Get Involved, Make A Difference In The World, Unilever Head Tells Young Business Leaders

In a speech whose main theme was the importance of responsibility, Unilever CEO Paul Polman urged 1,200 young business leaders to go beyond the sustainability efforts of their companies and make a positive impact on global society. Governments and institutions cannot address the issues facing society, Polman said, unless individuals take responsibility for making a positive impact. People need to get involved, exert more pressure on leaders in order to “create the world we want”. That means “going beyond corporate social responsibility and becoming a force for good”. Polman addressed delegates from 190 countries attending the One Young World Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"CEO urges young leaders to embrace responsibility", News release, Unilever, October 05, 2013

Unilever CEO Remains Focused On Long Term Despite Recent Profits Warning

Unilever CEO Paul Polman said the company’s recent profits warning will not stop him from taking a long-term approach to doing business. Describing an effective leader as one who is comfortable with what he or she is and is an authentic person, Polman said he sees nothing wrong with crying when he needs to cry and that it shows he cares. Polman also said the ability to work with others requires leaders to have humility and a high level of self-awareness. Effective leaders should be able to build trust, and only those who do not fear transparency can encourage other people to trust in them, Polman added.

"Interview: Unilever's Paul Polman on diversity, purpose and profits", theguardian.com, October 02, 2013

Kimberly-Clark's Sustainability Report Receives Highest Marks From GRI

Kimberly-Clark Corp.'s latest sustainability report has received the A+ application level rating from the Global Reporting Initiative, a nonprofit group that promotes sustainability reporting among corporations. Of the 3,527 sustainability reports released worldwide in 2012, only about 15 percent received GRI's A+ rating. Kimberly-Clark's sustainability report has received the distinction for the second consecutive year, due to the completeness of its disclosure.

"Kimberly-Clark Earns Distinction for Sustainability Reporting", Kimberly-Clark, October 10, 2013

Target Launches Sustainability Standard For Household Care, Personal Care, And Beauty Products

Target Corporation launched the Target Sustainable Product Standard for the household cleaning, personal care, beauty, and baby care products the discount retailer sells in the United States. Developed in collaboration with industry experts, vendors, and nongovernment organizations, the sustainability standard is designed to help establish a common process and criteria for evaluating a product’s sustainability and environment-friendly status. Target said it will use GoodGuide’s UL Transparency Platform in collecting information from vendors and suppliers.

"Target Introduces Sustainability Criteria for Some Products", Environment News Service, October 08, 2013

Six Chemical Firms Share Sustainability Audit Information Gathered From Potential Suppliers

Six chemical companies have partnered in an effort to boost sustainability efforts within their supply chains. BASF, Bayer MaterialScience, Evonik Industries, Henkel, LANXESS and Solvay are participating in an initiative called “Together for Sustainability” to “harmonize the complex supply management”. Henkel says ecological and social factors are considered when it selects suppliers in the 125 countries where it operates. The initiative will expand the usefulness of audits conducted by the companies because data will be shared – “an audit for one is an audit for all” is the motto. Member companies selected 2,000 suppliers worldwide for assessments and audits in 2012.

"Initiative “Together for Sustainability”", News release, Henkel, October 07, 2013

Consumers From Developing Countries More Likely To Buy Products With Sustainable Packaging Than Developed-World Consumers, Tetra Pak Study Shows

In developing countries, an average of 78 percent of consumers frequently, sometimes, or occasionally purchase products with environment-friendly packaging, according to packaging company Tetra Pak. Results of the company’s research indicated developing countries outscored their developed counterparts in five of six categories in the environment survey, with an average of 71 percent of developed-market consumers purchasing products with sustainable packaging. Also, 72 percent of consumers from developing markets frequently, sometimes, or occasionally buy an environment-friendly product even if it costs more, compared with an average of 55 percent of consumers from developed countries.

"Sustainable Packaging: Unilever Refillable Containers, Tetra Pak Enviro Survey", Environmental Leader, October 02, 2013

Preservation, Stability, And Other Challenges Remain For Cosmetics Companies Working With Sustainable Materials

Cosmetics companies still face many technical and sustainability challenges when using natural ingredients for their products, according to market research firm Organic Monitor. Variations in product composition has kept preservation as the number 1 technical obstacle for product developers, followed by stability, which has become a major issue, because some environment-friendly preservatives cause discoloration and odor changes. Progress, however, has been recorded in green emulsifiers and rheology modifiers, with many ingredients currently available for making skin care emulsions. Another noteworthy trend is the transition from making green materials to the use of sustainable processes and extraction methods.

"Challenges Persist in Working with Green Materials in Beauty Product Development", GCI Magazine, October 01, 2013

Lidl UK Gets Recognition For Environment-Friendly Refrigeration System

Discount retailer Lidl UK was named the 2013 National Retailer of the Year during the RAC Cooling Industry Awards in recognition of its modern refrigeration system that reduces its environmental impact and food spoilage. Retailers Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, and The Co-operative Group were also shortlisted for the award. Lidl’s new refrigeration system includes plug-in chillers with a leakage rate of less than 1 percent, which improves their environment-friendliness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

"Lidl Wins 'National Retailer of the Year' for Green Credentials", PR Newswire, September 30, 2013