sustainable

Graybar Targets Ways to Make Business Strong and Sustainable

At Graybar, sustainability is an expression of the company’s core values and its long-term view. The company’s sustainability plan includes acting as a responsible steward of its resources, reducing its impact on the environment, and providing sustainable solutions in the marketplace.




sustainable

Conagra Brands Announces Sustainable Development Award Winners

The program invited cross-functional employee teams to submit projects completed during Conagra's fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Each submission was evaluated by a panel of peers, with the final winners selected by the company's sustainability leaders.




sustainable

TOLI's Mature a sustainable choice

TOLI's Mature commercial sheet flooring from CBC Flooring offers architects and designers a beautiful and sustainable flooring product for healthcare, university and retail environments.




sustainable

Solar Thermal Report - Spring 2011: Sustainable Solution

An Ohio K-12 school’s solar thermal system helps educate students on sustainable building practices.





sustainable

UNDP’s Sustainable Energy Director Calls For Innovative Financial Solutions for Adaptation, Mitigation

Riad Meddeb, Director of the Sustainable Energy Hub at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stressed the urgency of finding innovative financial solutions during COP29. Meddeb was speaking to IPS in an exclusive interview at the conference. He said the negotiations were expected to focus heavily on finance—a core issue that has historically hampered climate […]




sustainable

Sustainable synthesis of long-acting local anesthetics ropivacaine and levobupivacaine under batch and continuous flow via asymmetric hydrogenation

Org. Chem. Front., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4QO00072B, Research Article
Zhi Yang, Hanlin Chen, Linxi Wan, Xinyi Feng, Lingshuang Ma, Pei Tang, Fen-Er Chen
A sustainable synthesis method was developed for long-acting local anesthetics, ropivacaine and levobupivacaine, using both batch and continuous flow processes via asymmetric hydrogenation.
To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry




sustainable

Iridium-catalyzed reductive γ-lactonization of ortho-acylbenzoic acids in water: sustainable access to phthalides

Org. Chem. Front., 2024, 11,2220-2230
DOI: 10.1039/D3QO02019C, Research Article
Yang Chen, Jingyu Zhang, Hongguang Du, Renshi Luo, Jiaxi Xu, Zhanhui Yang
Iridium-catalyzed reductive γ-lactonization of ortho-acylbenzoic acids in water provides a practical and sustainable route to phthalides.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry




sustainable

Soft-oxometalates (SOMs): crafting the pillars of a sustainable future

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D3TA07580J, Review Article
Nidhi Kumari, Soumyajit Roy
Soft-oxometalates as a tool of chemical science for designing sustainable solutions.
To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry




sustainable

Empowering sustainable ministries

OM Philippines will host three training sessions this month in an effort to see sustainable, transformational and developmental ministries grow in Cebu City.




sustainable

Sustainable business models, and why ABC has LOST their way

If you’re wondering about sustainable business models, bear with me while I rant about ABC’s free episode streaming, or just skip the first bunch of paragraphs to the Sustainable Business Models heading.  Ohterwise bear with me, I’ve got a couple lung-fulls to spend talking about why I’m not having the best time I could be [...]




sustainable

Customcells strengthens sustainable battery industry 'Made in Germany'

The Customcells company is investing tens of millions in the expansion of its Itzehoe site in Schleswig-Holstein.




sustainable

How to Start a Sustainable Small Business

Roughly 60 percent of millennials want to increase sustainability efforts in business. Millennials make up the largest group of consumers besides baby boomers, and 72 percent are willing to pay more for products from businesses committed to sustainability.

complete article




sustainable

Regional Assembly warns against unsustainable growth and calls for Government funding for essential infrastructure

478,000 new homes will be built in the region - which covers the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk - up to 2021...




sustainable

A Guide to Men's Sustainable Weight Loss

Long-term and sustainable weight loss for men requires a balanced approach that prioritizes nutrition, physical activity, realistic goal setting, sleep, stress management, and consistency.




