GENEVA/AMSTERDAM: September 02, 2019. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Circular IQ are to co-develop an online tool in support of the Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) developed by WBCSD over the past year.
The framework, which has since been tested by 15 companies, is designed to help businesses calculate, measure and monitor their development of a circular economy as a result of primary resource extraction limits and a growing climate crisis.
Today the global economy is only 9.0 percent circular, which means successful initiatives will reduce dependence on dwindling natural resources and will create value for companies and their stakeholders claims the WBCSD.
“Our experience in collecting and digitizing existing data and using this data to improve decision-making, helps businesses to act and measure results,” said Roy Vercoulen, CEO and co-founder of Circular IQ. “I am very excited with this partnership. I believe our experience will help WBCSD to create tools, to support and empower companies to initiate actions to assess their circularity and start improving it.”
Jeff Turner, vice president of Sustainability at Dutch multinational DSM commented: “As a purpose -driven company that focuses on circular solutions, it is important that we can measure our circularity through a commonly agreed framework by the business community. This tool will not only help companies individually in collecting data and performing the calculations, it also ensures consistent outcomes for any company that chooses to use it and therefore increases the robustness of the CTI framework.”
Circular IQ and WBCSD say they are "strongly aligned in the belief that our society faces major and global challenges regarding waste, pollution, resource depletion and global warming and action and smart tooling are needed to effectively tackle these problems". The CTI-framework will help companies identify opportunities to improve their circularity and effectively address these challenges, they claim.
WBCSD says its online tool will launch at next January's World Economic Forum executive jet conclave in Davos, Switzerland.
Meanwhile for a simple, yet erudite, guide to the Circular Economy and why it can help save the planet and make money, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a good place to start: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/explore
KINROSS, Scotland. August 30, 2019. Product handling company Exporta has partnered with UK recycling company Plastic Expert to offer free recycling of its customers’ plastic pallets, plastic containers, boxes and crates.
The announcement follows the planned introduction of a consumer recycling scheme in Scotland where consumers pay a 20p deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container - and get their money back when they return the empty bottle or can for recycling.
By capturing 90 percent of most types of single-use bottles and cans for recycling, the scheme is expected to reduce emissions by four million tonnes by 2045.
“Single-use items like bottles and cans are a real menace to our environment and Scotland’s deposit return scheme will be a great way of reducing that damage, “ noted Zero Waste Scotland CEO Iain Gulland.
“Scotland’s scheme will collect a staggering 1.5 billion bottles and cans for recycling each year. That will cut the number of containers going to landfill and curb the need for new material, helping to take a dent out of the harmful emissions that are causing the climate emergency,” he added.
According to new data from the agency, 85 percent of people in Scotland think glass should also be included in the return scheme that would cut the country’s carbon emissions by a further 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 over the same period and provide a potential opportunity for Scotland’s burgeoning circular economy.
Noting all its plastic products are 100 percent recyclable, Exporta says it decided to set up the free collection scheme after being contacted by customers asking if it was able to recycle old products.
“This is a great initiative that not only helps our customers in a great way but also contributes to reducing plastic waste. A recent survey of our customers showed a 92 percent satisfaction score which we aim to improve further by introducing services like this one,” declared Exporta managing director Dale Paterson.
Plastic Expert sales director Ryan Knight added: “We are really pleased to be able to support Exporta and their customers with this plastic recycling scheme and look forward to helping them make a difference for many years to come.”
Customers can contact Exporta via www.exportaglobal.co.uk to arrange a recycling collection or order a wide range of product handling and storage equipment.
GENEVA: May 22, 2019. Global Risk Profile (GRP), a specialist in third-party risk management, has launched an index on global corruption (GCI) and a second covering the environment, social and governance (ESGI).
Encompassing 199 countries, GCI provides a comprehensive overview on the state of corruption throughout the world. Composed of 28 variables, it relies on data provided from recognised international sources including the UN and the World Bank.
“Our index includes innovative indicators that capture the complexity of corruption, including both private and public corruption, as well as country characteristics,” explained Joël Pastre, CEO and founder of GRP.
The ESGI is based on international references such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Global Compact, the eight ILO fundamental conventions and the UN Conference on Environment and Development.
In line with trending legislations aimed at preventing major environmental and human rights violations, it provides a global score for 177 countries based on 45 structured variables.
“After more than a year of R&D and dedicated effort, I am extremely proud to present these complementary indexes specifically targeted for risk management professionals to facilitate the implementation of adequate policies,” added Joël Pastre. “The development of the GCI and the ESGI are of paramount importance for effective risk evaluation in compliance with anti-corruption regulations such as the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act and the Law Sapin II, as well as the Modern Slavery Act and the French law Duty of Vigilance from an ESG perspective.”
