By Staff
Thursday, January 30, 2025 8:25 AM
PARIS—The Capgemini Research Institute’s report into the sustainability of generative AI, titled
Developing Sustainable Gen AI, shows that generative AI has a significant and growing negative environmental impact. However, many organizations are failing to appropriately track this growing footprint, which is jeopardizing their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives. As businesses weigh generative AI’s ability to drive business growth against the technology’s environmental cost, the report outlines measures to design a responsible and sustainable generative AI strategy.
By Staff
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 8:25 AM
SEATTLE—The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $2.4 million in funding for 24 small businesses to develop technologies that address public health and environmental challenges. Among the winners are two Pacific Northwest businesses using innovative approaches to tackle environmental challenges. These awards are part of EPA's Small Business Innovation Research program, an annual, two-phase competition for small businesses to develop and commercialize environmental technologies that help address the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.
By Staff
Thursday, December 26, 2024 8:25 AM
PARIS—
EssilorLuxottica has announced that its near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), marking a key milestone in the company’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact across its entire value chain. The new 2030 targets address emissions across the company’s Scope 1, 2 and 3, in line with the climate mitigation efforts outlined in the Paris Agreement adopted by the United Nations in 2015, the announcement said.
By Staff
Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:25 AM
ZURICH—Recent research from
RepRisk, a global leader in environmental, social and governance (ESG) data technology, showed a 12 percent decrease in greenwashing risk globally across all sectors during the year ending June 2024. Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading claims about a company's environmental impact to make it appear more sustainable than it is. This is the first such decrease in six years, according to the report. RepRisk's third annual
greenwashing report finds this is likely the result of increased regulatory measures and companies engaging in greenhushing out of fear of pushback from stakeholders, especially consumers, investors and regulators.
By Staff
Monday, November 18, 2024 12:18 AM
VAUGHAN, Ontario—
Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO), a leading global eye health company, has announced its exclusive ONE by ONE Recycling and Biotrue Eye Care Recycling programs have collected a total of 94,119,275 units, or 569,743 pounds, of used contact lenses, eyecare and lens care materials in the U.S. “Our unique recycling programs continue to be popular with environmentally conscious eyecare professionals, patients and consumers,” said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability, Bausch + Lomb.
By Staff
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 8:25 AM
NEW YORK—Only one in six (16 percent) of the world’s largest companies are currently on track to reach net zero emissions in their operations by 2050, while close to half (45 percent) continued to increase carbon emissions, according to new analysis from
Accenture, a global professional services company that specializes in technology and management consulting. The analysis also showed a need to expand how artificial intelligence (AI) is used to reduce emissions within and across companies—today, only 14 percent of companies display evidence of using the fast-advancing technology for carbon emissions reduction.
By Staff
Thursday, October 31, 2024 8:25 AM
HONG KONG—The
32nd Hong Kong International Optical Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organized by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (HKOMA), will take place on November 6-8, 2024, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme of “Seeing is Believing," the fair features innovative and state-of-the-art eyewear designs and products, bringing together industry players to facilitate new business opportunities. This year’s focus will be on advanced technology and sustainable design, according to show organizers.
By Staff
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 8:25 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is once again recognizing October as
Children’s Health Month. Each year, the EPA begins the fall season by raising awareness about the crucial role the environment plays in the ability for our nation’s children to grow up healthy and happy, according to the EPA. “Every child deserves to breathe clean air, drink clean water and live in healthy, thriving neighborhoods,” said Michael S. Regan, EPA administrator.
By Staff
Thursday, September 26, 2024 8:25 AM
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Showcasing its commitment to sustainability,
CooperVision has announced that its net plastic neutral contact lens initiative has resulted in the prevention of the equivalent of more than 360 million plastic bottles from entering the oceans. In addition, the company’s innovative partnership with
Plastic Bank has been captured through a new mini-documentary series, with the first episode now available. The news from the company coincided with
World Cleanup Day, Sept. 20, which is dedicated to uniting millions of people, organizations and governments to tackle global waste and help create a more sustainable world.
By Staff
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 8:25 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) has unveiled a report, titled
“Seizing Opportunities: How Small Businesses Can Lead in Sustainability and Inclusion,” that sheds light on the critical role small businesses, particularly diverse-owned ones, play in driving sustainable and inclusive practices. This new research arrives at a crucial moment, the organization said, as businesses of all sizes face growing pressure to adopt responsible practices, aligning with the rapidly evolving market demands for sustainability and inclusion.
By Staff
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 8:25 AM
DULUTH, Ga.—
National Vision, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE) has announced the release of its 2023 sustainability report,
“A World Worth Seeing.” According to the optical retailer, the report reflects continued progress across its Social, Employees, Environment and Governance (SEE+G) framework. “In 2023, National Vision helped nearly 10 million people see better and live better. Our success as a business is deeply intertwined with our commitment to improving lives through accessible and affordable eyecare and eyewear,” said CEO Reade Fahs. “This report reflects our continued strides in our commitment to sustainability and long-term growth as a means to build a better future.”
By Staff
Thursday, August 15, 2024 8:25 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently celebrated the 2024 President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) awards ceremony. This ceremony marks an annual recognition of outstanding youth who are dedicated to environmental stewardship and impressive teachers who have contributed significantly to environmental education, according to the EPA.
By Staff
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 8:25 AM
The
Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to combat the climate crisis, said there was not enough scientific support for the organization to lift restrictions on companies using carbon credits to offset their emissions, according to a research paper published this week. According to
Reuters, the paper's findings are in line with a preliminary draft and make it more likely that the SBTi will continue to resist pressure from carbon offset advocates to allow their broad use in the accounting of climate targets.
By Staff
Thursday, July 18, 2024 8:25 AM
AUSTIN, Texas—New research suggests that almost six in 10 (58 percent) of the top 100 largest public and private U.S. companies are responding to greenwashing concerns by keeping quiet on genuine ESG (environmental, social and governance) progress. With global ESG assets surpassing $30 trillion in 2022 and 85 percent of investors reporting that ESG assets lead to better returns, companies that remain quiet may be missing out on potential investment opportunities and consumer demand, according to the
Transparency Index 2024 report, published by data insights company Connected Impact and data science consultancy Ringer Sciences.
By Staff
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:25 AM
HÜRTH, Germany—Chemical and physical recycling play essential roles in realizing the objectives of the Green Deal and advancing the circular economy, according to the Renewable Carbon Initiative’s (RCI) latest position paper titled,
Home - Goals and Vision of the Renewable Carbon Initiative. RCI advocates for a pragmatic approach, emphasizing that while closed-loop recycling is a noble goal for sectors such as packaging, textiles and automobiles, it should not be approached too dogmatically. Flexibility is essential to prevent environmental and economic inefficiencies, RCI said.