Supply Chain

Resource Governance
Asia-Pacific countries weak in natural resource governance
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
May 22, 2013
A good deal of secrecy is still prevalent in how natural resources are managed by countries in the Asia Pacific region, according to the Resource Governance Index released by the Revenue Watch Institute. The Index measures transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining industries in 58 countries worldwide, including 12 in Asia-Pacific where these industries play an important role. While none of the Apac dozen made it into the top “Satisfactory” segment, India, Timor-Leste and Indonesia made up the top three in the “Partial” segment. The Philippines and Mongolia were a little further back, but nonetheless showing progress toward a well-governed and accountable resource sector.
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Bangladesh factory safety
Retailers sign up to finance safety in Bangladesh factories
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
May 15, 2013
In the wake of last month’s Rana Plaza disaster some of the world's top clothing retailers – including PVH, Tchibo, H&M, Inditex (which owns the Zara chain), Marks & Spencer, Primark and Tesco – have signed up to a legally binding agreement to help finance fire safety and building improvements in the factories they use in Bangladesh. The official death toll from the collapse of the factory build now stands at 1,127, with 2,438 people injured – many seriously - and another 98 still listed as missing. This makes it the world's worst industrial accident since the Bhopal disaster in India in 1984.
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Aircraft emissions look pretty sometimes
Airlines like idea of offsetting carbon emissions but not caps
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
May 14, 2013
According to reports emanating from Montreal, ahead of a three-day symposium on Aviation and Climate Change being held by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the civil aviation industry is edging toward embracing a mandatory scheme for offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions. ICAO, a United Nations body, has been tasked with developing a global plan to manage aviation emissions in time for its triennial assembly in September.
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Plasticity HK 2013
How to solve a problem like plastic?
Anna Beech, Civic Exchange
May 10, 2013
This multi-layered environmental question keeps on being asked, seemingly with few answers that translate into action. With the Center for Biological Diversity estimating that 40 per cent of the world’s ocean surface is now littered with plastic waste, this issue must be addressed and urgently. We need to focus on the issue in a new way, and in doing so create new opportunities. Plastic waste creates large, expensive and unnecessary impact on society because of its ecological impact. Ecosystems give us everything we need to live – air, water, energy and food.
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Protestors outside Primak
Capital disaster – don’t do Dhaka unless you really have to
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
May 09, 2013
With the death toll from last month’s collapse of Rana Plaza now past 900, the fall-out from Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster will be felt well beyond Dhaka’s slums and tenements. Karl Borgschulze of Consulting Services International, who has been working on CSR issues within the Bangladeshi garment and textile industry since 2005, shared his views with CleanBiz.Asia.
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Apple mute while Samsung vows to probe supply chain scandal
May 08, 2013
Smart phone rivals Apple and Samsung now share a rather ignominious position after having both been slammed on child exploitation and environmental pollution charges by environmental group Friends of the Earth (FoE).
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Japanese, Malay firms co-operate on eco-shipping solutions
April 25, 2013
Japan’s Eco Marine Power (EMP) has signed a memorandum of understanding with AIMS Global Engineering of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia to market and develop renewable energy solutions for shipping.
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Report spells more trouble for Posco’s $12 bln Indian plant
April 16, 2013
Korean steel giant Posco’s planned INR50,000 crore (USD12 billion) plant in the Indian state of Odisha is facing new troubles as a report on the project’s 2011 environmental impact assessment (EIA) and subsequent clearance has highlighted a number of breaches.
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Unilever factories and logistics reduce CO2 by 1 million tons
April 16, 2013
Consumer product giant Unilever has announced that its five-year strategy to slash carbon emissions has resulted in the reduction of more than one million tonnes of CO2 from its manufacturing and logistics operations.
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Six Asian plants among P&G’s 45 zero waste triumphs
April 05, 2013
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has announced that 45 of its facilities, including six in the Asia region, have achieved zero manufacturing waste to landfill.
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China mulls tax on resource-hungry, polluting products
March 25, 2013
China may introduce a consumption tax on products that make heavy use of resources and cause pollution, according to the China Daily.
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China water conundrum
China’s Water Conundrum
Jessica Williams, Civic Exchange
March 19, 2013
China’s water resources are increasingly being pitted against economic development, and losing. Water is vital to all aspects of the economy, especially for agricultural and power production, making it a strategic resource. However, China’s position as the world’s factory, and its ‘develop-first clean-up later’ mindset, has resulted in much of its water resources being compromised. This is problematic as the country suffers from a lack of potable water. It has to support 20 percent of the world’s population on only 5 percent of the worlds renewable freshwater and the UN has classified China as one of 13 countries suffering from extreme water shortages.
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Supply chain and small farmer
Size wise: fitting small suppliers into a sustainable supply chain
Laura Ediger, BSR
March 04, 2013
Sometimes, small is better. The growth of global businesses has often supported the growth of their suppliers, from original equipment manufacturers to firms that provide accounting, legal, or travel services. For companies entering new markets with smaller economies or for companies aiming to contribute to local economic growth, smaller suppliers are critical. So how can global companies with a commitment to sustainability engage suppliers whose budgets and resources may be tight?
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Measuring China's awful water pollution
Restless citizens force China’s hand on pollution control
CleanBiz.Asia Staff
February 25, 2013
The chickens from China’s decades-long custom of turning a blind eye to the damage inflicted on its environment in return for developing an economic powerhouse are finally coming home to roost as an increasingly-agitated populace demands action from its leaders. With suffocating smog in Beijing and other major cities still making headlines around the world, renewed focus is now being turned on China’s deplorable fresh water conditions as the government scrambles to show it is in control by issuing reams of new standards on industrial pollution and promising to punish violators.
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An EU-China airline emissions deal on the cards?
February 18, 2013
It appears that there may be light at the end of the tunnel in the ongoing dispute between China and the EU over aviation emissions by skirting the latter’s provocative Emissions Trading System (ETS).
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Romblon Island targets miners under tough environmental regs
February 18, 2013
The Philippine island province of Romblon has passed regulations to protect its environment.
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Renewable energy vs fossil fuels
Study claims $9 bln daily cost of not using renewable energy
February 12, 2013
In a groundbreaking study issued by the World Future Council the future usage loss resulting from current oil, gas and coal consumption has been put at between USD3.2 and 3.4 trillion per year. Opponents of renewable energy claim conventional energy sources are cheaper on the whole, but the new World Future Council report asks what costs are incurred when renewable energies are not used.
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China moves to bolster flagging coal sector
February 07, 2013
China is looking at further steps to bring its notorious coal industry under control including setting higher thresholds for the scale of coal producers and encouraging mergers to form industrial conglomerates.
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Philippine poison charms
Lucky lunar New Year accessories far from charming
February 06, 2013
As we prepare for the Year of the Snake, some lunar New Year charms and accessories, found in the Philippine capital, Manila, might not exactly bring good fortune. The Ecowaste Coalition, a consumer safety watchdog, has discovered dangerous chemicals in 28 lucky charms and accessories, including a fertility amulet with a high level of lead that ironically could induce miscarriage and premature childbirth.
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Kai Tak Cruise
HK government and shipping work to navigate PRD air quality
Veronica Booth, Civic Exchange
February 05, 2013
It’s been a busy and productive few weeks for both the shipping industry and the Hong Kong government. In his first policy address, Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung announced plans to introduce legislation for at-berth fuel switching during the next legislative session, continue discussions with Guangdong officials on extending fuel switching to other places in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and for shoreside power at the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, scheduled to open in June.  
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