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.
PRESS RELEASE -
The private sector now has a greater responsibility and opportunity to advance social and environmental agendas.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
While the future environmental regulation in the UK remains in the balance following the implementation of Article 50, London continues to push forward towards a sustainable future.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Since the introduction of Cisco Telepresence in October 2006, Cisco has studied how the use of our technology impacts corporate travel. The early days were exciting; Cisco set our first travel reduction goal in 2006! Reducing travel via collaboration technologies had benefits for our business (cost reduction, productivity improvement), employees (work-life balance) and the planet (greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions). Execution, however, invariably focused on travel reduction. The recurring savings from less travel recouped the upfront investment for telepresence systems, so less travel was the metric that mattered.
PRESS RELEASE -
Ford Motor Company and Zipcar, the world’s leading car-sharing network and largest provider of campus car sharing, today announced that as part of their long-standing collaboration, the companies will plant 20,869 trees on Saturday, April 29, through One Tree Planted as a result of their college Earth Month campaign.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Ford continues its push to be a global leader in electric vehicles and sustainability with two new announcements.
Earlier this year, Ford announced a new multi-million-dollar pilot project in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) to reduce emissions and improve air quality in London through the use of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) transit custom vans that run solely on electric power. The automaker has now revealed the five fleets that will be participating in the program.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
It appears that Uber’s chickens have come home to roost.
A steady drip of negative stories over the past several weeks has snowballed into a full communications crisis — one that peaked recently, in a public apology from CEO Travis Kalanick, in which he admitted that he “must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up.”
Widely hailed as the world’s most valuable startup, the company has been in the headlines lately for all the wrong reasons.
PRESS RELEASE -
UPS has announced plans to build an additional six compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations, and add 390 new CNG tractors and terminal trucks and 50 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles to its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The use of natural gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions six to 11 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Sustainable Brands spoke with Mike Casteel, UPS’ Director of Fleet Procurement, to discuss the company’s ongoing initiatives in natural gas-powered vehicles.
PRESS RELEASE -
Building Six New CNG Fueling Stations and Adding Nearly 450 Alternative Fuel Vehicles
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Two new announcements from Ford highlight how the auto and mobility company is harnessing technology to get ahead.
With ambitious plans to launch an autonomous vehicle in 2021, Ford has announced that it is investing $1 billion over the next five years in Argo AI, an artificial intelligence company founded by former Google and Uber leaders, to develop a virtual driver system.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
People have been sharing goods and services with one another since the beginning of time, but it was not until recently that this age-old practice revealed itself a force of transformation for the economy. Disrupting traditional business practices and paving the way to a new era, the sharing economy shows no sign of slowing down. And while some are embracing it, others remain resistant.
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
The City of London broke its 2017 air pollution limits just five days into the new year, a whole three days ahead of its 2016 record. In response, Greenpeace enlisted the help of Mary Poppins to call on politicians to clean up the UK’s air to protect children’s lungs. A silhouette of the childhood champion was spotted flying high over Parliament, armed with her iconic umbrella and a new accessory — a pollution mask.
ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE -
According to a new report by Germany’s Öko-Institut, Europe has its work cut out for it if it intends to stop the planet’s temperature rising above the two-degree limit agreed upon by world leaders at COP21. As it stands, the EU will need to cut global warming transport emissions by 94% by 2050 — a lofty goal that will require significant efforts be undertaken by all Member States.
The Paris Agreement, which came into effect in November 2016, sets the cap at two agrees above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational goal of 1.5%. But climate experts warn that even a two-degree rise could have catastrophic impacts.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
General Motors (GM) achieved a record number of landfill-free facilitiesin 2016, exceeding its commitment four years early. The company now operates 152 global facilities that recycle, reuse or convert to energy all waste from daily operations, including 100 manufacturing sites and 52 non-manufacturing sites.
COLLABORATION & CO-CREATION -
At the recent C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City, the City – along with Paris, Madrid and Athens - pledged to remove all diesel vehicles by 2025, as part of an effort by mayors to improve the quality of air for citizens. The pledge also includes a plan to incentivize alternative vehicles and promote walking and cycling infrastructure, helping to deliver on the ambition of the Paris Agreement.
PRESS RELEASE -
eBike To Help Solve Ever-Evolving Demands of Urban Logistics
PRESS RELEASE -
UPS and Sealed Air Corporation today announced a strategic partnership to help retailers, e-tailers, and businesses around the world maximize the efficiency of their packaging operations, minimize packaging waste, and reduce annual shipping costs.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
With car sharing becoming an increasingly popular solution for cities and millennials, automakers are finding new ways to standout in a crowded market.
Last week, David Plouffe, chief strategic adviser of Uber Technologies Inc., announced intentions to create a new market and assist smart cities with developing better transportation systems.
While at a technology forum in Taipei, Plouffe explained that a lot of Uber clients aren’t taxi users, and that the company gives opportunities for drivers to create an extra income for themselves, outside of their main careers.