sustainable

Creating sustainable spaces

Here is how you can minimise the ecological footprint and at the same time make your home visually appealing



  • Homes and gardens

sustainable

Sustainable cooling tips

Integrating energy-efficient appliances at home can promote a cost-effective lifestyle and reduce the carbon footprint of households



  • Homes and gardens

sustainable

How high-performance buildings are the next step towards a sustainable future

As urbanisation accelerates, India risks surpassing global benchmarks for energy efficiency and carbon emissions in buildings. In such a scenario, HPBs offer resilience through adaptive, self-sufficient structures. They promote social well-being by nurturing healthier indoor environments, including air quality




sustainable

Advancing AI adoption and sustainable innovation

Digital Education Council, Nov 13, 2024

Members of the Digital Education Council (mostly from business and management schools) have signed this short declaration (5 page PDF) following their inaugural meeting this week. Most interesting is their desire to "commit to developing strategies to maintain curricula relevance, at speed with the rapidly-evolving pace of industry."

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]




sustainable

Actionable Branding Tips For Sustainable Businesses

  Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it has become a crucial consideration as consumers grow increasingly eco-conscious. For businesses in the travel industry, embracing sustainability offers immense advantages, such as expanding the customer base, securing government incentives, and enhancing brand reputation. Incorporating eco-friendly practices is an excellent starting point, but to make a […]

The post Actionable Branding Tips For Sustainable Businesses appeared first on The Design Inspiration.




sustainable

Unveiling green advances: sustainable innovations shaping hotels

This paper explores innovative ideas and strategies for promoting environmental sustainability within the hotel industry, with the goal of streamlining these concepts for practical application in the industry and facilitating future academic research. The research methodology encompassed extensive online desk research, yielding a collection of 87 articles that were subject to thorough analysis. Additionally, personal consultations were conducted with industry experts to align their insights with the identified innovative ideas. To facilitate comprehension, appropriate terminology was assigned to these concepts. Subsequently, a post-discussion phase was conducted, engaging in one-on-one sessions with five industry experts to distil these insights into four distinct directions. This paper holds potential value for both industry stakeholders and academics, serving as a structured compendium of ideas and innovations crucial for advancing sustainability in the hotel sector. Moreover, it provides a solid foundation for further academic research.




sustainable

Exploring the impact of monetary policy on sustainable development with mediation of e-banking services and moderation of financial risk awareness

Monetary policy is essential for sustainable growth where effective monetary policies can improve investment, employment, and consumption by fostering a balanced and resilient economy. However, sustainable development is vital for harmonising economic growth, social equity, and environmental preservation. A number of factors have been discussed in the literature that impact sustainable development. However, this study explicitly tries to investigate the nexus among the monetary policy (MP) toward sustainable development (SD) with the mediation of e-banking services (e-BS) and moderation of financial risk management (FRM) from China drawing on stakeholder theory. It discovered a significant connection between monetary policy and sustainable development along with sub-dimensions of SD. Likewise, this study confirmed a positive mediating influence of e-BS between monetary policy and sustainable development. Finally, the study additionally ensured a positive moderation of financial risk between monetary policy and sustainable development, respectively. These outcomes bestow several interesting insights into monetary policy, e-banking services, financial risk management, and sustainable development.




sustainable

Entrepreneurship vs. mentorship: an analysis of leadership modes on sustainable development with moderation of innovation management

This study explores the connection between mentorship and sustainable development (SD) within three major perspectives of sustainable development, such as social, environmental, and economic perspectives from China. Second, the study revealed the relationship between entrepreneurship and SD. Third, a moderation influence of innovation management (IM) was observed among the proposed nexuses of mentorship, entrepreneurship, and SD. To this end, a total of 535 questionnaires were eventually utilised with the support of SmartPLS and the structure equation modelling (SEM) approach. A positive connection was confirmed between mentorship and SD. The outcome uncovered a positive correlation between entrepreneurship and SD. In addition, a moderation of IM was found between mentorship, entrepreneurship, and SD. The study enlists several interesting lines about mentorship, entrepreneurship, and IM that might help to improve SD in terms of social, environmental, and economic perspectives. Besides, the study provides various implications for management and states the weaknesses along with the future directions for worldly researchers.




