The Sustainability Learning Forum

Steering BASF’s Portfolio toward Sustainability

Dr. Dirk Voeste, BASF
Dr. Andreas Kicherer, BASF
Annette Höllebrand, BASF
BASF SE

For 150 years, BASF has been creating chemistry to find new and better solutions for its customers. Following its company purpose – “We create chemistry for a sustainable future” – BASF is focusing on chemical innovations that help customers contribute to sustainability. To meet customer needs even better in the future and to secure long-term business success, BASF has set itself the target to further increase this share of sustainable solutions. BASF has analyzed and evaluated the sustainability aspects of its entire product portfolio and established a new process for steering its portfolio based on sustainability criteria. Already in 2014, 23 percent of global sales were generated by innovative products and solutions with a significant contribution toward sustainability in its application. more[...]

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Projects

Dirk Grosche
Hochtief

It is among the most important tasks of a company to create a work environment in which the employees are – and remain – healthy, and in which workplace-related illnesses and accidents are prevented to the extent possible. For the international construction group HOCHTIEF, the issue has top priority and is consistently pursued and managed under the joint responsibility of all parties concerned. more[...]

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Portuguese Biodiversity: Challenges for REN

João Gaspar, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN)
REN

One of the goals set out by REN (Redes Energéticas Nacionais) is to develop a more efficient, secure, and competitive energy system that provides everyone with energy at the lowest possible cost. However, the environment poses some of the greatest challenges. more[...]

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Sustainability in the Supply Chain: A Crucial Component of Corporate Responsibility

Antonio Luz-Veloso, Deutsche Telekom
Vera Heyes, Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom AG

Deutsche Telekom conducts business in more than 50 countries. This presents opportunities for companies, particularly in supplier management, but it also poses risks. To ensure that its supply chain has a sustainable focus, Deutsche Telekom has established a systematic supplier management system. As a founding member of the Joint Audit Cooperation (JAC), Deutsche Telekom is committed to shaping sustainable relationships with suppliers. Based on a standardized methodology, JAC examines shared suppliers worldwide, with a particular focus on Asia, South Korea, Eastern Europe, and South America. more[...]

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Green Business Assessment - The link between environmental and company performance

Philip Thormark, ÅF AB
André Månsson, Lund University

Over the years the general attitude towards environmental management has shifted. From a reactive stance, in which accidents and release of pollutions were at the center stage, to a proactive one in which environmental performance is sometimes regarded as a vital factor for the success of the company. Better environmental performance may increase the competitive advantage of a company in numerous ways. more[...]

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Conflict Minerals

Resource conflict is one of several destabilizing phenomena commonly cited as defining many of the extractive economies of the global south. Our Tutorial discusses all aspects of the issue with a special focus on US laws, SEC and Dodd-Frank Act regulations. more[...]

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Developing countries exchange ISO 26000 experience at ISO workshop

International Organization for Standardization

A two-day workshop on the experience of developing countries in implementing and promoting the ISO 26000 guidance standard on social responsibility opened on 5 November 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland. Some 120 participants from about 70 countries are exchanging their experience on ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on social responsibility. The workshop is organized by the Development and Training Services of ISO. more[...] login_required

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Conflict Minerals and SEC Disclosure Regulation

Prof. Celia Taylor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

Mention the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank” or the “Act”),[1] and most people think of legislation aimed at “fundamental reform of the financial system”[2] focused on regulation of Wall Street practices and complex financial products. But tucked within the voluminous text of the Act (which consists of 2,300 pages and stipulates the passage of 387 rules by 20 different agencies[3]) is a provision having nothing to do with these issues or anything remotely related to them. Instead the “conflict minerals” provision of the Act requires companies that are subject to the reporting requirement of the federal securities laws to disclose whether they manufacture products using so-called “conflict minerals” sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) or contiguous countries.[4] more[...]

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CSR and responsible reporting: PRACTICES of EUROPEAN BANKS and INSURANCE COMPANIES

Novethic

Novethic conducted this study to assess the quality of CSR reporting of the largest European banks and insurance companies. By comparing the type of information provided by these key economic players on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects of their businesses, we can see how they are reacting to the scrutiny. more[...] login_required

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Global Witness condemns API lawsuit to strike down Dodd-Frank oil, gas and mining transparency provision

Global Witness is outraged by a lawsuit filed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others to gut Section 1504, an important anti-corruption provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. (1) By seeking to nullify this provision, API, whose members include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell, and other industry groups are demonstrating that they have something to hide. Any claims by API that they support transparency efforts are preposterous when they are not only trying to weaken the rules but to strike Section 1504 in its entirety. more[...] login_required

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Enabling the graduation of LDCs: Enhancing the role of commodities and improving agricultural productivity

UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

The world financial and economic crisis has reversed recent growth trends in the world’s poorest nations, dampening the prospects that half of the 48 least developed countries (LDCs) will be able to “graduate” from that status by the end of the decade, as called for by last year’s international conference on LDCs, UNCTAD research shows. The present study, which is the outcome of ongoing work by the UNCTAD secretariat on LDCs, assesses the challenges, opportunities and prospects for meeting the criteria for graduation, particularly by enhancing the role of commodities and improving agricultural productivity. more[...] login_required

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Land Use Futures: Making the most of land in the 21st century

Foresight, Government Office for Science

This Project has taken a broad and overarching look at the future of UK land use over the next 50 years. It demonstrates that there is a strong case to develop a much more strategic approach: to guide incremental land use change, incentivise sustainable behaviours, and to unlock value from land. more[...] login_required

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Foresight, Government Office for Science

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Safeguarding Biodiversity in Practice

Pakis Papademetriou, Athens International Airport
Nikos Fokas, Athens International Airort
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos

Airport operations can have an impact on local ecosystems. Athens International Airport is located near the Vravrona Wetland, an area of great environmental and historical significance. The Airport Company undertakes initiatives to preserve this sensitive natural environment and protect a number of important wildlife species, while at the same time helping to divert birds away from the airport and reduce risks related to aircraft operations. more[...] login_required

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US ruling on oil, gas and mining companies will make them more accountable

Chris Sanders, Transparency International

On 22 August 2012, more than two years after the orignal legislation was passed, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted by a 2-to-1 majority to adopt robust rules implementing section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act. In an effort to curb corruption, this landmark ruling will require oil, gas and mining companies listed on US Stock Exchanges to publish the payments that they make to governments. more[...] login_required

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