Back In London – First Impressions

I am working in London this week. In BT Center right now. My view out the window is the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.

My initial impressions  are of significant environmental activity….

This morning’s papers (I was reading the Times) covered the results of the  UN’s inquiry report on the IPCC. The Times editorial talks about the importance of accurate science but stresses that the thrust of the report is right and that governments need to take real action.

Popularity: 14% [?]

August 31, 2010 Posted Under: Uncategorized   Read More

Procter & Gamble Makes Great Strides in CR

I have noticed a number of interesting CR initiatives from Procter &Gamble hit the press recently.  I like to watch what BT’s big customers are doing in this space, and P&G is one of our big customers!  In 2008 we signed a $650 million outsourcing deal with them.

I have a vision that in time, companies will include sustainability criteria in selecting target customers, similar to how we include them in selecting our vendors.  After all, if you believe companies that implement good sustainability practices are more likely to be around for the long haul, you would be crazy not to include that as a selection criteria.   Especially for large, long term deals.  So I like to watch out for what our strategic customers are doing.

This article in ConsumerGoods.com calls out P&G for ‘Best Practices in Sustainability’. I particularly like that P&G have integrated sustainability with selected products and services and featured information on what they call “Future Friendly” products in their magazine (it goes to 50M households) using the ability of their brand to ‘Inform and Influence’ from my Four Dimensions of Sustainability.

I am skeptical that consumers will have the time and energy to understand detailed sustainability information on product packaging.  My hope for the future is in brands that build a reputation for sustainability and deliver that authentically and consistently in the products they deliver.  Kirk Perry’s (VP, North America P&G) quote in the article ‘be authentic in everything you say and do’ certainly seems to make that commitment.

Popularity: 89% [?]

August 18, 2010 Posted Under: Uncategorized   Read More

Staples: Mark Buckley Talks EcoEasy Program

Mark Buckley, a former guest blogger on CSR Perspective and VP of Environmental Affairs for Staples, recently was featured in a podcast as part of the OnPapersSeries.

In the podcast, Mark shares that the company’s CEO has agreed that there is always more that Staples can do and should do when it comes for sustainability.  From this realization the EcoEasy™ program evolved. The program focuses Staples’ environmental efforts in three major areas including products, recycling services and internal operations.

This program is a great example of an organization that goes well beyond the “Direct Impact” dimension in the Four Dimensions of Responsibility framework that I developed and strives to do more.  I am becoming increasingly interested in importance of the strategic relationship between a company and its vendors that Mark alludes to at various points in the podcast.  I am hoping to write more about this in future posts.

If you’d like to hear more from Mark, click here to listen to the podcast.

Popularity: 19% [?]

August 10, 2010 Posted Under: Uncategorized   Read More
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