sustainable

COVID-19 disruptions driving sustainable tourism: a case of the Hawaiian tourism industry

This study inquires about the COVID-19-generated momentum and how it resulted in transformative opportunities for the hard-hit tourism industry in Hawai'i. It also investigates the type of sustainability-based management strategies that were favoured by actors from the industry to help navigate uncertain times and capture transformative opportunities. Findings indicate that actors from the tourism industry in Hawai'i perceived the COVID-19 pandemic as a huliau, or a point of transformation, to reflect and re-evaluate the tourism industry's responsibility and shift toward a recovery focused on sustainability. This research confirms that the pandemic-driven momentum accelerated opportunities for changing and transforming traditional business models and indicators of progress within the tourism industry in Hawai'i. Further research may explore additional Pacific Island countries to gain a deeper understanding of the problem within the region's context.




sustainable

Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) Practices as Responsible for the Creation of Knowledge and Sustainable Competitive Advantages in the Grocery Industry




sustainable

ICT-Platform to Transform Car Dealerships to Regional Providers of Sustainable Mobility Services

Aim/Purpose: The topic of this study is the ICT-enabled transformation of car dealerships to regional providers of sustainable mobility (e.g., car sharing). Background: Car dealerships offer specific conditions that enable a sustainable mobility offer, based on individual motorized transport like car sharing. This is especially useful in small towns or rural areas where people’s mobility is strongly dominated by private cars, and public transport coverage is limited. However, these new mobility services are combined services with the need of a deep integration of information systems, and these services are not yet related to car dealerships and customer acquisition has to be supported. Methodology: An empirical study with an inductive approach was chosen. The study consists of interviews with three focus groups of different stakeholders of car dealerships. Within the frame of the research project, “ReCaB – Regional Car-Balancing” a qualitative research approach was chosen. Within a design science approach the existing SusCRM architecture was adapted based on the elaborated requirements. Contribution: A software architecture is proposed, where Customer Relationship Management (CRM) components to market new sustainable mobility offers are vital parts and existing information systems of car dealerships are integrated. Findings: The basic feasibility of the establishment and customer acceptance has been demonstrated, at least in the area of car sharing within ReCaB. The execution in the car sharing field has already started and a number of car dealerships are already bringing their own offers to market. Major findings for the SusCRM architecture have been elaborated in a design science approach in the national German research project “Showcase for electro mobility”. Recommendations for Practitioners: There is still no fully functional prototype developed for this specific use case and evaluated in the car dealership environment. An implementation only, based on own efforts, is difficult for car dealerships because of the dealership’s lack of know-how as well as tight IT budgets. However, this approach appears particularly successful in rural areas where public transport services are heavily declining. For full implementation, the presented ICT support is imperative. Recommendation for Researchers: The research on the retailer level, especially in combination with a digital trans-formation by the use of ICT systems, is still fragmentary. Research in this area that both addresses sustainability goals on a general level and supports economical goals on the company level of automotive retailers would be useful. Impact on Society: Creation of sustainable offers as a substitute or supplement for mobility based on their own car is a promising way to reduce negative effects of mobility. Enhancement of the mobility of the people in rural areas is leading to a more active lifestyle by reaching the leisure facilities, workplaces and educational institutions in a sustainable manner. Future Research: In terms of the fast changing mobility landscape, especially on a technical level with the development of autonomous vehicles and digitalization of entire businesses new solutions are becoming accessible, that have to be integrated in further research.




sustainable

Socio-Technical Approach, Decision-Making Environment, and Sustainable Performance: Role of ERP Systems

