The EU Toy Safety Directive Committee has decided to set limits on certain preservatives in toys for children under three years old. This ban covers the following four chemicals and specifies their maximum permissible concentrations and subsequent testing methodologies: – methylisothiazolinone (MI); – benzisothiazolinone (BIT); – chloroisothiazolinone (CMI); – &

Significant progress was made in chemical regulations in Asia in 2014. The Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs compiled a table of relevant chemical management regulations in Asia for manufacturers' reference. In addition, companies were reminded to pay attention to important developments and key audit areas in South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Malaysia over the next 12 months: South Korea REACH: – From January 1, 2015, annual notification is required for the manufacture or import of new chemical substances and existing chemical substances with an annual tonnage exceeding one tonne. Registration regulations for new chemical substances and priority existing chemical substances are also implemented; – A consortium has been formed, and registration files (including the registration of minor substances) have begun; – Discussions are underway with the EU REACH consortium regarding data sharing;

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stated on March 5th that China will take a firm stance against environmental pollution, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions intensity by more than 3.1% this year (2015), reduce chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen emissions by 2%, and reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 3% and 5% respectively. In his government work report delivered at the National People's Congress, Li Keqiang stated that China will promote new energy vehicles, vigorously develop wind power, photovoltaic power, and biomass energy, actively develop hydropower, safely develop nuclear power, and develop and utilize shale gas and coalbed methane. He emphasized controlling total energy consumption and strengthening energy conservation in key sectors such as industry, transportation, and construction. He also stressed the active development of a circular economy and the vigorous promotion of resource utilization of industrial waste and domestic garbage. The report pointed out the need to win the battle against energy consumption, emission reduction, and environmental pollution. China's energy conservation and environmental protection market has enormous potential, and the energy conservation and environmental protection industry should be developed into a new pillar industry. He further emphasized the need to implement the air pollution prevention and control action plan, implement regional joint prevention and control, promote ultra-low emission retrofitting of coal-fired power plants, and promote zero growth in coal consumption in key areas. In addition to expanding the carbon emissions trading pilot program, it is also necessary to implement an action plan for water pollution prevention and control, strengthen the treatment of pollution in rivers, lakes, and seas, as well as water pollution sources and agricultural non-point source pollution, and implement full-process supervision from water source to tap. Third-party environmental pollution control should be promoted, and legislation on environmental protection taxes should be improved. According to China's key energy conservation, pollution reduction, and carbon emission reduction development plan, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focusing on developing energy-saving, pollution-reducing, and carbon-emission-reducing equipment and components can also enhance their competitiveness and enter the Chinese domestic market. (Source: ...)

Those who love plants may have noticed that more and more building facades and interior walls around us are gradually being covered with diverse plants. Some environmentalists at the forefront of the green trend are even growing edible vegetables or herbs on their own walls. In the past, large tracts of land were required for greening, but thanks to technological advancements, this has transformed the process. Now, in cities where land is scarce, you can enjoy lush greenery and breathe clean air simply by using plastic containers and support structures. Living walls were invented in the 1930s, but only in recent years have they become widespread due to the diversification of plastic's uses and the increasing demand for connecting with nature. Constructing a living wall begins with containers that can hold plants, soil, and water. Due to the lightweight, sturdy, and rust-free properties of plastic, it has become the best choice for creating living wall structures of varying sizes. These plastic living walls not only bring small joys to our lives but also reduce our environmental footprint. - Water saving: The easily moldable nature of plastic allows for the integration of drip/watering systems into the design of living wall containers. The stackable nature of the containers enables water to be reused from top to bottom, reducing the amount of water needed for each watering. - Energy saving: In cities, living walls can lower the temperature around the walls, helping to reduce electricity consumption for air conditioning in the summer. One living wall company estimates that placing a large living wall indoors...

The Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops (SISC), a nonprofit organization, and the Sustainability Consortium (TSC) announced on March 2nd a collaboration to develop sustainable agricultural product standards and reporting guidelines. The aim of this collaboration is to standardize agricultural sustainability indicators and reduce the information collection and reporting burden on agricultural stakeholders. TSC has over 90 member companies across various industries, employing more than 8.5 million people and generating over $2.4 trillion in revenue. The Sustainability Consortium is a global organization whose members collaborate to drive innovation, improve the sustainability of consumer products, and lay a scientific foundation. TSC addresses environmental, social, and economic needs by developing transparent methods, tools, and strategies to foster next-generation products and supply networks. TSC also promotes reliable, sustainable, and transparent processes and systems. SISC is a nonprofit organization comprised of farmers, food companies, and other large retailers working together to promote the sustainability of agricultural product supply chains, particularly for non-bulk agricultural products. To encourage the agricultural product supply chain to contribute to environmental protection, SISC published a book on agricultural products.

The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) released its latest Horizon Scan 2015 report. The report shows that cyberattacks have become the number one threat to business continuity, as recognized by businesses. Of particular note is supply chain disruption, which rose 11 places in the threat rankings compared to last year. This annual BCI Horizon Scan report, compiled and analyzed data from 760 companies worldwide regarding their preparedness for business continuity through questionnaires. 82% of companies considered cyberattacks the number one threat, followed by 81% who were concerned about unannounced IT outages, and 75% who feared a data breach like the one experienced by Sony in 2014. A recent industry report further indicates that large multinational corporations spend an average of over $76 million annually on cybercrime, and this figure is increasing at least 10.4% annually. The top 10 global corporate threats this year are as follows: 1. Cyberattacks (Up 1 place) 2. ...

The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), whose members include major international electronics brands such as Apple, Dell, and IBM, recently partnered with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to promote greenhouse gas reporting and reduction across the electronics industry supply chain. The EICC becomes the first industry coalition globally to collaborate with the CDP supply chain program. The EICC will encourage all companies in the electronics industry supply chain to disclose their own greenhouse gas emissions by completing the CDP supply chain questionnaire. This allows EICC members to identify greenhouse gas emission hotspots in their manufacturing processes and seek measures for emission reduction and environmental improvement. The EICC points out that collaborating with the CDP supply chain will reach the source of the electronics industry supply chain, driving energy conservation and carbon reduction across the entire industry chain. All companies in the supply chain will complete the CDP questionnaire independently, and the final score will be calculated using CDP's scoring methodology. The purpose of the score is to establish an industry baseline and identify leading companies with the best greenhouse gas performance. The CDP questionnaire is open from April 1st to July 31st each year. This year, the EICC and CDP plan to jointly release a report on greenhouse gas trends in the electronics industry and assist EICC members in establishing greenhouse gas inventory lists for their product supply chains. According to the EICC's annual report, as of [date missing], [information missing].

Today, more and more countries are turning to ecological approaches to reduce disaster risks and build climate change resilience. The 3rd World Conference on Disaster Preparedness (DDR) concluded in Sendai, Japan, with over 200 representatives from around the world pledging to mitigate disaster risks through an Eco-DDR approach. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities of this approach and how to accelerate its implementation and build global disaster resilience. The 15th edition of the UN Global Disaster Risk Reduction Assessment Report identifies addressing environmental degradation, restoring ecosystems such as mangroves and forests to buffer disasters, and expanding environmental impact assessments as key disaster reduction issues since 2015. Strengthening wetland and coastal functions: International projects invest $100 million. "Over 95% of disasters are water-related, therefore, disaster risks can be reduced through sustainable wetland management," said Jane Madgwick, CEO of Wetlands International. Alta Jean Baptiste, Director of the Civil Protection Department of the Haitian Ministry of the Interior, emphasized the importance of sustainable coastline management, especially for developing island nations like Haiti. Haiti's Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, is working to protect coastal and marine ecosystems, generate sustainable income through fisheries and marine tourism, and strengthen local disaster resilience. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world's largest environmental program fund jointly managed by the World Bank and the United Nations, has pledged US$100 million to support the Eco-DRR projects in Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka, and Colombia.

