Companies Still Investing in Green IT

Per a Businessweek.com column, companies are investing in Green Information Technolgy solutions. Read more:

Despite the recession, companies are still setting aside a large chunk of their IT spending for green technology projects, a new study claims.

Two out of three of the companies surveyed by Deloitte—large enterprises with revenues of $500m plus—said they have at least five per cent of their IT budget earmarked for green IT projects.

One in three claimed to have allocated 15 per cent or more, and one in eight were spending more than 25 per cent on green projects.

Cutting cost is still a significant motivating factor behind green investments, along with reducing regulatory risk and improving public perception, Deloitte said.

Two-thirds of respondents said their company has a formal programme in place for measuring, monitoring and improving environmental performance, while just under half of companies said they charge the cost of electricity for IT directly back to departments—making them directly accountable for the power they use.

The report also found that some UK organisations are making major efforts to reduce their carbon emissions

For even more details visit: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2009/gb2009035_581183.htm?chan=top+news_green+business+news+index+page_top+stories.

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens- BMY Tops the Frobes CSR List

According to a Forbes.com article Bristol Myers Squibb and General Mills set the bar for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Read more..

With the nation and world in the depths of recession, companies are trying harder than ever to become more efficient, keep their remaining employees happy and have the right current policies for a healthy, prosperous future.

Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine has looked at the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S.--based on the Russell 1000 Index--to produce its tenth annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List. These companies are doing all they can to bring their shareholders more value and make sure they are running places where employees are proud to work.

In Pictures: Tips For Making The Most Of Your CSR Program

CRO publisher Jay Whitehead tells Forbes that the list is all about transparency. "If they are doing it but not talking about it, they might as well not be doing it at all," he says.

The magazine uses all publicly accessible documents to determine who the leaders are in seven categories: environment, climate change, human rights, philanthropy, employee relations, finance and governance. The list weights environment and employee relations the highest, giving each a 19.5% weighting, while climate change and human rights come in next at 16.5% and 16%, respectively. Whitehead's rationale: Employees and the environment are the two biggest hot-button issues in the current economic climate, as millions of Americans struggle with unemployment and the environment takes center stage in the government's recent $787 billion stimulus package.

Topping the 2009 list is pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (nyse: BMY - news - people ), a company that CRO included in its "penalty box" until just recently. Whitehead explains that the penalty box is for companies that would have otherwise made the list but have some blemish on their record that can't be overlooked.

For additional details follow this link: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/05/best-corporate-citizens-leadership-citizenship-ranking.html

Bellwether Services Announces Global Supply Chain, Sourcing, Procurement, & Purchasing White Paper, A Cost Reduction Strategy for Retail Manufacturers

Bellwether Services, an international awarded and leading Lean Sourcing, Spend Management, Lean Six Sigma, Supply Chain, Environmental, and Quality Audit Consultancy Firm announces a strategic sourcing Thought Leadership White Paper that provides an overview of an exceptional Global Sourcing Improvement Project which includes an European, Asian, and North American Supply Base. Global Industries, such as private equity, retail, general merchandise, utilities, beverage, transportation, medical device, and computer hardware will benefit.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS116166+10-Mar-2009+BW20090310

Award Winning Higher Education Cost Reduction Strategy is Published by Bellwether Services, a Lean Six Sigma Education Thought Leader

Bellwether Services, an International Awarded Lean Six Sigma, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Environmental, Audit Consultancy firm, announces a Lean Six Sigma White Paper prepared for Not for Profit Higher Education. This White Paper provides solutions, business results and lessons learned from an exceptional Higher Education Lean Six Sigma deployment.

http://gov-education.blogspot.com/2009/03/bellwether-services-authors-lean-sigma.html