WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol has published two standards to help businesses measure, manage and report GHG emissions beyond their own operations, including the finalized version of long-awaited scope 3 guidance. The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) and Product Life Cycle standards were developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). According to WRI, the standards will allow companies to measure and manage the full scope of emissions in their value chain and products for the first time, while helping to move businesses and reporting programs to one harmonized global reporting...

BAA ATOLL, MALDIVES—One of the travel and tourism industry’s most exclusive and prestigious events last weekend drew Hollywood A-listers, top business CEOs, a head of state and senior environmental campaigners together in the Maldives to discuss how to make tourism a benefit rather than a threat to the planet’s environment. The event—the SLOWLIFE Symposium, organized by the luxury resort company Six Senses—drew actors Daryl Hannah and Edward Norton, business leader and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, the heads of two solar power companies and green thinkers Jonathon Porritt and Tim Smit to Soneva Fushi resort in Baa Atoll, Maldives. They were joined...

ROSWELL, GA.—Kimberly-Clark Professional announced a major step forward in the company’s sustainability efforts through the expanded independent, third-party certification of Kimberly-Clark Professional products by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and EcoLogo. FSC chain-of-custody certification has been expanded to the broad majority of Kimberly-Clark Professional tissue and towel products. FSC is an international, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests through third-party forest certification and product labeling, which ensures that forest products come from sources that are managed with consideration for people, wildlife and the environment. “We are very pleased to be expanding FSC’s reach with Kimberly-Clark Professional,...

NATIONAL REPORT—While a majority of CFOs are aware that sustainability will profoundly affect their “mainstream” duties, almost one third of them—31 percent—say they are either rarely involved or not involved in sustainability strategy and governance at their companies. This is among the key findings of Sustainable Finance: The risks and opportunities that (some) CFOs are overlooking, a global survey launched by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL). The survey was conducted among 208 CFOs of large companies in 10 countries during the first half of 2011. “The findings of the survey suggest that CFOs can and should take a more energetic role...

PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, ranks number one in the hospitality industry and among the top 10 percent in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Global 500 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index. The Index highlights the constituent companies within the S&P 500 Index which have displayed the most professional approach to corporate governance regarding climate change information disclosure practices. With a carbon disclosure score of 83, this was the first appearance for Wyndham Worldwide on the annual index by the CDP, which represents 551 institutional investors with $71 trillion in assets. CDP commended Wyndham Worldwide for its...

NEW YORK—The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium announced that BYD has joined the Consortium as a Contributing Member. A global leader in new energy solutions, BYD’s membership in the Consortium will contribute to establishing the new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI), to set standards for evaluating sustainability practices and purchases industry wide. With more than 4.5 million hotel rooms in the United States, lighting is a critical element of design, which must be integrated throughout the development, redevelopment and renovations processes. “Our goal in joining the Consortium is to help the hospitality industry by establishing sustainability performance criteria that delivers real solutions...

NEW YORK—The Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium announced that Shafer Commercial Seating has joined the Consortium as a Contributing Member. A family-owned U.S. manufacturer of chairs, booths and tables for the hospitality industry for more than 75 years, Shafer’s membership in the Consortium is another important step toward building a new Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index (HSPI) that will reflect industry-wide sustainability performance standards for all suppliers, large and small. “High quality, comfortable furniture is an essential element of the guest experience for all hospitality providers,” said Randy Shafer, president of Shafer Commercial Seating, Inc.  “Over the past 15 years, we have...

DALTON, GA.—Shaw Industries Group, Inc. has released its third annual corporate sustainability report. Focused on Shaw’s commitment to sustainability through Innovation, the report highlights the Berkshire Hathaway company’s environmental and social responsibility leadership. Beginning with the question, “What if Sustainable Business Meant Smarter Business?”, the report covers Shaw’s significant investment in sustainability initiatives during the 2010 calendar year, substantiating the organization’s progress with metrics and data for more than 40 performance indicators. “Stakeholders are looking to private enterprise to take the lead in addressing the most critical questions facing today’s businesses—including questions about environmental and social risks,” said Shaw CEO...

NATIONAL REPORT—The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) announces the launch of the “National Sustainable Lodging Network,” an online community of sustainable hospitality practitioners and an information clearinghouse to support the work of this community. Public interest in “going green,” personal ethic, and market demand have led to a growing community of practice in the sustainable hospitality area. As a result, there has been an explosion of state and local sustainable hospitality programs in recent years and a proliferation of information on how to “green up” hospitality operations. Ryan Hamel, of Kansas State University’s Pollution Prevention Institute, notes, “In the last...

TORONTO—As part of its ongoing climate change strategy, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced that it has cut its CO2 output by 8.4 percent. As a member of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Climate Savers program, Fairmont has pledged to reduce its operational CO2 emissions by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2013, and was the world’s first luxury hotel group to commit to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The more than 8 percent decline, based on 2010 year-end data, means the hotel company is almost halfway to its ambitious reduction target. “Everyone can agree that the debate on climate...