Founded in 2009, GRP services range from integrated compliance solutions to due diligence checks and investigations for multinationals and small businesses.
OAKLAND, CA: February 28, 2019. Shareholder advocacy non-profit As You Sow has published its latest report on the 100 most overpaid US CEOs as compared to their companies’ median employee compensation.
Stephen Kaufer of TripAdvisor places No.12 with an annual salary of US$49.9 million compared to an employee median of US$99,643; and Expedia CEO Mark Okerstrom is at No.17 with US$30.7 million compared to a median of US$71,696.
Top of the list (pictured) is Ronald Clarke of Georgia-based Fleetcor Technologies that provides fuel cards and workforce payment products and services internationally. Last year he received a reported US$52.64 million compared to a median employee salary of US$34,700 – a pay ratio of 1517:1.
As You Sow report author Rosanna Landis Weaver says what has changed the most over several years is that more large shareholders are voting against CEO pay packages, and those who are not are more isolated and defensive.
Several funds, with assets of more than US$100 billion each have more than doubled the number of CEO pay packages they have voted against. According to Weaver, the largest U.S. pension fund, California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), with assets of more than US$350 billion, has increased its CEO pay package opposition by a factor of almost eight.
Despite the advocacy, As You Sow says CEO pay continues to increase with the average compensation on the S&P 500 growing from US$11.5 million in 2013 to US$13.6 million in 2017 At the same time its data suggests the companies with overpaid CEOs underperform the S&P 500.
“It is gratifying to see the improved voting records of so many of these funds, who are holding companies and boards accountable for excessive CEO pay packages,” said Weaver, who is also the programme manager of Executive Compensation at As You Sow. “We hope this trend continues. We believe that the private conversations, known as engagements, are insufficient to deal with the systemic problems.”
As in prior years, the research shows that pension funds give CEO pay packages more scrutiny and a greater level of opposition than financial manager controlled funds. Also, in general, European based investment funds vote against CEO pay packages at a greater rate than those in the US.
“The extraordinary increase in CEO pay is contributing to widening inequalities of income and wealth in America. Shareholders can and should take action on this,” said Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor and now Chancellor's professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. “European pension funds have the right idea. US pension funds need to step up.”
As You Sow is a non-profit shareholder advocacy organisation. Founded in 1992, it promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies.
The 100 most overpaid US-based CEOs
ADDIS ABABA: October 23, 2018. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has returned to Ethiopia for the fifth time in the past 20 years for a three-week training programme to improve the skills of local eye teams together with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia.
The World Health Organization estimates 1.6 million people are living with blindness and 3.5 million have uncorrected low vision among the country’s population of 105 million when 87 percent of blindness and 91 percent of low vision is completely avoidable.
Over the course of three weeks Orbis is training 335 eye -care professionals, screening and examining 250 patients, and operating on 122 people.
After Ethiopia the aircraft, a FedEx-donated DC-10 convertible freighter, will be positioning in Doha until November 12 as part of the Doha Healthcare Week - where the Orbis team will organise public and private tours inside the aircraft, as well as hosting on board workshops, including a nursing and ophthalmology session.
The aircraft is also stopping in Doha to celebrate the Qatar Creating Vision initiative, funded by the Qatar Fund for Development and led by Orbis. The programme expects to deliver 5.6 million eye care treatments to children across India and Bangladesh by mid-2020.
“Qatar Airways is proud to be a supporter of Orbis, as we believe in supporting communities in need and creating a tangible difference in the world,” said Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker. "We are especially pleased to host the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital during Doha Healthcare Week, as it is a wonderful way to raise awareness of the critical need for medical eye treatment around the world.”
BONN: February 07, 2019. The Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL Group) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are celebrating 10 years of their ‘Get Airports Ready for Disaster’ (GARD) programme that has been held in 45 airports in 23 countries.
The programme is the result of experiences gained from supporting logistics at airports in the wake of disasters: “As a global logistics company we have the resources, skills and networks that can save lives after natural disasters,” commented DPDHL director for Humanitarian Affairs Chris Weeks. “We can show airports how to prepare for the surge of incoming response teams and relief goods.”
GARD was developed by Deutsche Post DHL Group in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the aim of preparing airports in disaster-prone areas to handle the surge of incoming relief goods after a natural disaster occurs. It also enables the various organizations and aid agencies to better understand the processes at the airport in the aftermath of a disaster, which will help facilitate relief efforts and enhance overall coordination.
