December 14, 2017 Comments are off kellen
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2018 Project Invitation – Supply Chain Sustainability Work Group

Working to drive the next evolution in buyer/supplier engagement on sustainability by identifying and promoting leading industry-driven supplier engagement approaches that are built on shared responsibility, focused on actionable outcomes and aligned with global systems/standards.

CHALLENGE
Corporate sustainability leaders face challenges related to the wide variety of expectations for assessing supply chain sustainability. Many are seeking ways to better understand the sustainability performance of companies within their supply chain while responding to similar requests from their own customers. While the objectives of such efforts are often similar, their approaches are typically quite different. GEMI believes there is strong potential to enhance coordination across efforts and further home in on data that drives action while increasing value for both buyers and suppliers.

GEMI SCS MISSION
To address these concerns, GEMI has worked to build a cross-industry coalition of leading companies and industry trade associations to promote increased alignment across industry-focused supply chain sustainability initiatives while advancing strategic collaborations that drive innovation and continuous improvement in the sustainability performance of both buyers and suppliers. The Work Group leads a variety of internal research and external communication and education activities to advance its vision.

GEMI SCS Workshop (2017)

GEMI SCS WORK GROUP – 2018 OBJECTIVES

  • Increase awareness of existing industry-focused SCS solutions, and promote activities in support of those issues identified in GEMI Responsible Supply Chain Guiding Principles.
    • Deliverable: Develop GEMI Q&A Profiles on Industry Approaches to SCS. Publish bi-monthly blog feature interviewing project members and/or other organizations nominated by members, that will be shared on GEMI website and social media.
  • Enhance communication between buyers and suppliers to improve understanding of buyers’ sustainability expectations (why / how supplier data used) and awareness of suppliers’ experiences.
    • Deliverable: Organize an SCS Workshop on April 11-12 in Houston. Facilitate discussion with key buyers regarding their supplier sustainability expectations as well as supplier pain points. Develop executive summary highlighting insights and opportunities shared through workshop.
    • Deliverable: Develop GEMI Quick Guide on Strategic Buyer / Supplier Collaboration. The GEMI Responsible Supply Chain Guiding Principles may serve as a framework for the document. The document will highlight best practices and strategies to promote strategic buyer/supplier collaboration and innovation, and include company case studies examining successful programs.
  • Promote dialogue with SCS data collectors (3rd party providers / industry-specific coalitions) on opportunities to streamline data collection, promote mutual recognition, and enhance focus on value-driven outcomes.
    • Deliverable: Organize an SCS Workshop in Fall 2018 to continue discussion with key buyers on sustainability expectations, while also engaging 3rd party data collectors regarding opportunities to streamline and enhance value of data collection efforts. Develop executive summary highlighting insights and opportunities shared through workshop.
    • Deliverable: Develop and publish 2-3 case studies examining why and how data in selected harmonization efforts is used for business-decision making, and highlighting opportunities to enhance coordination across efforts.

VALUE
GEMI offers a unique platform for companies and industry trade associations to engage with corporate leaders, fellow industry groups, NGOs and 3rd party providers on industry-focused supply chain sustainability issues, and promote increased alignment across initiatives. We welcome representatives of companies and industry trade associations to join GEMI’s efforts in 2018.

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about participation in GEMI’s SCS Work Group, including 2018 participation fees and expected deliverables.

Interested in Participating?

Complete the short form below to receive more information on participation

August 17, 2017 Comments are off kellen
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Carnival Corporation Launches Sustainability Website, Releases 2016 Sustainability Report

MIAMI, Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest leisure travel company, today released its 2016 sustainability report as part of the launch of its new dedicated sustainability website.

The report and complementary site detail the company’s sustainability efforts and the progress made in 2016 toward its 2020 sustainability performance goals. The report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 “core” level, and a full copy can be downloaded from Carnival Corporation’s new site.

In 2015, Carnival Corporation announced its 2020 sustainability goals, establishing 10 goals for reducing its environmental footprint while enhancing the health, safety and security of its guests and crew members and promoting sustainable business practices among its brands, business partners and suppliers.

The 2016 report and website, Sustainability from Ship to Shore, confirm the company is ahead of schedule on reducing its carbon intensity and is on track to meet its additional sustainability goals during the next three years across its 10 cruise brands.

