Tatzoo is the creation of Molly Tsongas, an employee of Citizen Group, a San Francisco-based pro-social advertising agency, and supported by a TogetherGreen Fellowship from the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

“We are on the verge of the sixth greatest extinction in over 25 million years, threatening to kill as many as 30 percent of all species within my lifetime,” said Molly Tsongas, a 2009 TogetherGreen Fellow. “I believe my generation must unleash our fresh ideas, fearless attitudes, and social connectivity to tackle this crisis, starting with our local species and communities.”

TogetherGreen support will allow Tatzoo to focus its efforts on California’s biodiversity hotspots and 15 local endangered species, ranging from the lovable sea otter to the majestic California condor, to the tiny bay checkerspot butterfly. Several categories of species are represented, including mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

The challenge to participants is to engage 100 people in the course of 100 days to help save a local endangered species of your choosing in California. You can find a complete list here: http://tatzoo.org/about/. How you engage your network is totally up to you. Some of the initial ideas that have been submitted focus on art, multi-media, and even brewing beer, a reflection of the out-of-the-box thinking Tatzoo – and, on a larger scale, TogetherGreen – is encouraging.

Individuals have until August 5, 2010 to submit ideas and vote for their favorite projects via Facebook. You must be between the ages of 18-35 and live in California to participate. A panel of activists, tattoo artists, and conservationists will review the top-rated ideas and select 15 finalists. The 15 people with the best ideas will be given a free Flip video camera, donated by Cisco, to document their journey and a real tattoo of their species at the completion of their project as a symbol of their leadership. The 15 Tatzoo projects must launch on August 8, 2010 and last until November 16, 2010.

“Molly is the kind of innovative thinker who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President Frank Gill. “Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. The Tatzoo project holds promise in expanding species protection in California by giving young people something they value so we are pleased to provide support for this innovative effort.”

Molly Tsongas is one of 40 individuals nationwide selected as a TogetherGreen Fellow. The TogetherGreen Fellowship offers specialized training in conservation planning and strategic communication, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow receives $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water, and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.

“I like the idea that this project will connect people in a very real visual and physical way to the specific species facing extinction,” said Jason Stein of Cyclops Tattoo, based in San Francisco. “Also, nothing grabs people’s attention like a fresh brightly colored tattoo.”

For more information, visit:
Tatzoo Website: http://www.tatzoo.org/
Tatzoo Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/tatzoo
Tatzoo Twitter: http://twitter.com/tatzooproject

A complete list of the TogetherGreen Fellows can be found at www.TogetherGreen.org/fellows.

About TogetherGreen
Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. To date, 80 environmental leaders-half from within Audubon and half from outside organizations-have received TogetherGreen Fellowships to protect land, water, and energy resources nationwide. For more information, visit www.togethergreen.org.

About Audubon
Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $493 million to philanthropic programs in the U.S.

For more information on Toyota’s commitment to improving communities nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/about/philanthropy.

About Citizen Group
This award-winning agency builds “citizen brands” by helping clients shape values-based brand strategies and brings them to life through compelling marketing campaigns and creative community initiatives that inspire, inform, and invite audiences to participate. Citizen serves a range of for-profit and non-profit clients and creates deliverables for all forms of media – including film, print, outdoor, online marketing, websites, social media, direct marketing, events, identity systems, and branded content. For more information and to view Citizen’s client portfolio, visit: http://www.citizengroup.com/.

Litl, PACT Underwear and Method Products all took home prizes for sustainable design at the International Design Excellence Awards 2010 (IDEA 2010) sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA).

Method tied for Best in Show for its new laundry detergent product. The new detergent is eight times more concentrated than normal strength detergent, reducing the energy, water material requirements needed for packaging production by squeezing fifty loads of laundry in one bottle. The bottle uses over 36 percent less plastic compared to traditional 2x detergents and 50 percent of that comes from recycled plastics. The detergent itself is a plant-based formula made using 95 percent natural and renewable ingredients.

