ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
The food industry is undergoing a major transformation, but while food companies often serve as the face of this so-called ‘food revolution,’ the source of some of the most significant changes isn’t the C-suite, but rather our farms.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
BASF and bse Engineering have signed an exclusive joint development agreement for BASF to provide custom catalysts for a new chemical energy storage process. The process will enable the economically viable transformation of excess current and off-gas carbon dioxide into methanol in small-scale delocalized production units.
WASTE NOT -
What do sulfur and urine have in common? Scientists and designers have uncovered new ways to transform the two smelly substances into smart solutions to tackle pressing environmental problems.
PRESS RELEASE -
BASF has received a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) for Interceptor® G2, a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net (LN) based on chlorfenapyr. Chlorfenapyr is a completely new insecticide class for combating mosquitoes for public health. This is the first WHO recommendation for a product based on a new insecticide class in more than 30 years.
Working with the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in a collaboration lasting over a decade, BASF’s scientists successfully repurposed chlorfenapyr to be effective on mosquito nets and meet stringent WHO performance thresholds for public health.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The Chemical Footprint Project — an initiative driving the effective management of chemicals in products and supply chains — has released its second annual report, which measures corporate chemicals management performance through a 20-question survey that evaluates companies on management strategy, chemical inventory, footprint measurement and public disclosure and verification.
CLEANTECH -
As global temperatures reach record highs and heat waves become the norm across the globe, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), a global initiative led by former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to achieve universal energy access, improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy, has launched a new campaign to identify the challenges and opportunities of providing access to affordable, sustainable cooling solutions for all.
WALKING THE TALK -
While UK supermarket giant Tesco has focused the majority of its sustainability efforts on slashing food waste, the company is now setting its sights on reducing impacts across its F&F clothing line. The retailer has announced that it is joining Greenpeace’s DETOX campaign in an effort to phase out the use of toxic chemicals in its own-brand clothing label’s supply chain.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
BASF, Cargill, Procter & Gamble and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have joined together in a development partnership under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's (BMZ) develoPPP.de program. The partnership will help establish a sustainably certified and transparent supply chain of coconut oil in the Philippines and Indonesia.
PRESS RELEASE -
GE Water & Process Technologies has honored Clear Path Recycling with its prestigious Ecomagination Leadership and Return on Environment (ROE) awards to recognize the plastic bottle recycling operation for its noteworthy reductions in chemical usage and cost. Clear Path – a joint venture between Shaw Industries, a leading floorcovering provider, and DAK Americas, a leading producer of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) resin – recycles approximately 3 billion plastic bottles annually. Converting post-consumer PET packaging into polyester fiber for Shaw’s carpet products saves approximately 1.5 trillion British thermal units of energy annually.
PRESS RELEASE -
The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Koehler Paper Group are the recipients of a 2017 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. The award was given in the design of greener chemicals category for the development of ROPAQUE™ NT-2900 Opaque Polymer for BLUE 4EST™ Thermal Paper. This is the 11th Presidential Green Chemistry Award Dow and its affiliates have received since the EPA introduced the award in 1996.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
McGill is at it again. Just months after researchers at the Canadian university revealed that metal powders could provide a zero-carbon, closed-loop alternative to traditional fossil fuels, a team of chemists have uncovered a way to produce and refine metals without the aid of toxic solvents or reagents.
PRESS RELEASE -
The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today released its 2016 Sustainability Report, laying a solid foundation with strong first-year results since announcing its 2025 Sustainability Goals. Prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards Comprehensive Option (GRI 102-54), GRI is the most widely used framework for sustainability reporting used globally by businesses, governments and other organizations. The report highlights the successes of Dow’s commitment to redefine the role of business at its intersection with society.
PRESS RELEASE -
SAN FRANCISO, May 22, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® kicks off its largest community gathering today with Sustainable Brands’17 Detroit at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. Over 2,000 business executives along with their teams from 35+ countries across the globe are attending the conference and Activation Hub. In addition, there is anticipated record breaking livestream viewership in collaboration with Detroit Public Television (DPTV).
PRESS RELEASE -
SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® recently unveiled the session schedule for the Activation Hub at SB’17 Detroit, running May 22-25th at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. The Activation Hub is the action-centered space within the conference program that allows attendees to collaborate on new tools, resources and ideas to accelerate sustainability-led innovation.
CLEANTECH -
MIT has developed a new technology that could revolutionize wastewater treatment and water purification. Providing an alternative to more energy- and chemical-intensive alternatives, MIT’s new method is capable of removing even extremely low levels of pollutants from water.
The technology was developed by MIT postdoc Xiao Su, Ralph Landau, Professor of Chemical Engineering T. Alan Hatton and five others at MIT and at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany.
PRESS RELEASE -
World-leading chemical company, BASF today announced its membership of the Circular Economy 100 (CE100). As the latest corporate member of the programme, BASF embarks on a three-year partnership to bring about opportunities for a circular economy within new business models and new solutions.
BASF 'creates chemistry for a viable future'. In combining economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, it enables its customers and its entire value chain to meet the current and future needs of society. Through science and innovation, BASF investigates techniques for decreasing material use while keeping function and durability at its highest utility.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Building on its commitment to remove harmful chemicals from its products and invest in green chemistry, retail giant Target has kicked off its first-ever Target Takeoff — a mini retail boot camp focused on supporting emerging businesses who are working to create healthier, more ethical and sustainable products.
PRESS RELEASE -
For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes Eastman (NYSE: EMN) with an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for continued leadership and superior energy efficiency achievements. This year marks Eastman’s fourth consecutive ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award, EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR honor. The award reaffirms Eastman’s commitment to managing natural resources, which continues to drive sustainable and impactful improvements in energy performance, resulting in energy intensity reductions, avoided costs and lowered emissions.
WALKING THE TALK -
Following the announcement of its new store renovation initiative, CVS Pharmacy has revealed that it will be eliminating parabens, phthalates and the most prevalent formaldehyde donors in nearly 600 beauty and personal care products in its CVS Health, Beauty 360, Essence of Beauty and Blade lines. CVS Pharmacy will stop shipping store brand products that don’t meet these standards to distribution centers by the end of 2019.