Corporate Social Responsibility

Article 9: War on Plastic

gillj7 Circular Economy ,

Article 9: 5 Ways for Businesses to Cut Down on Their Plastic Waste

About a month ago, I read an article on CNBC talking about scientists who had, accidentally, created an enzyme that would help make breaking plastic (PET) down easier. Plastic is a hot topic right now and something everyone who cares about sustainability is obsessed with, trying to figure out the best solution or method for dealing with this persistent material that just refuses to die. This article outlined some ways of dealing with it.

Five Ways of Cutting Down on Plastic

  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An oldie but a goodie. Don’t use plastic when you can avoid it, reuse it, in packaging for example, and recycle
  • Think Through the Consequences: Consider what happens to products at the end of their lifecycle and integrate that into the design (as Ottman called it: Build In, Not Bolted On)
  • Talk to the Waste Industry: Before you go building something, make sure there’s a waste contractor who can deal with it
  • Don’t Forget the Polar Bears: You don’t want a polar bear to be homeless because your product contributed to climate change and melted her home, do you?
  • Shift the Economics: Once it’s in their best monetary interest to be greener, consumers will develop sustainable habits

 

 

Source: GreenBiz

Author: Madeline Cuff

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/5-ways-businesses-cut-down-their-plastic-waste

 

 

 

Article 4: Internal Collaboration and Sustainability

gillj7 Leadership ,

Article 4: 4 ways to increase internal collaboration and advance sustainability objectives

It is becoming common place for companies to have sustainability teams. There are many articles and videos highlighting the importance of teamwork and strategies for specific departments of a company. The article had key success factors that were good advice for teamwork in general in the workplace but also suggestions for sustainable teams primarily. Here are the four factors:

Focus on internal engagement using a materiality principle

Try to understand your co-workers’ priorities in other functions and focusing on synergies. Then you can use a materiality assessment to identity the key priorities and create a program “focused on departments with the most potential influence, collaboration potential, and relevant expertise.”

Educate your colleagues about sustainability; but don’t forget to learn from them, too

Don’t treat education as a one-way street. Sustainability teams often think they must raise awareness on issues such as climate change but miss the chance to learn something in return. It is important to understand their goals if you wish to work well together.

Recognize that government that matters, a lot

You cannot fit the issues organizations are facing into one department as they often cross over. This can cause accountability to diffuse which is why it a solid governance structure must be in place. You must care that they “provide clarity over who is responsible for what.”

Understand your corporate culture

To build a company with strong values and a purpose, it is essential to understand the corporate culture to make an effective agent of change.

 

Source: GreenBiz

Article: 4 ways to increase internal collaboration and advance sustainability objectives

Author: Allison Taylor and Elizabeth Best

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/4-ways-increase-internal-collaboration-and-advance-sustainability-objectives