PACT Underwear won in the Ecodesign category. The company has designed a 100 percent compostable shipping bag, and its product is made from 95 percent organic cotton with 5 percent elastane to increase product lifespan and decrease waste. PACT does not use inks or dyes that contain heavy metals and does not make any garments in optic white because of the harsh bleaches required to achieve a bright white. All of the company’s inks and dyes meet or exceed GOTS and EKO standards.

Litl, meanwhile, won for its netbook packaging, which also functions as its own shipping box, eliminating the need for an additional protective box and reducing carbon footprint by minimizing transportation space requirements. The entire package is made fro recyclable paper with no plastics or foams used. The interior also has small removable boxes a user can remove and use as desk containers. Herman Miller, Firbug, and Zen Wagon also took prizes in the Ecodesign category.

California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released a draft of its green chemistry regulation that implements a process for the design of safer products to protect consumers from toxic substances. Meanwhile, the state’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction law may be delayed if a new measure tying the law to employment rates gets passed in November.

The Draft Regulation for Safer Consumer Products will implement a key component of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Green Chemistry Initiative, which he signed into law in 2008.

The draft regulation creates a science-based process to evaluate chemicals of concern in products, says DTSC. The agency also expects it will drive innovation in California’s product development sector.

The draft regulation will prioritize toxic chemicals and products, require manufacturers to seek safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in their products, and create tough governmental responses for lack of compliance.

Under the draft regulation, DTSC would create a list of chemicals that are toxic and can harm people or the environment, and prioritize products containing those chemicals based on factors such as the volume in commerce, the extent of public exposure and how the product is eventually disposed.

Manufacturers of those products would perform an “alternatives assessment” to determine if a viable safer alternative is available, says DTSC.

As part of the regulatory development process, the state agency has held several public meetings, workshops and worked with all stakeholders to develop the draft regulation as well as released the draft’s outline in April. Written comments on the draft are due to DTSC by July 15, 2010.

The state will also get a chance to vote on a new measure this November that would postpone implementation of AB 32, California’s greenhouse gas reduction law passed in 2006, reports Los Angeles Business Journal.

The law requires greenhouse gas emissions in California to meet 1990 levels by 2020, which would require substantial investment in equipment at refineries, power plants and other factories, reports Reuters.

The measure would delay AB 32 until the state’s unemployment rate goes below 5.5 percent for a year, which now stands above 12 percent, according to the journal. The unemployment rate hasn’t been that low since 2007.

The initiative was launched last year by two Republican lawmakers backed by Texas oil companies Tesoro and Valero Energy, according to the article.

Opponents to AB 32 led by Valero and other out-of-state oil interests spent nearly $2 million dollars to put the initiative on the November ballot, according to West Coast Green.

Opponents also said it will hurt businesses and lead to higher utility rates and fuel prices, reports McClatchy Newspapers.

However, new analysis shows that AB 32 will have a minimal impact on small businesses with small increases in the price of electricity, natural gas and transportation fuels, according to a Brattle Group report.

Supporters of AB 32 including Governor Schwarzenegger say if the new measure is passed it would slow the growth of green jobs and increase dependence on foreign oil, reports McClatchy.

Some environmental groups are linking the measure to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, by stating that the measure is backed by Valero and Tesoro, reports Reuters.

CAP’s Daniel J. Weiss has the details:

The WSJ-NBC poll was conducted by respected pollsters Bill McInturff (R) and Peter Hart (D).  McInturff was John McCain’s presidential pollster in 2008.  The survey was conducted June 17-21, 2010 – after President Obama’s Oval Office address on the oil catastrophe and clean energy reform.  There were 1,000 respondents, and the margin of error was +/- 3 percent.

Respondents favored comprehensive energy and carbon pollution reduction legislation by 63 percent to 31 percent – a two to one margin.

