and Romney on the Environment

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Given that the presidential election is just around the corner, what can you tell me about each candidate’s environmental track record and positions? – Jane Miller, Chicago, IL Just because the environment is getting short shrift this election season due to our nation’s lingering economic woes doesn’t mean [...]

Patagonia: Lessons from a Pioneer in Responsible Business

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has long been a proponent of corporate social responsibility – and financially successful as well. Columnist Gael O’Brien reviews a new book in which Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and his co-author explain how an entrepreneurial spirit is as important for achieving social and environmental goals as it is to a company’s bottom line.

Benefit Corporations vs. ‘Regular’ Corporations: A Harmful Dichotomy

Seven U.S. states have now enacted laws creating a new type of corporation – typically called a benefit corporation, or B Corp – to advance the cause of socially responsible business. But a corporate attorney argues that, however well-intentioned, the B Corp structure “undermines the very values that corporate governance advocates should seek to promote: responsible, sustainable corporate decision-making by companies of any stripe.”

Will the Paralyzed West Be Surpassed by the Sustainable Rest?

Tess Czerski, a Dutch undergraduate student and intern with the RACI Project in Bali, Indonesia, says local entrepreneurs in developing countries are harnessing sustainable practices at an astonishing rate – leaving far behind Western enterprises, which are paralyzed by the current economic situation.

What is a ‘Sustainable Community’?

According to the Vermont-based Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), sustainable communities are “economically, environmentally and socially healthy and resilient” and meet “challenges through integrated solutions rather than through fragmented approaches.”

‘Greening’ a Small Business

There are many ways to green up any business, large or small—and an added benefit might just be saving money. Just like individuals, businesses can measure their carbon footprints to get a sense of where they are starting from and to get some initial ideas of areas to focus on to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Workplace Bullying: More Common – and Damaging – Than You Think

When we think of bullying, school kids come to mind. But columnist Gael O’Brien reports that bullying is also a growing problem on the job. By one estimate, more than 54 million people will be bullied in U.S. workplaces this year. The toll can be high for individuals and organizations. “It creates such a toxic environment,” says one executive,”that it undermines anything you are trying to accomplish from a business perspective.”

Cloud Computing’s Substantial Environmental Footprint

The emerging trend of “cloud computing” means that these providers have had to scale up their power consumption considerably, as they are increasingly responsible for providing more and more of the computing horsepower required by the world’s two billion Internet users.

What’s on the Agenda for Upcoming “Rio+20″ Earth Summit?

According to the United Nations, the so-called “Rio+20 Conference”—officially the UN Conference on Sustainable Development—is a new attempt in a new millennium to “lay the foundations of a world of prosperity, peace and sustainability.” The event will take place June 20-22 in Rio de Janiero.