Integrating Ecosystem Impact Assessment into Life Cycle Assessment

Wed, 01/24/2018 - 06:00

The world’s forests face multiple threats: climate change, agricultural conversion, urban encroachment, and intensifying wood harvesting used in construction and a variety of consumer products. Crucial to addressing this problem is understanding the causes of deforestation, and the severity of related ecosystem disturbance and threatened species losses. SCS' groundbreaking LCA study on behalf of Stella McCartney compared the environmental performance of ten different raw material sources of MMCF.

Sustaining Organic Food

Wed, 04/19/2017 - 05:30

Pesticides touch every aspect of our lives, from residues on our produce to increased chronic disease to biodiversity loss. Toxic compounds are used all over the world to the detriment of the environment and human lives. In a small village in Mexico, women are paying the ultimate price. The village of Venustiano Carranza is located in Chiapas, the southernmost Mexican state, which shares a border with Guatemala.

End-of-life Car Recycling in Brazil Creates Local Employment While Protecting Environment

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 08:15

The Agricultural Models We Want Tomorrow

Fri, 01/26/2018 - 08:40

Food loss in the supply chain, the shift to a less-nutritious fast-food diet and wasteful irrigation techniques are among the most important challenges currently facing the food and agriculture system in the region. In Egypt, 2.5 million tonnes of wheat is lost per year mainly due to slow transit times. For fruits and vegetables, which have the highest proportion of losses and waste, estimated at 45 percent, country specific data indicates a substantial part (as high as 29 percent for fresh vegetables in Egypt) of these losses occur at the post-harvest stage. However, these losses between the grower and consumer along the value chain can be avoided.

How Mars Is Revolutionizing Their Supply Chain

Mon, 01/29/2018 - 08:45

Many companies are looking at their value chain as the focus area to drive large-scale change. But many are struggling to truly develop collaborative partnerships that will address complex societal and environmental issues.

Dell’s New Jewelry Line Helps Consumers Visualize E-Waste Impacts

Mon, 01/22/2018 - 08:15

Every year 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide, but only 12.5 percent of that ends up being repurposed in other products. To narrow this gap and raise awareness on the growing issue among consumers, companies are coming up with creative ways to close the loop. Now, one electronics brand is bringing the e-waste issue to life in a flashy, unexpected way while tackling a problem prevalent in its industry.

IFF Achieves Pioneering First with Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Certification

Wed, 07/05/2017 - 17:20

International Flavors & Fragrances’ facility in the New Jersey township of South Brunswick was officially certified as a GreenCircle Certified LLC, Zero Waste to Landfill facility, making it the only facility of its kind in the flavor and fragrance industry to achieve GreenCircle's zero waste status.

Dollars and Scents

Fri, 12/01/2017 - 17:45

There’s a popular phrase in Haitian creole, “tèt kolé,” which roughly translates to “heads together.” It’s an expression of unity, of working communally to get things done. In the same spirit, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) approached Heifer International with an idea. One of IFF’s business endeavors is buying vetiver oil from distilleries in Haiti, then either selling it directly or using it to help develop scents for the fragrance industry.

Vetiver Together: Improving the Lives of Vetiver Farming Communities in Haiti

Sat, 07/01/2017 - 18:45

IFF and Unilever, in collaboration with Oxfam Great Britain, Heifer International and the Ford Foundation, launched Vetiver Together on July 25th, 2016, a two-year pilot program aimed to improve the livelihoods of the vetiver farming communities, strengthen IFF’s vetiver supply chain and increase environmental conservation.

NAEM to Showcase Solutions to Manage, Leverage and Master EHS&S Data

Fri, 01/19/2018 - 13:35

Today’s environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S) managers are challenged to embed their programs into every aspect of the business. To do so, they are increasingly looking to technology to lend a hand.