Do you support or oppose an energy proposal designed to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, even if it means an increase in the cost of energy? (IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE, THEN ASK) And, do you strongly (support/oppose) or just somewhat (support/oppose) this?

Significantly, strong support for this legislation was double the strong opposition.

The reality of the BP oil disaster has likely led to far greater concerns about energy policy now than they were last month.  When given a list of issues “that have been proposed for the federal government to address,” Americans expressed the second most  concern about the “Gulf Coast oil spill and energy,” trailing only “job creation and economic growth.”

Americans are increasingly skeptical about offshore oil drilling.  In both May and June polls, respondents were asked

When it comes to oil drilling off U.S. coasts, which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view?

Statement A: The potential harm to the environment outweighs the potential benefits to the economy.

Statement B: The potential benefits to the economy outweigh the potential harm to the environment.

The results show a 14 percent drop in support for offshore oil drilling in just a single month.  This is big swing of public opinion.

As Senate Democrats gather this afternoon to discuss energy and climate policies, they should remember that Americans strongly support action.  This is evident in poll after poll that conclusively demonstrate that Americans want comprehensive energy reform that includes real reductions of global warming pollution.  This is true even when respondents are told that it would cost jobs or increase energy prices.  With such a supportive public, it’s time for senators still hiding in the shadows to come into the sunlight and support comprehensive reform.   The American people are with you.

– Daniel J. Weiss

Related Posts:

• Overwhelming majority support strong action to cut fossil fuel use, advance clean energy
• Post BP Disaster: Support grows for comprehensive energy bill that makes carbon polluters pay
• Obama’s campaign pollster: “In the aftermath of the oil spill disaster, voters overwhelmingly support a comprehensive clean energy bill…. Voters understand the dangers of our dependence on oil. Now, they’re ready to hold Congress accountable.”

• New polls show Latinos and African Americans support bipartisan climate and clean energy jobs bill
• Memo to policymakers: Public STILL favors the transition to clean energy
• Swing state poll finds 60% “would be more likely to vote for their senator if he or she supported the bill” and Independents support the bill 2-to-1 (9/09)
• New CNN poll finds “nearly six in 10 independents” support cap-and-trade (10/09)
• Voters in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri overwhelmingly support action on clean energy and global warming (11/09)
• Overwhelming US Public Support for Global Warming Action (12/09)
• Public Opinion Stunner: WashPost-ABC Poll Finds Strong Support for Global Warming Reductions Despite Relentless Big Oil and Anti-Science Attacks (12/09)
• It’s all about Independents — and Independence (1/10)
• Yale:  When asked whether they “support or oppose regulation carbon dioxide…as pollutant,” 73 percent said yes, with only 27 percent opposed, including 61 percent of Republicans (2/10)

1. If you’ve already conquered the 100-mile diet, now try the 150-mile wardrobe. (Treehugger)
2. Monsanto versus alfalfa farmers – who won? (Grist)
3. Concord, MA: home to Walden Pond and the country’s first ban on the sale of bottled water. (The New York Times)
4. The departing UN chief climate negotiator says he’s still optimistic. (Yale Environment 360)
5. Will removing a ban on commercial fishing spell doomsday for abalone in South Africa? (Extinction Countdown)

Baxter Highlights Progress Toward Sustainability Priorities
Baxter’s 2009 Sustainability Report – Our Priorities for a More Sustainable Future focuses on the company’s progress toward its sustainability priorities and goals, and features various initiatives and performance metrics.

Baxter’s sustainability priorities, grouped into the three broad categories of Our People, Our Operations and Products, and Our World, reflect issues of key concern to Baxter and its stakeholders and areas where the company is uniquely positioned to have a positive impact. Corresponding long-term performance goals demonstrate the company’s commitment, motivate continual improvement and help stakeholders assess performance. These goals include creating an inclusive workplace, strengthening math and science education, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and water usage.

