Just a thought from lecture today if we could make our government spend our money on buying natural resources to protect them I think we would be taking the right step. I think most people would support this. As individuals though I think we have all been brain washed that the only reason to spend money is to make money or get something in return. I just wonder what the price for clean air and water is?
Jamie G
Friday, January 28, 2011
Expression from Leadership
Here I just thought everyone should read this and think about it for a little while.
Letter from the Principals
Dear Friends,
As we were writing our 2nd annual sustainability report, we were also planning for a monumental business milestone. This year, in 2011, we are proud to celebrate BrownFlynn’s 15th anniversary. While “time changes things” we have found that, our commitment to corporate responsibility has not wavered. To demonstrate the deep connection between sustainability and our business, we are tying the release of our 2009/2010 sustainability report to our anniversary celebration. Furthermore, after 15 years in business, we decided to challenge our readers to imagine the possibilities of “15 minutes of sustainability.”
If you were given an extra 15 minutes today, what would you do with it? Would you sleep more or work out longer? Would you spend more time with your family or finish that report for your boss? Would you take that extra couple of minutes to turn off all the lights and electronics in the house before leaving or sort through the items that can be recycled from breakfast, lunch and dinner?
At BrownFlynn, we define sustainability as the integration of three pillars: People, Planet and Prosperity. We have integrated this triple-bottom-line thinking into our operations and built a business around guiding companies in developing strategies that are focused on their social, environmental and economic impacts. Believe it or not, if you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you are in one way or another, thinking about or engaging in sustainable practices. Thank you—that’s a great start! And, for those of you that spend more than 15 minutes a day, or week, or month, or year devoted to sustainability—thank you as well and please continue your dedicated efforts. As you will read throughout this report, the impacts of “15 minutes of sustainability” can be life-changing.
This past year, we have seen many “minutes of fame” for sustainability. From Dodd-Frank passing both Houses to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, “sustainability” has seen its name in the headlines. And, as companies begin to realize the top-line and bottom-line benefits of integrating environmental, social and governance impacts into their strategies, “sustainability” will endure. BrownFlynn expects the trends, stakeholder pressures and reputational benefits of sustainability to increase for the foreseeable future and we remain committed to helping our clients keep pace with these business expectations.
At the same time, we will continue to live our motto of “doing well by doing good.” We will try to inspire our stakeholders, and all of you, to think about sustainability every day so that in the end, everyone wins.
Now…what will you do with your 15 minutes of sustainability?
Sincerely,
Barb Brown & Margie Flynn
All it takes is 15 minutes. Maybe doing your laundry with cold water maybe only having a 5 minute shower. Making sure you recycle and compost. Funny to think you could help shape the world in that little time.
Jamie G
Letter from the Principals
Dear Friends,
As we were writing our 2nd annual sustainability report, we were also planning for a monumental business milestone. This year, in 2011, we are proud to celebrate BrownFlynn’s 15th anniversary. While “time changes things” we have found that, our commitment to corporate responsibility has not wavered. To demonstrate the deep connection between sustainability and our business, we are tying the release of our 2009/2010 sustainability report to our anniversary celebration. Furthermore, after 15 years in business, we decided to challenge our readers to imagine the possibilities of “15 minutes of sustainability.”
If you were given an extra 15 minutes today, what would you do with it? Would you sleep more or work out longer? Would you spend more time with your family or finish that report for your boss? Would you take that extra couple of minutes to turn off all the lights and electronics in the house before leaving or sort through the items that can be recycled from breakfast, lunch and dinner?
At BrownFlynn, we define sustainability as the integration of three pillars: People, Planet and Prosperity. We have integrated this triple-bottom-line thinking into our operations and built a business around guiding companies in developing strategies that are focused on their social, environmental and economic impacts. Believe it or not, if you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you are in one way or another, thinking about or engaging in sustainable practices. Thank you—that’s a great start! And, for those of you that spend more than 15 minutes a day, or week, or month, or year devoted to sustainability—thank you as well and please continue your dedicated efforts. As you will read throughout this report, the impacts of “15 minutes of sustainability” can be life-changing.
This past year, we have seen many “minutes of fame” for sustainability. From Dodd-Frank passing both Houses to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, “sustainability” has seen its name in the headlines. And, as companies begin to realize the top-line and bottom-line benefits of integrating environmental, social and governance impacts into their strategies, “sustainability” will endure. BrownFlynn expects the trends, stakeholder pressures and reputational benefits of sustainability to increase for the foreseeable future and we remain committed to helping our clients keep pace with these business expectations.
At the same time, we will continue to live our motto of “doing well by doing good.” We will try to inspire our stakeholders, and all of you, to think about sustainability every day so that in the end, everyone wins.
Now…what will you do with your 15 minutes of sustainability?
