Inform Corporate Strategy THE MONTH IN NUMBERS 0.2%


percentage of homes in Westminster to have been insulated under CERT scheme


Source: Energy Saving Trust cost of electric Nissan Leaf when


of total energy output came from wind at 8.30am on 6 September


£23,990 10%


it launches early next year Source: edie.net


Manufacturers’ data used to assess environmental impact


Telecoms firm O2 has launched an eco-rating system for mobile phones. According to the compa- ny, 44% of consumers claim that environmental factors have an influence on their mobile phone purchase.


The Sony Ericsson Elm is the most sustainable phone, topping a list of 65 mobile phones from six manufacturers. It scored 4.3 out of 5, based on the product’s environmental impact, how it helps people lead more sustain- able lives and the ethical perfor- mance of the manufacturer. All of the scores will be published online and in O2 stores. The eco ratings have been developed in partnership with Forum for the Future and the initiative forms part of O2’s Think Big sustain- ability programme.


There are 4.1B mobile phones


in circulation worldwide with a combined carbon footprint over their lifetime of more than 100


Companies looking for a cost-focused, practical approach to sustainability as it affects different areas of their business can now find it with the help of a new guide from the international consultancy ERM. The Sustainability Toolkit features eight tools and techniques designed to make a difference at the heart of a company’s front line operations. Areas covered in the guide include corporate assets, mergers and acquisitions and the workforce. Each tool is represented by a clear diagrammatic example and an introduction to the value – financial, economic and social – of taking a more sustainable approach to a particular part of the business.


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New Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, told members of the UK Environmental Law Association that she was launching a campaign to set up an Environmental Rights Commission.


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The new statutory body would bring environmental cases – to protect habitats and species for example – and argue for people’s right to a healthy environment and the rights of the wider environment. She admitted this was “an odd time and unduly ambitious”, but felt that it was time to take the initiative with a bold pro- posal building on Prime Minister, David Cameron’s announcement that this govern- ment would be the greenest ever.


02 launches eco-rating for mobile phones


million tonnes of CO2. Currently, more than 1,700 mobiles are


replaced every minute in the UK. “We know that sustainability is important for many of our cus- tomers and for the first time they will have the whole picture from which to make a full and balanced purchasing decision,” said Ronan Dunne, O2’s UK chief execu- tive. “Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the social and environmental impact of the technology they buy and we believe this kind of product trans- parency will help empower them to make greener choices.” The eco-rating scoring sys-


tem is based on data supplied by manufacturers and looks at overall environmental impacts, the raw materials it contains, the impacts caused by its manufac- ture, packaging, longevity, energy efficiency and how easy it is to reuse or recycle. It


considers the functional-


ity of handsets, and highlights devices that help people live more sustainable lives,


for example


The Sony Ericsson Elm is the most sustainable phone, according to the rating system


by replacing the need to own a separate camera or music player, or by providing software to plan journeys by public transport or on foot. It also takes into account the ethical performance of manu- facturers including labour stand- ards in the supply chain, safety and environmental principles. Peter Madden, Forum for the Future’s


chief executive,


“Billions of people worldwide are using mobile phones to organise their lives. We want to reward manufacturers who make efforts to reduce their environmen- tal impacts and think creatively about how their devices can con- tribute to a better world.” Sony Ericsson was delighted to come out on top. “We’re very proud that five out of the top 10 models in the rating come from Sony Ericsson and that our GreenHeart model Elm is leading the pack,” said head of sustaina- bility, Mats Pellbäck Scharp. “Of all attempts to compare environ- mental performance, this rating system gives consumers the clear- est picture on the environmental impact of their phone.”


said:


Last year, O2 launched O2 Recycle, which has paid out over £7M to customers recycling their old mobile phones. The firm has brought to market the Sony Ericsson Naite, the first of the manufacturer’s Greenheart range of mobile phones which has a 15% reduced carbon footprint.


BRIEFS DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES FOR BCE AWARDS IS NEARING. YOU HAVE UNTIL 11 OCTOBER 2010 TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS. WWW.BCEAWARDS.ORG 8 | Sustainable Business | October 2010


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