The Sustainability Learning Forum

Singapore’s growing Role in Asian Food Security

Yang Razali Kassim, Nanyang Technological University

Singapore’s approach to food security is set to undergo a fundamental rethink — from being a passive food-importer to a more active contributor to the regional and global food system. A mental map of a multi-pronged strategy, spearheaded by research and development, is emerging on Singapore’s food security front that could turn old limitations into new strengths. Certain realities clearly define food security planning: Singapore is not an agricultural country, has little land to grow its own food, and is almost totally dependent on food imports. As a food importer Singapore is perpetually subject to the vagaries of external forces when it comes to feeding its own people. This picture may soon change. more[...] login_required

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Meine Daten ändern

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Fostering CSR – Contract Seating Manufacturer Kusch+Co

Ferdinand Filusch, Kusch & Co

This Sauerland-based family business offers convincing proof that traditional values can harmoniously coexist with a modern commitment to mankind and to nature. Corporate social responsibility is an intrinsic pillar of Kusch+Co’s corporate strategy. more[...] login_required

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PUMAVision 2011

Dr. Reiner Hengstmann, Puma
Stefan D. Seidel, Puma

As part of PUMAVision – PUMA’s sustainability concept – and in line with its mission to become the most desirable and sustainable Sportlifestyle company, PUMA introduced the sustainability scorecard in 2010 to achieve its ambitious environmental targets by 2015. The scorecard lists targets for a 25 percent reduction in energy and water usage as well as climate and waste emissions by 2015 compared to 2010. more[...] login_required

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The Value of Improved Community Awareness

Sibel Bekler, AKSA

AKSA, a leading manufacturer of acrylic and carbon fibers in the world, has initiated a Community Advisory Panel comprised of about 45 representatives of municipal mayors, village elders, teachers, local authorities, and students selected from the villages in the vicinity of the facility. Since 2001, biannual or more frequent Community Advisory Panel meetings are held to assess and evaluate the coexistence of AKSA with the community, including issues of environmental, health, and safety performance of the facility as seen from the eyes of the public. more[...] login_required

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Renewable Energy in the Middle East and North Africa

Dr. Franz Trieb, German Aerospace Center - DLR
Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen, Technische Univeristät Dresden

Until very recently, the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region had not indicated any serious interests in the use of renewable energies, as these technologies were considered insufficient, irrelevant, and expensive. Countries with oil or gas became rich by exploiting their fossil fuel reserves, while the other countries claimed to be too poor to be able to afford wind or solar power. This picture changed in 2008 when the price of a barrel of oil climbed to $140. more[...]

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Sustaining Finance and Financing Sustainability in the Middle East

Editorial Team

Project one :In the light of its business excellence and recognition, Arab African International Bank decided to institutionalize the CSR building on its “Belief System “ and depending on a “Structural Approach”. This has produced the “We Owe it To Egypt” Foundation to be the national drive behind significant impact and sustainable development of health and education in Egypt. The Foundation’s main mission is: To pool patriotic resources and establish centers of excellence in health and education. Project two: The bank has adopted the Equator Principles as a regulatory framework for social and environmental impact assessment for projected finance that exceeds the 10 million dollars. more[...] login_required

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Overview

Editorial Team

In the last years we observe some key trends in eco-labeling. One is the quantitative increase in the number of labels and “green stickers” across the world and across business sectors. Another trend is the fear of many consumers of greenwashing. The sheer amount of labels and the fact, that many are invented by companies on their own, makes it difficult for consumers to distinguish between recognized, international standards and private or local initiatives. Here we give a short overview about important eco labels in the sectors Electric Device, Food, Wood/Paper, Textile, Rug, Flowers, Cosmetics, Tourism and Consumer Goods. more[...] login_required

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Corporate Responsibility Standards

Prof. Andreas Rasche, Copenhagen Business School

This paper discusses so-called corporate responsibility standards (e.g., the Global Reporting Initiative and Social Accountability 8000) from the perspective of post-structuralist philosophy, in particular Derridian thinking. I introduce these different initiatives and contrast them against each other. Next, I offer a discussion of their limits in general, and their paradoxical nature in particular. I conclude with a variety of practical recommendation suggesting that, while corporate responsibility standards can potentially offer good managerial guidance they are also flawed in a variety of ways. more[...]

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Improving Labor Standards Performance in the Middle East

Craig Moss, Social Accountability International (SAI)

Labor standards and working conditions in the Middle East exhibit many of the same basic problems that occur globally. If we look at workers’ demands from the recent strikes in Egypt and Jordan, we will see issues that clearly violate the International Labour Organization’s core labor conventions – unfortunately, that will surprise no one. more[...]

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Wasta: How the Use of “Connections” Impacts on Private Sector Development in Arab Countries and Why

Dr. Markus Loewe, German Development Institute

The literal translation of the Arabic word wasta is “connection,” but it is often employed for favoritism, that is, the use of personal relations for preferential treatment. Favoritism is a form of corruption when someone uses her/his position to distribute the resources of someone else (e.g., the employer or the state) to a friend or relative. more[...]

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Wayne Visser's Blog

Prof. Wayne Visser, Kaleidoscope Futures

Dr. Wayne Visser is Founder and Director of the research company Kaleidoscope Futures and the think-tank CSR International and the agency Sustainability Market. In addition, Wayne is Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and Visiting Professor of Corporate Responsibility at Warwick Business School in the UK. more[...] login_required

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Elaine Cohen's Blog

Elaine Cohen, Beyond Business Ltd

Elaine Cohen is a founding partner of Beyond Business Ltd (www.b-yond.biz/en ), a social and environmental business consulting firm, specialising in CSR strategy and roadmap developent, implementation of CSR processes, reporting and assurance. Beyond Business works globally with large corporate clients, SME's and non profits, offering a full range of CSR and sustainability expertise. Elaine Cohen is the author of "CSR for HR : A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business practices", (Greenleaf Publishing, 2010) a comprehensive guide for CSR and Human Resources Managers on the interface between CSR and HR, and what HR managers should be doing to ensure a CSR-enabled culture and practice in any company. more[...] login_required

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Andrew Crane's and Dirk Matten's Blog

Prof. Andrew Crane, Schulich School of Business
Prof. Dirk Matten, Hewlett-Packard

Andrew Crane and Dirk Matten are two business school professors from the Schulich School of Business in Toronto, Canada, best known for our books and research articles on business ethics and corporate citizenship. They've been writing the Crane and Matten blog since 2008, offering unique insight on a range of issues from across the globe. more[...] login_required

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