Sincerely,
Barb Brown & Margie Flynn
All it takes is 15 minutes. Maybe doing your laundry with cold water maybe only having a 5 minute shower. Making sure you recycle and compost. Funny to think you could help shape the world in that little time.
Jamie G
Forget CRS make Money?
It worries me when I read an article like this one. http://www.economist.com/node/18010553?story_id=18010553&fsrc=rss
When you see that the world’s highest educated people are also the ones ready to destroy it to make some money. In almost every country that was surveyed over fifty percent said that the social responsibilities of corporations was to make profits. The United Arab Emirates was highest on the list at over 80% agreeing that corporations only exist to make money. I find it odd that the people already making the most money want to continue exploiting the planet and people just to make a profit. I feel that every person on this planet has to be responsible. We can’t let money and power get in the way of not destroying our planet. By empowering people and taking care of the mess you make people will have more respect for your company and the goods and services you produce. It has to come to end somewhere if even the highest educated people in this world don’t see the need and opportunity for corporate social responsibility than I think that this planet and we as a globalized civilization are in trouble.
Jamie Gimblett
When you see that the world’s highest educated people are also the ones ready to destroy it to make some money. In almost every country that was surveyed over fifty percent said that the social responsibilities of corporations was to make profits. The United Arab Emirates was highest on the list at over 80% agreeing that corporations only exist to make money. I find it odd that the people already making the most money want to continue exploiting the planet and people just to make a profit. I feel that every person on this planet has to be responsible. We can’t let money and power get in the way of not destroying our planet. By empowering people and taking care of the mess you make people will have more respect for your company and the goods and services you produce. It has to come to end somewhere if even the highest educated people in this world don’t see the need and opportunity for corporate social responsibility than I think that this planet and we as a globalized civilization are in trouble.
Jamie Gimblett
Friday, January 21, 2011
DJSI Dow Jones Sustainability Index
The link pasted below is for the Dow Jones Sustainability index:
http://www.sustainability-index.com/07_htmle/sustainability/corpsustainability.html
“The quality of a company's strategy and management and its performance in dealing with opportunities and risks deriving from economic, environmental and social developments can be quantified and used to identify and select leading companies for investment purposes.”(DJSI)
This statement provides information as to the interest in this world for “business sustainability” aside from making future generations have the same opportunities that we do. This idea for sustainability makes me very interested in CSR, it seems as though it is charitable donations for the future.
The rest of this entry covers categories that are looked at for placement on this type of list for corporate sustainability such as: Strategy (Integration of long term CSR strategies, Financial, Customer & Product (Long term financial and economic growth as well as transparent accounting practises), Governance & stakeholder (Corporate codes of conduct and reporting) and Human (organisational learning and knowledge management practices as well as benefit programs).
This entire entry is based on an idea that impresses me, and seems to me to be the most driving force behind the idea of the want to be a sustainable corporation. “Corporate sustainability performance is an investable concept” (DJSI)
Posted by: Allen Pumphrey
http://www.sustainability-index.com/07_htmle/sustainability/corpsustainability.html
“The quality of a company's strategy and management and its performance in dealing with opportunities and risks deriving from economic, environmental and social developments can be quantified and used to identify and select leading companies for investment purposes.”(DJSI)
This statement provides information as to the interest in this world for “business sustainability” aside from making future generations have the same opportunities that we do. This idea for sustainability makes me very interested in CSR, it seems as though it is charitable donations for the future.
The rest of this entry covers categories that are looked at for placement on this type of list for corporate sustainability such as: Strategy (Integration of long term CSR strategies, Financial, Customer & Product (Long term financial and economic growth as well as transparent accounting practises), Governance & stakeholder (Corporate codes of conduct and reporting) and Human (organisational learning and knowledge management practices as well as benefit programs).
This entire entry is based on an idea that impresses me, and seems to me to be the most driving force behind the idea of the want to be a sustainable corporation. “Corporate sustainability performance is an investable concept” (DJSI)
Posted by: Allen Pumphrey
CSR trends In 2011
The link pasted below is a page that offers some insight on CSR trends to watch for in 2011.
http://www.miratelinc.com/blog/four-csr-trends-to-watch-in-2011/
This link discusses four major CSR trends to follow in the year 2011. The first being a CSR model being incorporated throughout company’s infrastructure instead of handled by department as seen in the past. This means that all departments are aware of all CSR goals and productivity towards them. This method of integration will ensure that all CSR related actions and decisions are part of everyday operations. The second trend being transparency, in this the discussion of moving from surface and short term CSR to long term more in depth CSR topics. Surface topics such as recycling and charitable donations were put into place to scratch the surface in early years and the transparency of these goals was absent. This discussion of transparency is about keeping public and employees informed of the long term goals of CSR initiatives as well as the productivity towards those goals. The third discussed is supply chains. Supply chains are going to be held to the CSR initiatives of the corporation they supply to in order to maintain a sufficient standard of practice and throughout the dealings of the corporations suppliers. Finally benchmarking and evaluation of CSR practices, this trend is stated to see CSR being broken down by industry as well business size and effect of initiative for greater ease in assessment of CSR performance .