Aim/Purpose: This explanatory study aimed to determine the mediating role of ERP in the relation between the effect of a socio-technical approach and decision-making environment, and firms’ sustainable performance. Background: Although earlier studies have discussed the critical success factors of the failure or success of an ERP system and the extent to which it achieves its desired objectives, the current study focused on the significant impact of socio-technical elements and decision-making environment on the success of the ERP system (i.e., sustainable performance). In addition, the lack of research on ERP as a mediator in the above relationship motivated this study to bridge the literature gap. Methodology: The data was collected using questionnaires distributed to 233 randomly selected employees of three multinational companies (BP, LUKOIL, and Eni) operating in Iraq. The structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. Contribution: The study contributes to the literature by examining the mediating role of the ERP system in the relationship between socio-technical elements and the decision-making environment, as well as, the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between socio-technical elements and ERP systems. Findings: The results showed that ERP is a significant mediator between the linkage of socio-technical elements and the decision-making environment while organizational culture has an insignificant moderating role in the relationship between socio-technical elements and ERP systems. Recommendations for Practitioners: In a developing country like Iraq, there is a need to implement ERP to achieve better sustainable performance through change management and organizational development that ultimately work towards enhancing individual capabilities, knowledge, and training. Recommendation for Researchers: The researchers are recommended to conduct an in-depth study of the phenomenon based on theoretical and empirical grounds, particularly in light of the relationship of socio-technical elements and decision-making environments. Impact on Society: This study provides a reference for organizations with similar cultural backgrounds in using ERP systems to minimize pollution in Iraqi context. Future Research: A more in-depth study can be performed using a bigger sample, which not only includes the oil industry but also the other industries.




sustainable

Principles of Sustainable Learning Object Libraries




sustainable

Models for Sustainable Open Educational Resources




sustainable

Review: Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders, Globalization, and Sustainable Value Creation

In Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (3rd edition) (SCSR), David Chandler and William B. Werther Jr. advance the view that the ability of firms to create value for a range of stakeholders over the medium- and long-term requires that they embed CSR into their strategies and operations. Its focus on the integration of CSR into strategic planning and implementation distinguishes SCSR from competing business and society textbooks, which tend to survey the field or focus on the management of the firm's relationships with stakeholders and society.




sustainable

Harnessing Johor’s data centre boom for sustainable future

MY state, Johor, is seeing a big rise in data centres. Many well-known companies from the United States, China and Singapore are choosing to set up their facilities here.

As a Johorean, I am proud to see the state becoming a bigger part of the digital economy. This did not happen by accident. Thanks to the efforts by leaders like Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who understands our local needs, Johor and Malaysia are becoming a key part of the digital economy.

This growth is bringing more businesses, improving infrastructure and offering new job opportunities, with benefits that can reach places like Segamat and Jementah too. Based on feedback from my constituents, they are excited with these developments.

Big gains, big potential

This is because data centres clearly bring benefits to Johor and the country. They are boosting our economy with big investments, which reached RM31 billion last year, funding new facilities, improving infrastructure.

The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, including its Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong, who is also Iskandar Puteri MP, has played a key role in bringing in these investments to Johor.

These projects do not just benefit greater Johor Bahru; smaller towns like Segamat and Jementah have also seen gains through improved infrastructure, new business opportunities and enhanced social benefits.

When big companies such as Microsoft and others start major projects in Johor, it helps put our state and the nation on the map as a global tech hub. This can attract more savvy investments and businesses in the future, creating more growth that reaches different parts of the state.

Challenges to consider

However, we cannot ignore the downsides. Data centres consume a lot of energy and water, potentially straining our resources, especially since Johor has faced water shortages before. We need to grow in a way that does not harm the environment or local communities.

We must also balance land use carefully. Data centres take up a lot of space, and over-allocating land to them could limit growth in other sectors like agriculture or housing. It may also result in lower revenue and fewer job opportunities compared to if the land had been used for other economic activities.

As we know, data centres do not create as many jobs as we hope. Once they are built, they usually do not require too many staff on site.

We need to make sure that these centres generate as many good-paying jobs for the locals, whether directly or otherwise.

Mitigating drawbacks

To make sure this data centre boom benefits the people in the long-run, the government needs to take action. I am gratified to learn that the Finance Ministry and Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry are coming up with plans to make sure data centre investments bring long-term benefits.