Trainers and training materials are provided free-of-charge by DPDHL while workshop arrangements and logistics costs are fully covered by UNDP with a contribution from the German government.
Workshops have been held at airports in Armenia, Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, the Maldives, Nepal, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
Pictured left to right: Carl Schelfhaut, DHL GoHelp manager Asia Pacific; Kim Melville, DHL Express senior director Global Airside and Standards; Gilberto Castro, manager of DPDHL Disaster Response Team Americas; Chris Weeks, and Paul Dowling, Customer Operations and Product Development manager for DHL Middle East/Africa.
IZMIR, Turkey: October 10, 2018. Speaking to students at Izmir’s Dokuz Eylül University this week, logistics industry professionals suggested the industry has many opportunities for a graduate with a good understanding of English and a willingness to work overtime.
Sharing their experiences with students were Ismail Tokaç, Aegean Region manager for Solmaz Logistics; Borusan Logistics Anatolian Regions manager Mehmet Korukluoğlu; and Alp Tuğhan, chairman of Yeditepe Transportation.
Tuğhan said his company had grown from two people in 2006 to become the No.1 air cargo agent in the region for the past five years with a turnover of TLL80 million. Noting Yeditepe would always need logistics graduates, he said the key to success was “producing solutions for customers.”
Tokaç added that logistics employees have more opportunities today, noting Customs facilitation “requires a lot of responsibility” and can be a very fulfilling career with the right attitude.
Korukluoğlu pointed out that employers don’t expect logistics students to be an “incredible hardware or logistic genius” and advised students to get industry experience prior to graduation in order to realise it is not nine-to-five job.
Pegasus Airlines vice president of Cargo Aydın Alpa said his 35 years in the industry had taught him the importance of a foreign language: “Wherever you go in the world, you will have to work with English,” he noted.
Over the past four years Alpa has run a series of logistics conferences for students in partnership with several Turkish universities and has plans to continue the programme next year. Prof Okan Tuna, from Dokuz Eylul University’s Faculty for Logistics Management, said Alpa's continued support for student education was very valuable and he hoped the university cooperation would increase.
Pegasus reported a 37 percent rise in revenue for the first six months of 2018 to TLL2.9 billion and a gross profit of TLL141.5 million. Passenger traffic for the first eight months totaled 20.2 million, an increase of 11.9 percent year-on-year.
In a related announcement, FIATA and the World Customs Organization have agreed to establish joint training courses between the WCO Academy and the FIATA Logistics Academy to disseminate Customs e-learning courses.
BOWLING GREEN, OH: November 27, 2018. Twelve pieces of ancient mosaics in Bowling Green State University’s (BGSU) art collection have been returned to Turkey after a 53-year absence courtesy of Turkish Airlines.
BGSU and the Directorate General for Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey reached an agreement for the return of the mosaics last May.
Acquired by the university in 1965 for US$35,000 from the Peter Marks Works of Art gallery in New York, the mosaics (pictured on display at BGSU) had long been thought to have originated from Antioch, in modern-day Turkey. However in 2012 new research by then-BGSU faculty member Stephanie Langin-Hooper and Rebecca Molholt of Brown University suggested the mosaics were in fact from Zeugma, Turkey.
Additional research and consultation with scholars, art experts and representatives from the Republic of Turkey confirmed the mosaics are very likely from Zeugma. BGSU says the provenance of the pieces prior to their acquisition likely will never be known as some mosaics from Zeugma were illegally excavated and put into the international art market.
The mosaics will now be exhibited at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep, Turkey. This will allow the historic artifacts to be appreciated and studied where they originated and be enjoyed by a much wider audience, according to BGSU president Rodney Rogers.
“As a public university, we have a special obligation to contribute to the public good. That obligation extends to the global community,” Rogers said. “The preservation and care of the mosaics has been a priority for BGSU for the last 53 years. We have relied upon the expertise of scholars to guide us, both when we acquired the pieces and now.
“Thanks to the work of Dr. Langin-Hooper and others, it is clear today that the best place for these precious artifacts is back in the Republic of Turkey at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. We greatly appreciate the collegiality of the Turkish Ministry of Culture in working with us through this process,” he continued.
BONN: June 20, 2018. Acknowledging World Refugee Day, the Deutsche Post DHL Group says 4,790 refugees have been given an inside look at working life at the company since 2015 and 1,702 from Syria, Eritrea, Somalia, Iran and Iraq are currently employed.
Now the Group is collaborating with ‘Joblinge’, a non-profit organization that helps young people up to the age of 25 with or without a refugee background to enter the world of work.
