The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

GREENBUZZ for February 7, 2005 Taking Care of Business Companies know that lowering greenhouse gas emissions isn't just about driving fleets of hybrid trucks; the key to business success in a carbon-constrained world is finding new technological processes that slash emissions at their operational source. Last week brought news of a pair of gee-whiz inventions that offer a preview of life in the climate-conscious future. Electronics giant Fujitsu has designed a plant-based, biodegradable packing tape which the company says emits 11% less carbon dioxide than the standard polystyrene widely in use. And in the U.K., researchers have come up with a process that makes plastic from orange peels -- using CO2. Also this week: Two highly informative Web sites on energy efficiency and renewable energy -- Flex Your Power and the just-launched NW Current. Headlines The Latest News on Business and the Environment Fujitsu to Use 100% Biodegradable Materials for Packing Tape The company expects an 11% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by employing biodegradable plant-based materials instead of polystyrene to produce embossed carrier tape. DIY Retailer Commits to FSC Chain of Custody The largest DIY retailer in the U.K., B&Q has signed a deal with the certification body SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, to certify its key stores to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody standards. Big Investors Demand Disclosure on Corporate Climate Practices A group of 143 institutional investors with assets of $20 trillion under management have written to the 500 largest quoted companies in the world by market capitalization, asking for the disclosure of investment-relevant information concerning their greenhouse gas emissions. 100 Most Sustainable Companies Named at Davos The World Economic Forum, which concluded on Friday, was the launch site of a new global business ranking: the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. New Technology Uses CO2 to Make Plastic from Orange Peels A new plastic, made by combining an oil derivative from orange peel with carbon dioxide, could change the way polymers are made around the globe. Put GreenBiz news on your site for free! Learn more... More Headlines... Resources and Tools A Wealth of Hands-On Help NW Current Informational Web site targets energy professionals and policymakers in the U.S. Northwest. Flex Your Power Incredibly informative, content-rich Web site on energy efficiency for any building type. Measuring Environmental Performance: A Primer and Survey of Metrics in Use GEMI's simple, straightforward introduction to the measurement tools (metrics) companies use to evaluate their environmental performance. More Tools... | More Web Sites... Columns and Features Insight and Inspiration from the Experts The Hidden Costs of Comparative Advantage The principle of comparative advantage works well in an ideal world where trade incurs no human or environmental costs. But in the real world someone has to ultimately bear every cost, whether it is part of the accounting or not. By Kumar Venkat Wanna write for GreenBiz?Let us know if you'd like to write a guest column or feature reflecting your experiences or opinions in the environmental business world. Send a brief query to Editor@greenbiz.com | Read our editorial guidelines More Columns... | More Features...