The Finance Ministry has suggested the introduction of a “scorecard” to push companies to create good jobs, support local businesses and prioritise sustainability.

The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry’s guidelines for energy and water use are another positive step toward our zero-carbon goal for 2050.

Programmes like the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme will help data centres use more renewable energy, making operations cheaper in the long run. These are all good efforts.

Learning from our neighbour

As we move forward, we can look to Singapore’s experience with data centres, as our neighbour has had a head start in the sector.

It has leveraged technology transfer to build a strong, knowledge-based workforce, boosting its digital economy. By setting robust environmental standards, such as energy and water usage guidelines, Singapore has also pushed for greener practices in the industry.

Our current data centre boom should be a reminder for us to keep investing in our people and infrastructure for long-term growth.

We need to equip our youth with skills in cloud computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and upgrade infrastructure like high-speed internet and reliable power supply. This will lay the foundation for lasting success.

For now, let us embrace this boom in data centre opportunities, but stay aware of the challenges. With careful planning, we can make Malaysia and Johor a tech hub that benefits everyone, and build a better future for our children.

Ng Kor Sim

State Assemblywoman for Jementah

Johor




sustainable

Life Water laying foundations for sustainable growth, future

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah-based beverage manufacturer Life Water Bhd’s new manufacturing plant in Keningau, set to begin operations by December, is projected to increase the company’s annual production capacity to 448 million litres of drinking water, with plans to double this output by 2027.

Managing director Liaw Hen Kong said, in addition, the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Zone 8 Plant 2, planned for completion in 2027, will support the company’s transition to more advanced manufacturing processes, including relocating existing lines and expanding plastic packaging capabilities.

“These investments and expansion reflect our confidence in the market and our ambition to meet future demand. We are not just expanding capacity. We are laying the foundation for a sustainable future by integrating advanced warehousing systems and leveraging modern technologies.

“Beyond manufacturing, we are also exploring new market opportunities in Sarawak and Brunei. Our goal is to replicate our success in Sabah by bringing the same commitment to quality and customer service to new markets,” he said at Life Water’s listing on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market today.

He said Life Water has strong logistics and distribution capabilities, with a fleet of 75 trucks, ensuring that beverages are delivered efficiently to over 3,250 retail outlets, 520 food service outlets, 150 wholesalers and 100 hotels across Sabah.

“Additionally, with distribution centres in Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kota Kinabalu and soon in Tawau, we are well-positioned to expand our reach and serve our growing customer base.

“This strategic network supports our goal of making our products accessible to consumers everywhere,” he said.

Liaw said over the past three years, Life Water achieved a compounded annual growth rate of 17.2%, with total revenue rising from RM103.5 million in 2021 to RM166.5 million in 2024.

Similarly, Life Water’s customer base grew from 2,815 to 3,460 customers, highlighting the steady expansion of the company’s footprint in the region.

Liaw said the implementation of the sugar tax announced in Budget 2025 will not affect the carbonated beverages manufactured by Life Water.

He explained that the sugar content in Life Water’s carbonated drinks is below 5g per 100 millilitres (ml). “Our recipe (for the carbonated drinks) is below the threshold of 5g per 100 ml. So we are not affected by the sugar tax.”

Life Water opened at 77 sen in its market debut, a 12 sen or 18.5% premium from the initial public offering price (IPO) of 65 sen. It closed at 94 sen, 29 sen or 44.6% above the IPO price on volume of 233.4 million shares.

The company raised RM63.42 million through a public issuance of 97.56 million new ordinary shares, priced at RM0.65 each.

From the total proceeds, Life Water has allocated 30.0% or RM19 million to set-up an additional drinking water production line at its Sandakan Sibuga Plant 1, 18.9% or RM12.0 million for purchasing a new drinking water manufacturing line at Sandakan Sibuga Plant 2, and 19.9% or RM12.6 million will go toward setting up a second distribution centre in Sandakan.

