Stories from Bill DiBenedetto
Energy
DuPont Commits $10 Billion to Food Security Research
Global chemical giant DuPont has set ambitious sustainability targets for 2020 that focus on three strategic areas: innovation, food security […]
December 7, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
London Museum Ends Sponsorship Deal with Shell, For Now
London’s Science Museum—formerly the National Museum of Science & Industry—has ended a sponsorship deal with Royal Dutch Shell because the […]
November 16, 2015
Finance
Freelancing Rules? It’s 54 Million Strong
Here’s the new reality of the modern economy: Freelancers are an increasingly powerful part of the American workforce. How powerful? […]
October 19, 2015
Finance
Report: Collaborative Economy Has Opportunities for All Companies
The collaborative economy may be just the shot in the arm that capitalism needs as the alternative to corporate power, […]
October 5, 2015
Energy
Shell Abandons Arctic Drilling For “Foreseeable Future”
Well, that well project didn’t take very long to go south. After much wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth on […]
September 29, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
NGO: 45 Percent of Corporations Obstruct Climate Change Policy
Nearly half of the world’s 100 largest companies, including Procter & Gamble and Duke Energy, are “obstructing climate change legislation,” […]
September 23, 2015
Voices for Change
Will Climate Change Pledges Be Enough?
As the climate change calendar moves swiftly to the crucial COP21 negotiations in Paris, here’s a question: Are world leaders […]
September 9, 2015
Energy
Market Turmoil and the Death Throes of the Fossil Fuel Era
Hmmm, could it be the recent (and continuing) chaos on Wall Street and in world markets is in large part […]
September 3, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
'Purpose-Driven Transformation' and IBM's Culture of Service
IBM’s 2014 Corporate Responsibility Report talks about how “purpose-driven transformation” embraces a culture of service that dates to the company’s founding […]
August 13, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
Tiffany: Sustainable Mining and Stakeholder Collaboration
Tiffany & Co.’s 2014 sustainability report asserts that the iconic jeweler has a “moral imperative to help sustain the natural […]
August 3, 2015
Energy
Al Gore Hits Obama on Arctic Drilling Decision
Former vice present and climate change activist Al Gore is still pointing out inconvenient truths — this time criticizing President […]
July 27, 2015
Energy
ExxonMobil Still Oils the Palms of Climate Science Deniers
This is probably no surprise, but word that ExxonMobil is still funding climate science deniers also reveals how feckless and […]
July 21, 2015
Energy
Lavazza: The Social and Business Value of Sustainability
Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.’s first sustainability report makes the point that the Italian coffee company is no stranger to sustainability — […]
July 6, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
JetBlue's CSR Report Proves It's a Leader in the Industry
JetBlue Airways’ aptly-named corporate responsibility report, The Blue Review, outlines the company’s values and the progress it has made in […]
June 30, 2015
Energy
Is There a Shell Game Occurring on Renewable Energy?
When the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell talks up the importance of renewable energy as part of the globe’s future […]
June 15, 2015
Finance
Ethics on Wall Street? Let’s Get Real
Linking Wall Street and ethics together in the same thought might seem more like the start of a bad bar […]
May 27, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
Arctic Drilling Decision: Shell’s Chutzpah, Protesters’ Angst
It was called the “paddle in Seattle” when hundreds of kayakers took to the waters of Elliott Bay to protest […]
May 20, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
EDF: Green Supply Chains a Priority for Major Companies
Big brand-name companies may not agree on very much when it comes to how to run their businesses, but it […]
May 19, 2015
Energy
Go Nuts with Ferrero's Hazelnut Carton Board Packaging
Ferrero, the world’s largest chocolate producer as well as the world’s biggest buyer of hazelnuts for its delicious Nutella spread, […]
May 8, 2015
Sponsored
Creativity & Social Innovation
Adobe: Unleashing Creativity in the Workplace