Overall I feel that these are trends that make sense to me to better the productivity and measurement of a company’s CSR practices. It seems that CSR is being taken more seriously over the past few years and is going to continue to grow in the up and coming years. Companies are increasingly becoming more focused on topics such as “employee working conditions, hiring practices, supply relations, environmental issues, community contributions, reinvestment in infrastructure, fair trade” Miratel January 11, 2011
Posted by: Allen Pumphrey
http://www.miratelinc.com/blog/four-csr-trends-to-watch-in-2011/
This link discusses four major CSR trends to follow in the year 2011. The first being a CSR model being incorporated throughout company’s infrastructure instead of handled by department as seen in the past. This means that all departments are aware of all CSR goals and productivity towards them. This method of integration will ensure that all CSR related actions and decisions are part of everyday operations. The second trend being transparency, in this the discussion of moving from surface and short term CSR to long term more in depth CSR topics. Surface topics such as recycling and charitable donations were put into place to scratch the surface in early years and the transparency of these goals was absent. This discussion of transparency is about keeping public and employees informed of the long term goals of CSR initiatives as well as the productivity towards those goals. The third discussed is supply chains. Supply chains are going to be held to the CSR initiatives of the corporation they supply to in order to maintain a sufficient standard of practice and throughout the dealings of the corporations suppliers. Finally benchmarking and evaluation of CSR practices, this trend is stated to see CSR being broken down by industry as well business size and effect of initiative for greater ease in assessment of CSR performance .
Overall I feel that these are trends that make sense to me to better the productivity and measurement of a company’s CSR practices. It seems that CSR is being taken more seriously over the past few years and is going to continue to grow in the up and coming years. Companies are increasingly becoming more focused on topics such as “employee working conditions, hiring practices, supply relations, environmental issues, community contributions, reinvestment in infrastructure, fair trade” Miratel January 11, 2011
Posted by: Allen Pumphrey
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Black Gold
So I was sent this by my dad and thought it was amazing. Not sure how related it is but worthwhile none the less.
Black Gold is a documentary about how important fair trade is for the coffee industry, more importantly coffee farmers in Ethiopia.
Fair Trade guarantees a minimum of $1.26/pound (a living wage) and access to credit at fair prices to poor farmers organized in cooperatives. These fair payments are invested in food, shelter, health care, education, and economic independence. As of January 15, 2003, world coffee prices are at their lowest level in 30 years, having fallen by 50 percent in three years. The global supply is estimated to be about 8 percent above demand and has accordingly depressed world prices. Coffee accounts for more than 60 percent of Ethiopia's exports, generating vital income for its population of 65 million, more than half of whom live on less than a dollar a day. Ethiopia's coffee income has dropped by US$110 million, severely affecting the one million families who depend on coffee for their income. While still selling to consumers in Western countries for around US$10 per pound, the world market price for coffee is less than US$0.50 per pound, of which farmers only receive half.
The rise in poverty level among Ethiopian coffee farmers has developed into another unexpected problem. Many farmers have abandoned coffee and started growing a more profitable crop: khat, a leafy narcotic often mentioned as the regions version of moonshine. Khat is chewed legally by millions of people in Africa and the Middle East. However, in Britain and United States (where it is illegal), khat can fetch as much as $200 a pound.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8rd0p_black-gold-part-1-of-8_news
Emilie Leonard
Black Gold is a documentary about how important fair trade is for the coffee industry, more importantly coffee farmers in Ethiopia.
Fair Trade guarantees a minimum of $1.26/pound (a living wage) and access to credit at fair prices to poor farmers organized in cooperatives. These fair payments are invested in food, shelter, health care, education, and economic independence. As of January 15, 2003, world coffee prices are at their lowest level in 30 years, having fallen by 50 percent in three years. The global supply is estimated to be about 8 percent above demand and has accordingly depressed world prices. Coffee accounts for more than 60 percent of Ethiopia's exports, generating vital income for its population of 65 million, more than half of whom live on less than a dollar a day. Ethiopia's coffee income has dropped by US$110 million, severely affecting the one million families who depend on coffee for their income. While still selling to consumers in Western countries for around US$10 per pound, the world market price for coffee is less than US$0.50 per pound, of which farmers only receive half.
The rise in poverty level among Ethiopian coffee farmers has developed into another unexpected problem. Many farmers have abandoned coffee and started growing a more profitable crop: khat, a leafy narcotic often mentioned as the regions version of moonshine. Khat is chewed legally by millions of people in Africa and the Middle East. However, in Britain and United States (where it is illegal), khat can fetch as much as $200 a pound.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8rd0p_black-gold-part-1-of-8_news
Emilie Leonard
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