Furthermore, 15.2% or RM9.6 million is designated for expanding the existing plastic packaging facilities in Kota Kinabalu.

The remaining proceeds of 6.6% and 9.5% or RM4.2 million and RM6 million, respectively, are allocated for working capital and to defray listing expenses.

Holding an 11% share of Malaysia’s bottled water market, the company is also putting focus on automating key manufacturing processes to boost efficiency, reduce wastage, and ensure quality consistency.

The company’s shares are classified as syariah-compliant by the Shariah Advisory Council of the Securities Commission Malaysia.

The company’s public issue portion, made available to the Malaysian public via balloting, was oversubscribed by 32.2 times.

MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd is the principal adviser, underwriter and placement agent for Life Water Bhd’s IPO exercise.




sustainable

Sustainable Living: Simple Steps for a Greener and Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

Sustainable Living: Simple Steps for a Greener and Eco-Friendly Lifestyle




sustainable

SUSTAIN EU-ASEAN Newsletter Issue 1: a project for more sustainable research cooperation between the EU and the ASEAN

The SUSTAIN EU-ASEAN project aiming at establishing a more sustainable and integrated research and innovation cooperation between the EU and the ASEAN region in the areas of climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials has now published its first project newsletter.

This first issue of the SUSTAIN EU-ASEAN Newsletter contains information about the outcomes from the first project Networking and Cluster Session that took place on 23 January 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as features a news item about the forthcoming sessions scheduled for 28 Match 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. More can be found in the Newsletter available here.

The SUSTAIN EU-ASEAN coordinating action will focus on climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials issues and will aim to enhance collaboration between researchers in the EU and the ASEAN region. Addressing these issues in a coherent way is vital for sustainable development that leads to economic prosperity, social cohesion and environmental integrity. Both regions have developed innovative ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to adapt to climate change, improve resource efficiency and manage raw materials.





sustainable

Nature-Based Solutions: Innovation potential for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Europe

On Tuesday 30 September 2014, the European Parliament Intergroup on "Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development", in collaboration with the European Commission and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), organised a full day conference entitled: "Nature-Based Solutions: Innovation potential for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Europe."

Bringing together 140 participants including representatives from the European Institutions, local and regional authorities, research institutes, NGOs and International organisations, as well as private sector representatives, this conference aimed at promoting the solutions that nature can offer in tackling major challenges, such as climate change and natural disasters, in ensuring food security to an increasing population, in protecting the health of European citizens, and the conservation of biodiversity in the EU and at the global level.

The speakers, panellists and participants in the audience all agreed that using nature to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time can be cost-effective, can help safeguard the environment and halt biodiversity loss, and can provide numerous economic and social benefits by creating jobs and growth and by stimulating innovation.
 
Read more and find results from the conference here.




sustainable

New UN- report released on mobilizing data revolution for a sustainable development: "A world that counts"

A new report "A world that counts - Mobilising the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development" was recently published. The document points out the need for globally available and freely accessible data to monitor progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to hold governments accountable and foster sustainable development. This issue needs to be solved in a timely manner, as the gaps between developed and developing countries, between information-rich and information-poor people are increasing. Furthermore, better integrated, timely and validated information can lead to better decision-making and real-time feedback to the citizens. However, still some challenges remain, and the report points out recommendations to overcome existing limitations (countries have poor data, data arrives too late, many issues are barely covered), e.g. through a global "Network of Data Innovation Networks" that connects both organizations and experts. 

The report was written by UN-IAEG, which is the United Nations Secretary-General’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on a Data Revolution for Sustainable Development and is available online here: http://www.undatarevolution.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/A-World-That-Counts.pdf





sustainable

Connecting the dots: Integrated biodiversity data could be the key to a sustainable future

Biodiversity Observation Networks (BONs) have recently become a hot topic on the scene of natural sciences. But what is their role in advancing our knowledge of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services?