It might seem somewhat odd to connect creativity with the general risk-averse attitudes of many companies, but Adobe has put […]
April 28, 2015
Voices for Change
Report: Climate Change is Dangerous to Your Health
Climate change is not only bad for the environment and the planet, but it’s also bad for your — and […]
April 15, 2015
Finance
Using Digital Media to Build Brand Sustainability
Forging effective, sustainable brands and stakeholder relationships in the digital age sounds like it should be a given, but many […]
March 30, 2015
Energy
MIT’s Climate CoLab Puts Big Money Up for Big Climate Concepts
MIT’s Climate CoLab is looking for “high impact” ideas on how to deal with climate change through 22 contests that […]
March 25, 2015
Finance
Economic Diversity: A Key to Urban Growth and Productivity
Diversification is not just good for personal or corporate investment portfolios. Apparently it’s also very good for cities. Researchers have found that […]
March 18, 2015
Energy
Capture and Recycle That CO2
Why not take the next step after capture and storage of carbon dioxide and actually make productive use of it? It […]
March 16, 2015
Energy
Eiffel Tower Ramps Up Renewables With Wind Turbines
Leave it to the French to turn something as unsexy as a wind turbine into a work of art by installing two […]
March 9, 2015
Energy
Apple Invests $3 Billion in Solar Energy
Apple is going all-in on solar energy, to the tune of nearly $3 billion for solar facilities in California and […]
February 13, 2015
Chicken of the Sea Cuts Water Use, Waste
Seafood giant Chicken of the Sea’s latest corporate sustainability report reveals some important milestones the company achieved in 2013. Among […]
February 6, 2015
Energy
Largest Seawater Desalination Plant to Open Next Year
The San Diego area will soon be the home of the largest seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. But […]
January 19, 2015
Energy
Naomi Klein and Capitalism vs. Climate Change
It’s increasingly obvious that the global economic system, and particularly the current brand of U.S. capitalism, are not really compatible […]
January 12, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
Report: Energy Industry Spent $721 Million on Midterm Elections
If there’s one number that says all you need to know about the influence of the energy industry on the nation’s […]
December 30, 2014
Energy
International Law Silent on Climate Change Responsibility
As global climate change increasingly affects everything from public health and species extinction to infrastructure and property destruction to migration […]
December 18, 2014
Finance
Can Technology Help Fight Income Inequality?
It’s generally acknowledged that technology has had a major impact on the increase of income inequality for more than three […]
December 15, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Mondelez Moves to Third-Party Sustainability Evaluation
Mondelez International, the multinational snack foods giant, has developed an outcome-based sustainability framework that will use an external party to […]
December 8, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Groups Sue Feds Over Climate Effects of Coal Leasing
Two environmental groups are taking the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to court for failing to consider the harmful climate […]
December 4, 2014
Energy
Renewable Energy 'Poop Bus' Begins Operating in the U.K.
Here’s a new renewable energy twist on the old bumper sticker — circa the 1970s oil crisis — “Eat More […]
November 26, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
On Climate Change, Who’s Hoaxing Who?
With Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) at the controls of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee over the next two […]
November 20, 2014
Energy
Video Shows What Tidal Flooding and Sea Level Rise Will Look Like
Maybe some visual evidence of the effects of tidal flooding and the rise of sea levels due to climate change […]
November 11, 2014
Energy
ExxonMobil, MIT Hook Up on $25 Million Energy Initiative
ExxonMobil will chip in $25 million over five years as a founding member of the MIT Energy Initiative, a collaboration […]
November 6, 2014
Finance
Shell Seeks 5 More Years for Arctic Drilling
Despite spending eight years and $6 billion — with no oil production to show for its efforts — Royal Dutch Shell […]
November 4, 2014
Energy
Climate Change: Ready for a New Era of Extreme Weather?