Walmart launched its Sustainability Leaders Shop yesterday (February 24th), offering eco-conscious consumers a wider selection of products. This shop also serves as a way for Walmart to communicate its Sustainability Index to consumers. The Walmart Sustainability Index, developed in 2009 in partnership with The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), is a set of supplier sustainability metrics used to evaluate the overall performance of supplier companies, rather than individual products. The metrics include environmental and social aspects. Previously, these metrics were only used for Walmart's supply chain management; however, with the establishment of the Sustainability Leaders Shop, the Walmart Sustainability Index has become a standard for identifying whether suppliers are fulfilling their corporate social responsibility in both environmental and social aspects. Products listed on the Sustainability Leaders Shop will have a special badge on their photos. Compared to other manufacturers of similar products, manufacturers whose products receive the Sustainability Leaders badge have the highest sustainability index score or at least 80 points (out of 100). However, the Sustainability Leader Label is an affirmation of a product manufacturer's sustainability practices and does not imply that its products are more environmentally friendly than other similar products.

A recent Global Risks report published by the World Economic Forum listed the "Top Ten Threats to Global Stability" for the next 10 years. Many familiar issues are included, such as high unemployment, war, and infectious diseases, with the water crisis being one of the most pressing global crises. California's water shortage threatens global food scarcity. Decreasing water resources and intensifying competition are impacting both developed and developing countries. Regional water scarcity not only directly affects local communities but can also trigger global consequences. For example, water scarcity in the United States could affect global food trade, including grains, fruits, and nuts. The US produces 32% of the world's corn and 31% of its soybeans, both crucial food crops. Therefore, water scarcity in California, the largest agricultural state in the US, could affect global product prices and availability. Rising water prices further attract industrial and energy sectors to compete for water. Whether in the US or globally, competition for agricultural and industrial water is worsening. Factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change are driving competition for limited freshwater resources from power generation, chemical production, and oil and gas fields. Power generation is inextricably linked to local water resources and is a highly water-intensive industry. According to the MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) Global Sustainability Study, power generation facilities consume 11 times more water than all other industries combined.

In 2015, at least 28 U.S. state governments will promote regulations or policies related to the management of chemicals related to consumer products, according to the latest report by the U.S. environmental group Safer States. As large retail chains in the U.S. such as Walmart have begun requiring their suppliers to disclose and manage substances of high concern (SVHC) in their products, as many as 12 states will consider legislation requiring manufacturers to identify, disclose, and/or eliminate chemicals of concern compared to a few state governments that will set limits on specific chemicals. State governments expected to implement disclosure policies include: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. The specific categories of chemicals that have attracted much attention mostly belong to flame retardants, plastic components and preservatives in cosmetics and consumer goods, such as formaldehyde. 12 state governments Alaska, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee, Washington and District

Apple recently released its 2015 Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, which summarizes 633 supply chain audits completed in 2014, covering over 1.6 million supply chain workers in 19 countries and regions. This represents a 40% increase in the number of audited suppliers compared to 2013. The report details Apple's Supplier Code of Conduct and reveals the results of supply chain audits based on these guidelines. It reveals that 15 factories were shut down for serious violations of Apple's guidelines. Of these, three factories were shut down for repeated violations of environmental regulations or failure to provide formally approved Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). Suppliers must obtain new permits from local environmental authorities before resuming operations. Five factories were shut down for directly emitting untreated exhaust gases into the atmosphere. Apple stated in the report that these factories subsequently installed exhaust gas filtration equipment and implemented exhaust gas treatment regulations to ensure that their emissions meet environmental regulations. The other seven plants were found to have discharged untreated wastewater into storm drains and sewage treatment systems. These plants must install wastewater collection and treatment systems before resuming operations. Other environmental audit findings also included...