“We take our commitment to sustainability and the environment very seriously and take proactive measures to ensure that sustainability is ingrained in the core of our business practices,” said Bill Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corporation, whose industry-leading cruise lines sail to more than 760 ports around the world. “Our top priority is to consistently exceed our guests’ expectations for a great cruise vacation – and that includes providing an exceptionally safe, comfortable and enjoyable environment for our guests and crew members, while at the same time maintaining our deep commitment to protecting the oceans, seas and destinations we visit.”

Added Burke: “We have a great team of employees, most of whom work and live at sea, and we all understand a healthy environment is not just an operating necessity, but it is also the right thing to do. We want our guests to be confident that when they book a cruise vacation with one of our brands, they are doing so with a responsible global corporate citizen.”

As part of the site, Carnival Corporation’s president and CEO Arnold Donald invites readers to join the cruise company on its sustainability journey through a welcome video that highlights key elements of the company’s commitment to sustainability. On the new site and report, easy to read messaging – enhanced by colorful graphics, engaging photos and videos – provides updates on progress made during 2016 in sustainability performance. The report was designed to share sustainability practices with stakeholders, including the company’s employees, the millions of guests who cruise with Carnival Corporation brands and investors.

Notable progress made by Carnival Corporation in 2016 that is highlighted in the report includes:

  • Being ahead of schedule in achieving a nearly 25 percent reduction in CO2e (equivalent carbon dioxide) relative to the 2005 baseline.
  • Pioneering the use of LNG (liquefied natural gas), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, and introducing the first cruise ship ever fueled with LNG from trucks while in port.
  • Continuing to make progress in installing Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems, which significantly improve air emissions by reducing sulfur compounds and particulate matter from engine exhaust – by the end of 2016, 59 percent of the fleet was equipped with the systems (and a larger percentage is equipped with the systems as of today).
  • 40 percent of the fleet was equipped with cold ironing capabilities by the end of 2016, which allows ships to use an alternative power source while in port.

Carnival Corporation’s Commitment to Sustainability
Carnival Corporation and its brands implement extensive measures to deliver on its commitment to continue to keep guests and crew members safe and comfortable, protect the environment, develop and provide opportunities for its workforce, strengthen its stakeholder relations and enhance the communities in which the company visits and operates. Those measures are detailed in the company’s 2016 sustainability report.

As part of the company’s commitment to reduce air emissions and improve air quality in the environments where its ships visit, Carnival Corporation pioneered the use of LNG with the introduction of the AIDAprima in 2016. AIDAprima is the first cruise ship in the world with a dual-fuel engine that can be powered by LNG while in port. The company will continue its efforts to pioneer use of this clean-burning fuel with seven next-generation ships on order that will be powered by LNG while in port and at sea. The company also signed an agreement with Shell to supply LNG.

Other strides Carnival Corporation made in 2016 to deliver on its commitment to its guests, crew, stakeholders and the environment include:

  • Expanding its partnership with Wärtsilä to include a long-term diesel engine maintenance agreement with an energy-efficiency component.
  • Continuing installation of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), which significantly reduce sulfur compounds and particulate matter from ship engine exhaust.
  • Making a significant commitment to its employees in terms of high-quality training by establishing the new Arison Maritime Center, home of the Center for Simulator Maritime Training Academy, also known as the CSMART Academy.
  • Opening the second of three planned state-of-the-art Fleet Operations Centers (FOC) in Seattle with the most advanced ship-to-shore communications technologies available to assist captains, chief engineers and deck and engineering officers with digital support, control and planning of all nautical and technical operations.

Another key milestone for the company in 2016 was the launch of Fathom TRAVELdeep™ volunteer experiences benefiting local communities across a number of brands. Last year, Fathom guests participated in several impactful sustainability projects in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – including reforestation efforts, recycling paper, and encouraging crafts entrepreneurship and a water filtration program. The company is exploring the potential to expand the volunteer activities to other areas around the globe in 2017.

As the company continued its efforts to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and to provide all employees with a positive work environment, Carnival Corporation developed, published and implemented an anti-slavery and human trafficking mission statement to further support human rights efforts in the global communities in which the company’s employees and their families live. Carnival Corporation also revised its corporate Health, Environmental, Security and Security (HESS) and Sustainability policy and initiated the implementation of a diversity council.

