Category Archives: Sustainability

Green US navy and ocean fuel source impact

Posted on November 7, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in BBC news online (http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121019-turning-the-oceans-into-jetfuel/2) describes plans by the US navy to get to 50 % of its fleet powered using alternate energy fuel sources by 2020. One approach is to use seawater as a source of fuel, … Continue reading →

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The economics of vertical farming in downtown locations in cities

Posted on October 23, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (October 15,2012) describes vertical farming – growing crops in greenhouses in cities – close to customers. A twelve floor vertical farm in Sweden is the largest such effort – claimed to save transport … Continue reading →

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Climate neutral products from Eosta

Posted on October 23, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in Sustainable Business newsletter describes Eosta (http://www.eosta.com/index.cfm?vid=64DD31DB-AB5A-D733-DF31869591EFD001), a Dutch company that sells fruits and vegetables claimed to be climate neutral. Use of organic fertilizer that does not release methane, avoiding mineral fertilizers and thus saving nitrous oxide and … Continue reading →

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Auditing conflict materials free suppliers and cost impact

Posted on October 10, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (October 9, 2012) describes the number of conflict materials free smelters as 27 out of 200 to 400 worldwide. With the Dodd-Frank law demanding that companies declare the extent of use of tin, … Continue reading →

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Ban plastic bags ? Or worry about unintended consumer costs ?

Posted on October 8, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (October 8, 2012) describes two sides of a decision to ban plastic bags. On the one hand, plastic bags clog up recycling equipment, create clean up costs and add up to $ 30 … Continue reading →

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Google’s “RE < C" initiative and impact

Posted on September 22, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in Fortune (July 23, 2012) describes an effort by Google to initiate projects to drive the cost of renewable enery (RE) to becom elower than the cost of coal (C) based sources. Server farms account for 2% of … Continue reading →

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Japanese multinationals importing back into Japan

Posted on September 17, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (September 17,2012) describes automobiles made in Thailand by Nissan but ported back for sales in Japan. At 1 million yen, it is 65% of the price of a Japanese made car and 34 % of the … Continue reading →

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Content Claim Standards by the Textile Exchange and benefits

Posted on September 17, 2012 by aviyer2010

A recent announcement by the Textile Exchange of their Content Claim Standards (CCS http://textileexchange.org/sites/default/files/te_pdfs/integrity/Content%20Claim%20Standard_v1.0.pdf) suggests a scheme to verify chain of custody across the textile supply chain. The goal is to verify claims regarding specific content e.g., organic cotton, recycled … Continue reading →

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Should The Japanese and European governments assist automakers with demand growth ?

Posted on September 15, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 15, 2012) describes a request by the CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, to the Japanese government to intervene to make the yen exchange rate more favorable to local production and encourage alternate … Continue reading →

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Should California pass a law to label genetically modified food ?

Posted on September 15, 2012 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (September 13, 2012) describes a proposed law in California to label genetically modified foods that is being opposed by large brands while being supported by small independent organic producers. The question revolves around … Continue reading →

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