“Employment is an important prerequisite for successful integration. Hence, as a global company, it goes without saying that we will provide refugees with opportunities within the scope of our resources,” says Thomas Ogilvie, Board member for Personnel, Labor Director and Corporate Incubations.
“We have already gained a great deal of positive experience even though we have had to navigate our way around a lot of red tape. We, as employers, also benefit from having a wider circle of applicants. This is of great advantage to us when we recruit new staff, as, particularly in some metropolitan areas, where the good economic environment provides for full employment, the search for personnel can become a challenge,” he explains.
Together with the Federal Employment Agency, Deutsche Post, Deutsche Telekom and Henkel have now launched a ‘Praktikum PLUS Direkteinstieg’ programme, which employs a three-phase concept to integrate refugees into the world of work.
During a 12-week period they have the opportunity to become familiar with their place of work and are gradually provided with induction training.
This phase is then followed by an internship with a broader remit and increased responsibility. During this time, language and integration courses may also be attended if required. In the final phase the refugees are offered employment with a fixed-term two-year contract.
Deutsche Post DHL Group has also launched the first international programmes to support people who have had to flee from their homes in cooperation with SOS Children’s Villages in Sweden, Lebanon and Syria as well as with Teach For Lebanon.
ISTANBUL: November 20, 2018. Logistics show organiser Messe Munchen says its latest logitrans exhibition in Istanbul closed last week after 14,100 visitors from more than 50 countries saw 136 exhibitors representing 20 countries.
"logitrans has confirmed its position as the leading trade fair for the logistics industry in Turkey and the Eurasian region,” said Gerhard Gerritzen, member of the Management Board of Messe München and İlker Altun, managing director of EKO MMI Fuarcılık Ltd Şti, Turkey.
"In addition to a large number of Turkish companies, the top three exhibitor countries were Italy, Germany and Austria. International collaboration [also] played a major role at the fair,” they added.
Steffen Bilger, State Secretary for the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure added: "Turkey is an important anchor country between Europe, the Middle East and Asia with great economic impact and a significant hub function. logitrans is the most important industry meeting place for the logistics industry in this area."
This was demonstrated by the first participation of a joint pavilion organized by the Trans- Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), an association with companies from Azerbaijan (ADY Express), Georgia (GR Logistics & Terminals) and Kazakhstan (KTZ Express JSC, Port of Kuryk).
"Intermodal transport is becoming increasingly important for Turkey and consequently for logitrans. During the last years we saw a tremendous growth and also expect intermodal to be the efficient and sustainable future of our industry,” declared Onur Talay, managing director of intermodal logistics company Sarp Intermodal.
The intermodal business focus was also demonstrated by exhibitors U.N. Ro-Ro, Arkas Logistics, Kombiverkehr, the Rail Cargo Group plus, for the first time, the ports of Trieste, Marseille and Bari.
"Logistics in particular is an industry in which reliable relationships are important, and logitrans in Istanbul provides the best platform for dealing with international trade flows in the Eurasian region,” said Altun and Gerritzen.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland: November 20, 2017. A new study by the IMD business school says Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium are the best at attracting, developing and retaining top talent.
IMD's annual World Talent Ranking assesses the methods countries use to attract and retain the talent to sustain their businesses. The study draws on a survey of thousands of executives from 63 different economies, and more than two decades of data from the IMD World Competitiveness Center (WCC).
The 2017 ranking suggests Europe continues to dominate with 11 out of the top 15 most talent-competitive economies as Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Luxembourg make up the rest of the top-ten places. Canada is just out at No.11 followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand and the U.S. The UK has dropped one place in the past year to No.21; Qatar entered the list for the first time at No.22 followed by Taiwan (23), Portugal (24), France (27), Japan (31), Spain (32) and Italy (36).
The ranking is based on a country's performance in three main categories - investment and development, appeal and readiness - that assess how it performs in education, apprenticeships, workplace training, language skills, cost of living, quality of life, remuneration and tax rates.
IMD suggests Europe's high level of investment in primary to tertiary education has allowed countries to develop local talent and at the same time attract foreign, highly-skilled professionals that many European businesses rely upon.
According to WCC director Arturo Bris, the research indicates Germany continues to play a lead role in sustaining the continent's talent competitiveness: "Germany is one of the largest exporters of talent and the country also attracts talent from across the world. Despite criticism from some quarters surrounding immigration, Germany's policies sustain its access to the international talent pool," he noted.
IMD said the U.S. risks losing some of its global competitiveness if it doesn't increase investment in public education compared to the top countries that all share similar indicators - a significant investment in outstanding educational systems, a superior quality of life, and substantial opportunities for career advancement throughout an individual's professional life span.