Ocean enthusiasts and fashion lovers have joined forces for "The Vortex Project," a new opportunity to transform ocean plastic waste into fashionable denim apparel. The project, named after the "Pacific Trash Vortex," known as the world's largest landfill, focuses on recycling plastic waste from coastlines and the ocean, enhancing its reuse to produce yarn, fabrics, and other consumer products. One of the project's sponsoring partners, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, partnered with eco-friendly apparel company Bionic Yarn to launch "The Vortex Project" at the American Museum of Natural History during New York Fashion Week this month. Addressing over 300 fashion industry figures and media representatives, Ocean Keeper's Secretary Paul Watson stated, "Plastic is suffocating the ocean and marine life at an unprecedented rate. Straws, single-use plastic bags, plastic rings from six-pack beverage containers, bottle caps, and other plastic waste either entangle marine life or clog their digestive systems, leading to the death of these beautiful creatures. We hope this project will open up many meaningful opportunities for collaboration in the future." The "Whirlpool Project" will involve Ocean Keeper's Association in collecting, developing, innovating, and advocating for innovation, and will collaborate with Ocean Keeper's Association chapters around the world to launch...

Singapore, Seoul, and Hong Kong ranked among the top 10 most environmentally friendly and economically sustainable cities globally, placing 10th, 7th, and 8th respectively. Arcadis, a Netherlands-based global natural and architectural asset design firm, collaborates annually with the UK-based Center for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) to assess 50 leading cities worldwide using a triple bottom line—environmental, economic, and social indicators—and publishes the Sustainable Cities Index report. Unsurprisingly, the top 10 cities, besides the three Asian cities mentioned above, are all located in Europe: Frankfurt and Berlin in Germany ranked 1st and 6th respectively, London in the UK ranked 2nd, Copenhagen in Denmark ranked 3rd, Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands ranked 4th and 5th respectively, and Madrid in Spain ranked 9th. Arcadis points out that the triple bottom line, assessing cities' performance across three different dimensions—economic, environmental, and social—is currently the best evaluation method. Through several sub-projects belonging to these three dimensions, each city receives an overall score, allowing stakeholders to understand where the city can further improve. Singapore, for example, scored highly in both the environmental and economic dimensions. The environmental dimension indicators include urban...

China's new energy vehicle industry is expected to enter a period of rapid growth. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China released the "Implementation Plan for the National Key R&D Program on New Energy Vehicles (Draft for Comments)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), which aims to establish a complete electric vehicle system and industrial chain by 2020 and achieve a target of 5 million new energy vehicles. Analysis suggests that China's new energy vehicle market is expected to surpass the US market in the next one or two years, becoming the world's largest. However, the promotion of new energy vehicles still faces significant obstacles in second-, third-, and fourth-tier cities. According to a report by China News Service, data shows that in January of this year, China produced 6,599 new energy vehicles, a nearly five-fold increase year-on-year. Among them, pure electric sedans accounted for 2,108 units, a nearly five-fold increase year-on-year; plug-in hybrid electric sedans accounted for 2,278 units, a nearly seven-fold increase year-on-year; pure electric commercial vehicles accounted for 1,343 units, a nearly six-fold increase year-on-year; and plug-in hybrid electric commercial vehicles accounted for 870 units, a nearly two-fold increase year-on-year. Industry insiders point out that China and the United States have become the world's largest new energy vehicle markets. Although China's new energy vehicle sales lagged behind the United States by 40,000 units in 2014, due to the policy dependence inherent in new energy vehicles and China's uniquely efficient policy system, China's new energy vehicle market will surpass the US market in the next one or two years to become the world's largest. Among consumers in second-, third-, and fourth-tier cities, most believe that the local air quality is currently good, unlike the severe pollution in first-tier cities. Meanwhile, electric vehicles with the same configuration...