In 2016, Carnival Corporation continued its partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, with its $2.5 million financial commitment over a five-year period, which started in 2014 to support important research for marine conservation.

Carnival Corporation in 2016 made additional strides to deliver on its commitment to the communities in which it operates, including:

  • Continued partnership with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
  • Support of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture with a $2 million donation over a five-year period.
  • Ongoing memberships with the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) and a new partnership with the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance to support their programs to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products.

Recognition for Sustainability Initiatives
In June, Carnival Corporation was recognized for producing the year’s most engaging and informative 2015 sustainability report in the 10th annual Corporate Register Reporting Awards, the only annual global awards program honoring excellence in corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting.

In the course of 2016, Carnival Corporation was awarded with various sustainability recognitions:

  • Recognized for the third consecutive year as among the best places to work for LGBTQ equality by the Human Rights Campaign.
  • Named by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the 50 best companies for diversity for its commitment to an inclusive and diverse workforce.
  • Received Port of Seattle Green Gateway Awards for Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises’ commitment to environmental excellence.
  • Inclusion on Savoy Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America for Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald and Holland America Line president Orlando Ashford.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the world’s largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of 10 dynamic brands that include nine of the world’s leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK), as well as Fathom, the corporation’s immersion and enrichment experience brand.

Together, the corporation’s cruise lines operate 103 ships with 231,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 17 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2022. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only dual listed company in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

In 2017, Fast Company recognized Carnival Corporation as being among the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies” in both the design and travel categories. Fast Company specifically recognized Carnival Corporation for its work in developing Ocean Medallion™, a high-tech wearable device that enables the world’s first interactive guest experience platform capable of transforming vacation travel into a highly personalized and elevated level of customized service.

Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.fathom.org, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com, www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au and www.pocruises.com.

Carnival Corporation releases its 2016 sustainability report as part of the launch of its new dedicated sustainability website, available here: http://carnivalsustainability.com. The report and complementary site detail the company’s sustainability efforts and the progress made in 2016 toward its 2020 sustainability performance goals.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-corporation-launches-sustainability-website-releases-2016-sustainability-report-300504386.html

SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc

Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corporation, rfrizzell@carnival.com, (305) 406-7862; Mike Flanagan, LDWWgroup, mike@ldwwgroup.com, (727) 452-4538

January 4, 2017 Comments are off kellen
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Sealed Air’s Soap for Hope™ Program Awarded Prestigious Honor in China

Tuesday, January 3, 2017 – 11:00am

The first “Value Co-Creation” Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in China award ceremony was recently held at Fudan University in  December, 2016. Sealed Air’s Soap for Hope™ program won the Vote of Excellence Award with a significant majority.

The selection of best CSR case studies was sponsored by Fudan University School of Management, the well-known Human Resources management company CIIC Guanaitong and Beijing SynTao Information Co., Ltd. It is the first evaluation program for social value creation case studies that is dominated by academic institutions in China. The award focused on the standards of global sustainable development, business innovation, and social value creation.  Experts from well-known domestic universities voted for the top 50 case studies. Only three of the submitted case studies won the honor of the annual Value Co-Creation Excellence Award. Sealed Air’s Soap for Hope program best exemplifies China’s development trend towards creating shared value for society with programs that benefit both corporations and communities. Through the Soap for Hope program hotel properties collect, repurpose, and distribute discarded soap in their local communities along with hygiene education.  The other two projects that won the Excellence Awards were “Cow School” from YiLi and “Yi Nong Dai” from CreditEase.

Shen Hong, Vice President and Greater China Managing Director, and Ivy Zhang, Greater China Human Resources Director from Sealed Air China attended the award ceremony. Hong made a speech at the awards ceremony to share Sealed Air’s experience in the region, and also highlighted the importance of sustainability in the Company’s strategy. Once it was set up in China, the Soap for Hope program developed rapidly because it was a win-win program that created mutual benefits for CSR partners by improving people’s lives and creating significant shared value.