A large part of the response to climate change amounts to holding actions to mitigate the impact of fossil fuel […]
October 27, 2014
Energy
Intelligent Readers and the Climate Crisis
Just in time for Halloween comes one of the scariest and thought-provoking reads ever, and it’s not about zombies, vampires, […]
October 23, 2014
Finance
Designed Right, Carbon Taxes Do Not Kill Jobs
The standard argument from opponents in the continuing debate over carbon taxes is the grudging admission that while they might reduce […]
October 7, 2014
Energy
Federal Agencies Launch Great Lakes Restoration Plan Part II
A host of federal agencies known as the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force have laid out a comprehensive “action plan” […]
October 3, 2014
Energy
Climate Change Requires New Approaches to Food Security
If coping with climate change is central to achieving a sustainable future for the global population, then food security lies […]
October 1, 2014
Energy
McKinsey Touts Bioenergy as Coal Replacement
While coal goes kicking and screaming into a dark and pollution-filled goodnight, it is becoming more evident and economically plausible […]
September 30, 2014
Energy
Southwest to Fly with Forest Waste Biofuel
As early as 2016, biofuel made from forest waste might propel passengers on some Southwest Airlines flights. The airline’s recent agreement […]
September 26, 2014
Finance
GE, Nike, BoA Cut from 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Index
In its annual review, S&P Dow Jones Indices deleted 46 companies from the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and the largest […]
September 16, 2014
Technology
Shining Hot to Get It Cold: Unilever Tests Solar-Powered Freezers
Yes, now you can grab an ice cold Popsicle on a hot sunny day while strolling through New York City’s […]
September 9, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
How Cities Can Battle Climate Change with Resiliency Planning
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a short series on creating resilient cities, sponsored by Siemens. Please join us for […]
September 8, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
U.K. Standards Group Calls Out Peabody Energy for Misleading 'Clean Coal' Claim
No matter how one mines or washes it, there’s no such thing as clean coal, despite what politicians and the […]
August 26, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Coal Export Terminal Plan Nixed by Oregon Agency
And then were two. Oregon’s Department of State Lands on Monday denied an Ambre Energy proposal to transport coal by […]
August 21, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
China, The Nature Conservancy Work to Curb Pollution
China produces the most greenhouse gases in the world. But the country, in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy, is working […]
August 19, 2014
Finance
Shrugging Off the Libertarian Fantasy
How does one counter the libertarian idea that unfettered markets coupled with minimum government can actually work? The Libertarian Party’s […]
August 15, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Third Party Quality Assurance for Sustainability Reports on the Rise
Sustainability reporting should be comprehensive, transparent, non-biased and standardized, and the best way to improve the quality of reporting, according […]
August 7, 2014
Energy
Sponging Up Solar Energy
Leave it to those smarties at MIT to come up with something that sounds more like science fiction than reality: […]
August 1, 2014
Energy
More Utilities Are Shifting to Renewable Energy
The “new reality” facing electricity consumers and their utility companies is that renewable energy is meeting an increasingly larger share […]
July 30, 2014
Finance
ExxonMobil to Comply with LGBT Executive Order
ExxonMobil said last week that it will comply with the protections for gay, lesbian and transgender employees required of federal […]
July 29, 2014
Finance
One Year On: Bangladesh Worker Safety Alliance Charts Progress
Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza building collapse and the deaths of more than 1,100 workers in April 2013 triggered calls for better conditions […]
July 25, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
No Tesla Charging Stations? Chinese Business Man Builds His Own
You bought that spiffy new all-electric Tesla Model S, so why not build the charging stations to go along with […]
July 21, 2014
Technology
Buying Gas Gets Easier with SAP, Toyota, VeriFone Technology
The day when technology rules the road gets closer all the time. SAP AG, Toyota InfoTechnology Center and VeriFone have […]
July 9, 2014
Finance
Ceres: Half of America's Largest Companies Don't Report on Climate Risk
Risk assessment is risky and often murky business, and it’s generally acknowledged that the globe’s climate is at risk — […]
July 7, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
World Bank: Climate Change Policies Will Boost Global Economy
The economic argument against taking action on climate change — i.e., “It’s just too expensive!” — is fast becoming passé, […]
June 30, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Target Pushes 'Long-Term Value' in 2013 Sustainability Report
Target’s 2013 sustainability report says the ultimate definition of a sustainable business means investing in the “ongoing well-being” of its […]
June 24, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Oakland City Council Moves on Coal Transport Ban
The Oakland City Council just approved resolutions opposing the transportation of coal and other fossil fuels in Oakland and the East Bay. […]
June 18, 2014