A new paper in the Biodiversity journal uses the European Biodiversity Observation Network (EU BON) as an example, to explain how they can fill in gaps and address existing barriers in knowledge through implementing an integrated biodiversity information framework.

Biodiversity supports essential ecosystem services that are key to human well-being. The ongoing global biodiversity decline is a threat to humans, particularly in developing countries.

The Aichi biodiversity targets of the United Nations' Strategic Plan for Biodiversity set ambitious goals for protecting biodiversity from further decline, but gaps in knowledge still sit in the way of monitoring progress, hindering the assessment of the current status and future trends of biodiversity.

There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift with regards to how biodiversity data are collected, stored, shared and streamlined in order to tackle many sustainable development challenges ahead.

Solving issues of biodiversity knowledge gaps and data reuse are a main focus of the EU BON project and provide a European contribution to GEO (Group on Earth Observations) and the wider Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

The EU BON project aims at addressing the need for a shift towards an integrative biodiversity information framework, starting from collection to the final interpretation and packaging of data.

At the centre of the EU BON's efforts is promoting and adopting existing standards of good practice and integrating data within a single biodiversity portal in order to make it discoverable, accessible and digestible. The aim of the portal is to collect and standardize existing data sources, as well as to work towards translating and visualizing the collected raw data to show trends and prognoses useful to policy and society.

"Biodiversity data, information and knowledge are diverse, dispersed and disparate. It is hard for a non-specialist to make sense of raw data and often separate data sets and gaps in data prevent effective policy reporting. This is why progress towards the Aichi targets is often hard to calculate, and where BONs can play a central role by working towards standardization to achieve true interoperability of data sets." explains the lead author Dr. Florian T. Wetzel,Museum für Naturkunde (MfN), Berlin.

"For advancing with the biodiversity challenge and the Aichi Targets globally, regional BONs are needed, and this is where EU BON attempts to make a difference for Europe" adds Dr. Christoph L. Häuser, EU BON coordinator and Deputy Director General at MfN, Berlin.

###

Original Source:

Florian T. Wetzel, Hannu Saarenmaa, Eugenie Regan, Corinne S. Martin, Patricia Mergen, Larissa Smirnova, Éamonn Ó Tuama, Francisco A. García Camacho, Anke Hoffmann, Katrin Vohland & Christoph L. Häuser (2015): The roles and contributions of Biodiversity Observation Networks (BONs) in better tracking progress to 2020 biodiversity targets: a European case study, Biodiversity, DOI: 10.1080/14888386.2015.1075902





sustainable

This year’s Trondheim Conference: Ecology and Economy for a Sustainable Society

Ecology and Economy for a Sustainable Society
This year’s Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity has been organized to be held from May 27 until May 31, 2013 in Trondheim, Norway.  The conference will go under the "Ecology and Economy for a Sustainable Society" slogan and will be aimed at exploring how to cut development pathways towards a sustainable society by aligning policy, business, economy and ecology across borders, scales and systems.
Since the first Trondheim Conference held in 1993, the world population has grown by 25 %, the total GDP by 75 % and world trade has tripled. Despite positive achievements, loss of biodiversity along with global warming is undermining human wellbeing, especially that of the poor and vulnerable. Those issues and finding suitable solution will be on the main agenda of the 2013 Trondheim Conference.

Participation and registration
Participation in the conference is by invitation only. Each country has been invited to send two experts, one from each field of biodiversity and economy/planning. Invitees may register for the conference on the Participation and registration page.





sustainable

Africa Rising: Mobilising Biodiversity Data for Sustainable Development conference

From 22 to 24 March 2015, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) will host an international conference at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, entitled, Africa Rising: Mobilising Biodiversity Data for Sustainable Development. The event is being organised in partnership with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the United Nations Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). It aims to:

  1. Accelerate regional understanding of the biodiversity data-science-policy value chain and draw attention to the opportunities and solutions that biodiversity data presents for sustainable development in Africa;
  2. Strengthen regional engagement, learning networks, and collaborative synergies with a view to streamlining the data-science-policy value chain; and
  3. Galvanise political commitment to mobilising Africa’s biodiversity data.