Soap for Hope partners include hotel properties, NGO’s and their beneficiaries, and employees of both Sealed Air and the participating hotel properties.  Hotel participants strongly identify with the program’s ability to create value for both the hotel by reducing their waste and increasing their ability to give back to the local community in which they operate.  NGO’s and their beneficiaries receive numerous opportunities from Soap for Hope, one example including giving locally disabled community residents the chance to improve their job skills and integrate into society more fully. Employees from Sealed Air connect the customers, NGOs, beneficiaries and employees together to create a strong partnership, allowing the program to continue its growth across regions and hotel properties.

Many judges for the award commented on the strength of the program and the impact it has on local communities.  “The amount of used soap from many hotels one year is very impressive. Not only can the project reduce waste to protect the environment, but it also provides employment to the disabled. The social value created is significant,” said one award judge. Through this process, Sealed Air, NGOs and disabled people have established synergies and achieved remarkable results. As a global public benefit project, Sealed Air is able to tailor its approach to local conditions and demonstrate its ability to innovate in the process.

Soap for Hope is committed to improving health, supporting livelihoods and reducing waste. Sealed Air professional technology, staff, customers, and social welfare groups benefit from the program. Disabled people are trained to recycle soaps provided by hotels.  They use simple tools to sterilize and reprocess used soaps, which are then distributed to needy groups and children in remote areas.

The global program was founded in 2013. Soap for Hope began in China in 2014, and since then has recycled 10 tons of used soap and made 40,000 pieces of recycled soap for distribution back into local communities.  The Soap for Hope program is just one way Sealed Air is acting out its corporate vision of “creating a better way for life”, by implementing a sustainable development strategy into the  enterprise and societal activities to create shared value.

– See more at: http://3blmedia.com/News/Sealed-Airs-Soap-Hopetm-Program-Awarded-Prestigious-Honor-China#sthash.4EJkxI0w.dpuf

December 6, 2016 Comments are off kellen
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Smithfield Leads Industry as First Major Protein Company to Adopt Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal

SMITHFIELD, Va. (December 5, 2016)—Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc., became the first major protein company to announce a far-reaching greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal throughout its entire supply chain, from feed grain to packaged bacon. By 2025, Smithfield will reduce its absolute GHG emissions by 25 percent. When achieved, this goal will reduce emissions by more than 4 million metric tons, equivalent to removing 900,000 cars from the road. Smithfield collaborated with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in setting its goal.

“We are proud to lead the industry and set another first by launching an endeavor that is both environmentally beneficial and economically feasible,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “While we will have unique challenges meeting this goal as the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer, our size and scale also means that, if successful, we can make a significant, positive impact. Our mission is to produce ‘Good food. Responsibly.’ This announcement is yet another acknowledgement of our commitment to doing just that.” 



Smithfield collaborated with the University of Minnesota’s NorthStar Institute for Sustainable Enterprise to estimate its GHG footprint, creating a robust model that can assist other protein companies in analyzing their own footprints. EDF served as an adviser in the development of the commitment.

“There is much work ahead for Smithfield to reach its goal,” said Fred Krupp, EDF president. “Success will require collaboration with farmers and others in the agricultural industry. We encourage companies to follow Smithfield’s leadership to make ambitious commitments to improve air and water quality. It’s important that the private sector play a role in protecting our natural resources.”

This commitment impacts operations across Smithfield’s supply chain, on company-owned farms, at processing facilities and throughout its transportation network. In its grain supply chain, Smithfield is collaborating with EDF to improve fertilizer efficiency and soil health, which will reduce nitrous oxide emissions from grain farms. On its hog farms, Smithfield will incorporate renewable energy and reuse projects that utilize technology such as anaerobic digesters and lagoon covers. Smithfield aims to install these technologies on at least 30 percent of company-owned farms. Smithfield will also continue to adopt measures that improve animal efficiency, resulting in improved feed conversion and productivity while reducing carbon emissions.

At its processing facilities, Smithfield will continue to improve energy efficiency through refrigeration, boiler and other equipment upgrades. Smithfield is optimizing its logistics network to better manage its animal and product transportation while reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The absolute greenhouse gas emissions reduction will be measured from a 2010 baseline. Efforts toward this goal already underway will be included in the final results. For a visualization of Smithfield’s commitment, please visit smithfieldfoods.com/25by2025.

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About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly’s®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
 
About the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and our Growing Returns blog.