Collaboration and Best Practices in Sustainability

Research suggests that collaborative approaches are often the best way to succeed in the development and implementation of a sustainable best practice campaign. Collaboration is key because although best practice is an increasingly popular buzzword, real-world development and implementation is no easy feat.

Canadian research by the Network for Business Sustainability reveals that collaborating on green issues is the key issue facing companies with a strong record of sustainability. The complex and diverse nature of developing and implementing best practice means that companies need to share best practices and solve these difficult problems.

The EPA Seeks Historic Proposal to Protect Clean Air

In the last couple of months, more than 2 million Americans have submitted comments in support of the EPA's efforts to reduce carbon pollution. The proposal has received more comments than any agency has ever received. Carbon pollution is linked to significant health hazards like asthma-inducing smog. Carbon pollution is a pandemic in the US with half of Americans (158 million) living in counties with unacceptable air pollution levels.

US Secretary of State at the Green Partnership for Growth Launch

Here is the address of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 31, at the 2012 meeting of the Green Partnership for Growth
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We have tried to make green growth a center of our diplomacy here because we think we have a lot to learn from Denmark. It is certainly not a surprise that Denmark leads the world when it comes to clean energy and energy efficiency. Because, as the prime minister said, for the past few decades, Denmark has grown economically. As you have also made it clear, that can be done without significantly increasing your electricity use. Your national plan to be completely independent of fossil fuels by 2050 is a global first. And in true Danish fashion, the plan is comprehensive and rigorous. (Laughter.)

EPA's Top Green Powered Organizations (Q1 2012)

In April 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its list of the Top 50 Green-Powered Organizations. This quarterly list is part of the Green Power Partnership which works with a wide variety of leading organizations in the US. This includes Fortune 500® companies, local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities.

GHG Protocol and Scope 3 Accounting and Reporting Standard

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. A decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change. It serves as the foundation for nearly every GHG standard and program in the world - from the International Standards Organization to The Climate Registry - as well as hundreds of GHG inventories prepared by individual companies.

Collaboration in Sustainable Supply Chains

One of the key requirements of successful sustainable supply chains is collaboration. Supply chain collaboration includes practices like sharing distribution to reduce waste. Research demonstrates that a collaborative sustainable supplier “network” outperforms a buyer-centric “mission control” supply chain, resulting in a steady supply over the long term, financial benefits to suppliers and quality assurance. Collaborative approaches to managing supply chain issues can increase efficiency and thereby save costs and increase profits.

Working Cooperatively to Improve Fuel Efficiency in the US

Many have trouble reconciling the seemingly disparate interests of government, automakers and environmentalists, but as the new rules on US cars and light trucks, as well as long-haul trucks and buses reveals, diverse groups can work together to produce the best results for all stakeholders.

"These standards will help spur economic growth, protect the environment, and strengthen our national security by reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Working together, we are setting the stage for a new generation of clean vehicles.”

Toyota and Tesla Making Electric Sedan

Toyota, the world's largest automotive company is teaming up with Tesla Motors to manufacture a fully electric Sedan. The Tesla Model S sedan in scheduled to launch in 2012.

The Model S is a high performance electric sedan that will compete with cars like the BMW 5-series. The 4 door, 7 seat sedan is powered by an electric 70 kW battery, it accelerates from 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, has a top speed of 120 mph, and a range of 300 miles. Batteries can be quick-charged in 45 minutes. Two additional rear-facing seats in the cargo area give the car its seven seat capacity.

The Model S has a high-tech cockpit with two LCD screens, including a touchscreen panel in the center console. Prototypes of the Model S have sophisticated on-board computer systems with peripheral hardware. Their 17” touch-screen control panel includes HD radio integration, quick GPS navigation, streaming audio and other Internet and cloud-based data and information.

Tesla Motors reported a net loss of $38.5 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared with a loss of $10.8 million in the second quarter of 2009. The company said revenue climbed 5 percent from a year ago, to $28.4 million. Losses were attributed to higher research and development costs associated with the engineering of the Model S.

Tesla went public to raise funds with its IPO in late June. Tesla's IPO raised more than $200 million. The company has said it does not expect to be profitable before mid 2012, when its Model S sedan is slated to reach production. Tesla expects to build about 20,000 units a year when full production is reached after 2012.

The collaboration between Toyota and Tesla is the type of partnership that is driving the greener vehicle market and benefiting all parties. Toyota will benefit from the buzz around Tesla, and this will help the Japanese carmaker to recapture some of the credibility that it lost during its recent wave of recalls. Tesla will benefit from Toyota's $50 million investment and from Toyota's engineering and production systems. The public will benefit from a high performance sedan that has zero emissions.
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