Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has reported that its new technologies for the self-manufacture of lighter PET plastic beverage bottles delivered a reduction in the carbon footprint of each bottle by 22%. This is said to be equivalent to 1700 cars being removed from Sydney roads per year. CCA’s claims are set out in a detailed Corporate Responsibility Report issued this week by the company. The Corporate Responsibility Report ironically coincides with recent financial reporting by CCA that  featured its... ...Read more »

Food giant Unilever switched off lights and electrical equipment in all its office sites across Australia and New Zealand in support of Earth Hour on Saturday, in addition to encouraging its employees to do the same at home. “In line with our commitment to creating a more sustainable future, Unilever is once again proud to support Earth Hour in 2011” said Sebastian Lazell, Chairman Unilever Australia and New Zealand. “We believe that small steps can make a big difference and we encourage... ...Read more »

UK frozen foods business Birds Eye Iglo is launching a company-wide sustainability plan called ‘Forever Food’. The group has committed to sourcing 100% of wild and farmed fish from certified fisheries by 2012, reduce packaging by 15% by 2012, reducing water consumption used in manufacturing by 20% by 2020, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30% by 2020 and sending zero waste to landfill from UK operations by 2015. The plan has been developed in collaboration with a range of organisations... ...Read more »

Wal-Mart chairman Lee Scott announced at Fortune’s Brainstorm Green conference on Monday that the company is dedicated to greening its business practices, and emphasised the congruity between sustainability and profit. “We have approached sustainability from a business standpoint, not from the standpoint of altruism.  We believe that if we as a company focus on waste, we can make Wal-Mart a better company while at the same time being a better citizen,” he said in the panel interview. Mr... ...Read more »

Companies can make considerable sums by greening their bottom-line an internationally respected de-carbonisation and sustainability expert told Australian businesses this week.Dr Martin Blake, a business guru and sustainability veteran of 25 years, whose visit from the UK is supported by Austrade, Industry & Investment NSW and CPA, said that implementing cutting edge carbon abatement models can deliver cost savings and attract further investment. “Businesses that have adopted this approach... ...Read more »

The Food Business Forum, which brings together management from around 400 retailers and manufacturers operating in 150 countries, recently released a mid-year update to its annual Top of Mind report, discovering that corporate social responsibility (CSR) was steadily being pushed down the list of priorities. The global recession has removed it from the head of the list, as pricing, assortment and store formats become top-of-mind. Pre-eminent food industry body CIES, canvassed the top ten business... ...Read more »

In a major step forward for the ethical movement, confectioner Cadbury will this week launch Fairtrade Dairy Milk chocolate into their home market of Britain. The move has been hailed as a critical “milestone”, with Cadbury the first mass market chocolate to gain Fairtrade certification. Their flagship Dairy Milk brand accounts for more than one in every nine chocolate bar sales in the UK and will substantially add to the three per cent market share currently commanded by Fairtrade products. “Having... ...Read more »

New research by the Aberdeen Group, entitled “Sustaining the Global Food Supply Chain: Three Keys to Gaining Competitive Advantage”, has investigated the sustainability initiatives of food and beverage sector companies and revealed the opportunities created by, and benefits of, sound corporate responsibility. The study was conducted in support of the Marrakech Process of the United Nations agenda on Sustainable Consumption and Production, and highlights the strategies and capabilities... ...Read more »

Cadbury and the Fairtrade Foundation have announced plans to achieve Fairtrade certification for Cadbury Dairy Milk by end of the UK Summer of 2009. The move will result in the tripling of sales of cocoa under Fairtrade terms for cocoa farmers in Ghana, both increasing Fairtrade cocoa sales for existing certified farming groups, as well as potentially opening up new opportunities for thousands more farmers to benefit from the Fairtrade system. “This is an historic moment for our company,”... ...Read more »

Over 1500 companies now employ the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines to evaluate performance on sustainability, environmental impact and responsible marketing, with Kellogg’s just releasing their first. The GRI guidelines have become increasingly popular since the sustainability reporting framework concept was first created in 1999, with the guidelines the most commonly used around the world. David Mackay, President and CEO of Kellogg Company, said that companies could no longer... ...Read more »