Finance
EDF: Green Trucks Good for the Planet and Business
A report released last week by the Environmental Defense Fund and Ceres says that strong fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas […]
June 16, 2014
Finance
Horrors! Seattle is Moving to a $15/hour Minimum Wage
Seattle’s move to phase-in an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour (from the current $9.32) is described […]
June 12, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Investor Ready Cities: From London to Rio de Janeiro
Ed note: This article is part of a short series on financing smart city infrastructure, sponsored by Siemens. Please join […]
June 10, 2014
Finance
Add Some Spice to GDP with Sex and Drugs
For many years a discussion about what Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should include to accurately measure the scope and health […]
June 10, 2014
Finance
Investor Ready Cities: From Delhi to Chattanooga
Ed note: This article is part of a short series on financing smart city infrastructure, sponsored by Siemens. Please join […]
June 9, 2014
Technology
EPA Report: Los Angeles Buildings are 'Energy Stars'
Los Angeles is at the top of the Environmental Protection Agency’s ranking of cities with the most energy efficient buildings […]
May 27, 2014
Technology
Volvo Group Studies an Electric Avenue
There are electric satellites from Boeing and electric planes from Airbus, so why not electric roads, brought to you by […]
May 23, 2014
Book Review: The Dance of the Sustainable Product and Brand
What exactly is a sustainable brand, and how does an entrepreneur or company get there? Better yet, how does a […]
May 16, 2014
Technology
Airbus Electric Airplane Flies—For an Hour Per Charge
Airbus Group’s E-Fan, an all-electric trainer aircraft made of composite material, made its first flight last month–proving once again that […]
May 12, 2014
Energy
Spanish Island Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Energy
The possibilities of renewable energy are on display as El Hierro, the smallest of Spain’s Canary Islands, is set to […]
May 5, 2014
Voices for Change
West Virginia Landfill Wastewater Shows Elevated Radioactivity Due to Fracking
Great, why not have some radioactivity in wastewater with your fracking? The list of perils and impacts from the hydraulic […]
April 28, 2014
Finance
Big Job: More Than 50 Percent of Worker Safety Inspections Complete in Bangladesh
The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety has completed inspections at more than 50 percent of the nearly 700 factories from […]
April 22, 2014
Finance
Pennsylvania Shale Gas Report Finds Little to Complain About
Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources this month released its first report that describes efforts to “track, detect and […]
April 21, 2014
Finance
Boeing: Something Electric in Space
All-electric satellite propulsion is becoming a big deal, and Boeing says it is “on track” to deliver the world’s first […]
April 15, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
EPA Port Grants Help Spur Clean Diesel, Sustainable Technologies
A new Environmental Protection Agency initiative will recognize U.S. ports that act to improve their environmental performance. It’s a good […]
April 15, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
UPS Backs Down—Cancels Move to Fire 250 Drivers
UPS is rescinding its move to fire 250 Queens, N.Y. Teamsters Local 804 drivers, who took part in a 90-minute walk-out […]
April 14, 2014
Energy
Greenpeace Slams Amazon on Dirty Energy Use
A Greenpeace scorecard on green internet companies cites Amazon Web Services as one of the worst dirty energy transgressors. The […]
April 9, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Extreme Action: UPS Fires 250 in New York After 90-Minute Protest
In a demonstration of the power of corporations over workers, unionized or not, UPS began firing 250 Teamster drivers in […]
April 8, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Alaska Air Group Sets Aggressive Sustainability Goals
Alaska Air Group, which operates Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, has committed to reduce aircraft fuel consumption by 20 percent […]
April 7, 2014
Sponsored
Sustainably Attired
Supply Chain Worker Rights: From Good Intentions to Implementation
Not that long ago worker rights were a given, labor unions were strong and powerful, as was the American middle […]
April 2, 2014
Finance
ExxonMobil to Report Publicly on Carbon Asset Risk
Finally, ExxonMobil is agreeing to publicize the risks that stricter carbon emissions rules and limits will have on its business. […]
March 24, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Link Between Fracking and Earthquakes Grows With Surge of Quakes in Ohio
Evidence is mounting that there is a connection between the hydraulic fracturing—or fracking—method for extracting natural gas and earthquakes. Consider […]
March 20, 2014
Technology
Minnesota Crafts a Formula to Calculate the Value of Consumer-Generated Solar Power
Yes, everyone values solar power—except maybe Big Oil—but how much is it actually worth in terms of dollars and cents? […]
March 18, 2014
Energy
Distill Those Used Plastic Shopping Bags for Fuel
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a way to make those ubiquitous plastic shopping bags that litter both […]
March 10, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Carbon Capture Technologies More Welcome in U.S., Norwegian Firm Says
Carbon capture and storage technologies designed to reduce emissions are getting a better reception in the U.S. than in Europe, […]
March 6, 2014