Category Archives: Sustainability

Conscious Supply Chain Management at H&M

Posted on September 22, 2014 by aviyer2010

A report in Sustainable Brands (http://tinyurl.com/qg5gtn7) titled “H&M Unveils Conscious Denim, Signs Agreement for More Conscious Supply Chain Management” describes initiatives with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Solidaridad and Jeanologia to audit its water use, energy consumption, working conditions, fair … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nike’s water footprint across the supply chain and reduction efforts

Posted on May 14, 2014 by aviyer2010

Nike’s Materials Sustainability Index discussion (http://www.nikeresponsibility.com/report/content/chapter/water) focuses on the 217 billion gallons of water consumed across its supply chain, with 7% generated by raw material production and cotton accounting for 87% of that use. A focus on reducing the absolute … Continue reading →

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Solar Roadways hopes to charge cars as they run on roads

Posted on May 14, 2014 by aviyer2010

A company called Solar Roadways (http://www.solarroadways.com/intro.shtml) claims to have a prototype installation of solar panels embedded in roads that can charge cars as they drive. Given that vast road network that can be harnessed with embedded solar panels, the company … Continue reading →

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Coffee fed cows producing milk for Starbucks in Japan

Posted on May 14, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in Sustainable Brands (http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/chemistry_materials/jennifer_elks/closed-loop_upcycling_its_finest_starbucks_sourcing?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=innovation&utm_campaign=may14&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRoku6XMZKXonjHpfsX56eotX6SwlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4DRcFqI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFTrTBMbVxyLgOXxk%3D) titled “Closed Loop Recycling at its Best”, describes the fermentation of used coffee grounds to create a cattle feed, with the milk from the cattle being used at Starbucks stores in Japan. The concentration … Continue reading →

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Testing alternate modes to get California Salmon to the ocean and back

Posted on April 19, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (April 19, 2014) titled “Swim to Sea ? These Salmon Are Catching a Lift”, describes two alternate paths to move salmon from drought stricken areas to the ocean. With priority being for California … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Trucking Salmon to the ocean to ensure future fishing

Posted on April 19, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (april 7,2014) titled “In California,salmon hitch a ride to the sea”, describes the low water levels in California rivers this year prevent the young Chinook salmon from finding their way along the rivers to the ocean. … Continue reading →

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Understanding the logic for Tesla’s proposed $5 billion battery plant

Posted on April 2, 2014 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (April 2, 2014) titled “Does Tesla Need a $5 Billion Battery Factory” describes Tesla’s planned mass market electric cars (the GEN III) priced at $35,000 and the current $25,500 cost of the 85 … Continue reading →

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Burning wood with coal to comply with EPA emissions rules

Posted on November 5, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times titled “Power plants try burning wood with coal to cut carbon emissions” (November 4, 2013), describes the use of sawdust and wood chunks along with coal to reduce carbon emissions in US power … Continue reading →

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How should data from smart meters be used to improve the power supply chain ?

Posted on September 23, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Utilities Try to Learn from Smart Meters (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324123004579055070644003780.html) describes the continuous flow of data from smart meters in consumers homes. That data, coupled with sensors in power generating equipment owned by utilities … Continue reading →

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Will modular smartphones help reduce e-waste ?

Posted on September 21, 2013 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/tech/innovation/phonebloks-the-smartphone-for-life/index.html?hpt=hp_bn5) describes a proposal by the company Phonebloks (www.phonebloks.com) to create smartphones with a modular design that enables individual phone owners to customize the phone. With individual units such as the camera, battery, storage etc that … Continue reading →

Posted in Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments