The Environmental Indicators 2014 report published by the CSO paints a broadly positive picture of progress in Ireland’s environment across nine different domains. Some of the main findings are: Air quality improved considerably in the decade since 2000 with the result that Ireland was below the EU National Emission Ceiling (NEC) Directive level for sulphur...

Coca Cola recognised were one of the first companies to recognise water efficiency as adding significant value to their bottom line. For more than 40 years ago Coca Cola have lead the way to demonstrate how a global business can improve their business and add significant value to the countries and communities in which they...

The European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW) has announced the adoption of a new instrument for the assessment of the environmental impact of bottled water throughout its life cycle.  EFBW’s Product Category Rules – or PCR – have been specifically designed to allow bottled water operators to accurately measure their environmental footprint, hereby enabling them...

Member state diplomats have approved a compromise struck with MEPs on new social and environmental reporting rules for companies. France, which is understood to be unhappy at the extent to which the proposed corporate social responsibility (CSR) directive has been weakened, insisted that the type of companies covered should be reviewed in future. Other member...

The European Food SCP Round Table has taken a major step forward towards supporting informed choice as it launches the ENVIFOOD Protocol version 1.0. The ENVIFOOD Protocol is the first sectoral framework methodology to build on both global (ISO) and EU (Product Environmental Footprint – PEF) approaches in order to provide specific guidance for conducting environmental...

Sustainable innovation needs to be anchored in the rethinking of current business models, and eco-innovators need to be prepared for a potentially “very bloody fight” with current market leaders, according to “10 key lessons” from the latest Sustainable Innovation conference organised by the Centre for Sustainable Design. According to the key lessons from the 2013 conference: Climate change,...

The Eco-innovation initiative bridges the gap between research and the market. It helps good ideas for innovative products, services and processes that protect the environment become fully-fledged commercial prospects, ready for use by business and industry.  One interesting project recognizes REACH requirements relating to Chromium due to come into force in a few years time:...

This book offers a comprehensive snapshot of key environmental trends in OECD member countries since the early 1990s. It is organised by issues such as: climate change air pollution biodiversity and water resources waste water wastewater The report reveals big differences in environmental trends in different countries. It confirms that much more needs to be...

How important would it be to your business if certain key raw materials were no longer available to you? Would your business be viable or what would you do if your product range decreased dramatically due to the regulations governing the manufacture and application of products? (eg. from from 26 products supplied to many clients...

Here are a few thoughts and comments on environmental protection from different perspectives. We need to accept the seemingly obvious fact that a toxic environment can make people sick and that no amount of medical intervention can protect us. The health care community must become a powerful political lobby for environmental policy and legislation. – Andrew...