Ten Start-Ups That Helped Save the World in 2013
Check out article for the complete list, but my top 3 are:
- neighbourly engagement platform for community members to propose projects and connect with funding; including from private companies and foundations. Is this bottom up CSR- letting communities choose the projects they need assistance with? Very beneficial implement in developing countries as well.
- Ecopia social enterprise that uses starch from tapioca to produce a fully degradable, recyclable and non-GMO bio-plastic, called ECOPLAS that can be used as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic and paper products. Replacing plastic and supporting workers who create the product? Amazing. When meeting this company at the 2013 Sustainable Brands conference we were thoroughly impressed- and still are.
- PrintEco recognizes the extensive amount of paper wasted from printing and created a plug-in to reduce the waste. Plug-in automatically optimizes content of documents to fit on fewer sheets of paper. Picturing how much paper gets wasted everyday at university computer labs and companies just drives me crazy! This is a great idea.
By Mike Hower on Triple Pundit.
Sustainable capitalism hails importance of long-term investment
Article draws on the 2011 and 2012 reports from Al Gore and David Blood’s Generation Investment Management that outline 5 actions towards sustainable capitalism:
- Identify and incorporate risks from stranded assets
- Mandate integrated reporting
- End the default practice of issuing quarterly earnings guidance
- Align compensation structures with long-term sustainable performance
- Encourage long-term investing with loyalty-driven securities
This article highlights recent report on loyalty-driven securities: a share structure that provides differentiated rights or rewards to a group of shareholders identified on the basis of the tenure of their shareholding. These securities reward patience for long-term investing, but results from report show that investors are not really interested. By Robert Kropp on Greenbiz.com.
Creating Sustainable Apparel Value Chains A Primer on Industry Transformation
Report is an extensively researched, evidence-based assessment of the possibility of creating sustainable global apparel industry. Author confirms that “Raising the industry’s social and environmental performance, and generating the level of productivity and competitiveness needed to make industry transformation actually viable, is possible.” However, a systematic approach is required with the following 4 pillars:
- Fostering total resource productivity and transparency across the supply chain
- Upgrading the industry infrastructure by (impact) investing
- Improving working conditions with a new level of ambition
- Studying and replicating the best practices of leading producers
By Dr. Maximilian Martin at Impact Economy.
Seven New Year’s resolutions to make your neighborhood a better place
What a positive article and reminder about the value in a sense of community:
- Plant something
- Pick up litter
- Get to know your neighbors
- If you see something, say something
- Shop locally
- Go for a walk
By Sarah Goodyear on Grist.org.
The Sustainability Co-Op 