The event emanates from the project, Mobilising Africa’s Biodiversity Data, which is generously supported by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation and entails developing a strategy for capturing, digitising and publishing Africa’s policy-relevant biodiversity data whilst strengthening regional capacity and collaboration in biodiversity information management.

More information is available at: http://www.sanbi.org/news/sanbi-host-africa-rising-mobilising-biodiversity-data-sustainable-development-conference

 





sustainable

33rd (International Society of Limnology) SIL conference: Science for sustainable freshwater use

The 33rd (International Society of Limnology) SIL conference "Science for sustainable freshwater use" will be held from 31 July until 5 August 2016 in torino, Italy. 

Our planet is under pressure due to increased demand for freshwater. The availability and suitability of water resources are threatened by human influences, directly, through globally unbalancing the slow and fast water cycles and impairing water quality, and indirectly through the adverse effects of climate change. Many freshwater ecosystems are deteriorating in quantity and quality. As a result, an increasing number of people are chronically short of water.

In this context, limnology must represent the answer to the planetary water crisis as we need more science and more scientists to urgently face a sustainable and effective freshwater recovery. This need can be satisfied only improving our knowledge in Limnological Sciences and the people awareness of what science can do for a more sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems.

More information available here: http://www.sil2016.it/





sustainable

The Renovated Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Features Sustainable Design

Mecanoo and Beyer Blinder Belle designed The New York Public Library’s completely renovated Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library. The design team selected Rockfon Alaska acoustic stone wool ceiling panels to create a cohesive, timeless appearance while providing best-level sound absorption and sustainability benefits.




sustainable

Sustainable hard hat

The Nexus E:Protect lighter-weight hard hat is made of plant-derived bio polymers, wood fibers and recycled plastics. It uses Centurion Safety’s six-point webbing suspension and ratchet adjustment and has an optional chinstrap.




sustainable

ASSA ABLOY Offers Energy-Efficient Sustainable Access Control Solutions

ASSA ABLOY'S intelligent Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Wi-Fi access control products operate over a facility’s already existing wired and wireless local area network (LAN), to conserve energy consumption, reduce installation costs and provide additional benefits.




sustainable

Sustainable Solar Savings

As the chief financial officer at Electric Guard Dog, a company that has been one of the original pioneers in renewable energy for the security industry, I’ve studied our system for the cost/benefit ratio of our investment in solar power in detail.




sustainable

AAK: Sustainable, Plant-Based

AAK expanded its AkoPlanet™ platform for plant-based foods in the U.S. The expansion introduces a coconut oil that abides by high sustainability standards and supports AAK’s commitment as a leading supplier of sustainable plant-based ingredient solutions, while supporting farmers, and features traceability to the farm. With the introduction of AkoPlanet™ CNO 16-001 in the United States, this product is now available globally.




sustainable

AAK Partners with Checkerspot to Develop New Sustainable Algae Oil

Consumers and global brands continue to push for new plant-based options. The crux of the challenge is to develop new fats and oils that meet three criteria: they can be produced at scale, provide unique consumer experience, and are less vulnerable to climate change.




sustainable

GNT: Sustainable Solutions

EXBERRY® Coloring Foods supplier GNT has published a major new report that sets out its plans to become the leader in its field on sustainability.




sustainable

Ocean's Halo, Smile Compostable Solutions Sustainable Broth Pods

Ocean's Halo use of the pod allows the company to expand its product offerings into a new market without creating more plastic pollution.




sustainable

Bezos Earth Fund Grant Creates Sustainable Protein Research Hub at NC State

The center will engage partners from academia and industry to research, create, and commercialize new technologies, provide training for the emerging industry workforce, and gauge consumers' protein preferences.




sustainable

CP Kelco: Sustainable Solutions

CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, is pleased to announce the results of the company’s global sustainability activities for 2020. The company is committed to more sustainable manufacturing to minimize its environmental impact, in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and its own Triple Bottom Line commitment to people, planet and profit.