“Sustainability is an extension of our business and our culture,” said Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., Baxter’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Each of our sustainability priorities represents an opportunity to engage employees, as we collectively contribute to a more sustainable world and benefit our business.”

Initiatives highlighted in the 2009 report include:

• Decreasing water usage by 9 percent in absolute terms and 29 percent indexed to revenue compared to 2005;
• Launching the Global Supplier Sustainability Program, incorporating 20 green criteria into Baxter’s purchasing procedures;
• Achieving a third straight year of improvement in reducing cases resulting in days lost due to workplace injuries;
• Realizing environmental benefits at Baxter’s European headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, which uses nearly 80 percent less energy than a typical office building of its size due to green-building design elements such as natural lighting, roof-top solar panels and other innovative features; and
• Decreasing net greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 5 percent on an absolute basis and 26 percent indexed to revenue compared to 2005.

Links to additional information about the examples listed above are available via the online news release at www.baxter.com. Additional examples and data can be found in the company’s comprehensive 2009 Sustainability Report, which is aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, available at http://sustainability.baxter.com. The report features in-depth reporting across key sustainability topics, including community support; employees; environment, health and safety; ethics and compliance; governance; and product responsibility.

First and Only Medical Product to Receive Carbon Trust Certification
As part of its efforts to advance product stewardship and sustainable practices in manufacturing, Baxter recently received Carbon Reduction certification from the UK-based Carbon Trust for FLEXBUMIN [Albumin (Human)] – the first and only albumin therapy in a flexible, plastic container, and the first and only medical product to receive this certification.

FLEXBUMIN represents an innovative combination of Baxter’s BioScience and Medication Delivery core competencies in bringing together a lifesaving therapy in a unique packaging system – the GALAXY container. Historically, albumin was packaged in glass bottles like Baxter’s BUMINATE [Albumin (Human)]. FLEXBUMIN received certification from the Carbon Trust based on a verification of comparative carbon footprint analyses combined with a commitment by Baxter to continue to decrease the carbon footprint of FLEXBUMIN during the next two years. The analyses were conducted in accordance with the BSI PAS 2050 Standard for product carbon footprinting and quantified the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the 50ml and 100ml FLEXBUMIN and BUMINATE container systems and transportation, from resource extraction through end-of-life.

“As the first and only medical product in the world to receive the carbon footprint certification from the Carbon Trust, it is clear that Baxter has a strong commitment to sustainable product design and manufacturing practices,” said Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust. “This certification reflects Baxter’s continuous commitment to further reduce its carbon footprint.”

The FLEXBUMIN container system offers several benefits to medical institutions and the environment. It has a 55-77 percent smaller carbon footprint than BUMINATE, depending on product size and geography, due to it requiring less energy to manufacture and its reduced weight, which decreases the energy required for transport. The product also requires 47-52 percent less storage space than albumin in glass bottles, depending on product size, saving space in both hospitals and pharmacies.

Engaging Employees in their Communities, Environment
By encouraging employees to volunteer in their communities and recognizing them for their efforts, Baxter has created a culture of active volunteerism throughout the company. During 2009, Baxter employees worldwide reported 159,000 hours of volunteer service, with more than 300 employees recording 40 hours or more, and an additional 500 Baxter employees recording 75 hours or more.

Baxter encourages employees to volunteer their time with local organizations that match their personal interests, and many choose environmental initiatives. In 2009, Baxter employees worldwide recorded more than 4,600 volunteer hours on local environmental projects. During the company’s second annual Baxter World Environment Week, held the first week of June to correspond with the United Nation’s World Environment Day, Baxter employees worldwide sponsored events that promote earth-friendly activities and sustainable living. For example, employees from Baxter’s Orth, Austria facility cleaned the river bank near the facility and held educational events that encouraged alternative forms of transportation. The global event demonstrates the integration of sustainability into Baxter’s culture and how the company’s collective efforts can make a positive impact on local and global communities.

About Baxter
Baxter’s commitment to sustainability spans three decades. The company is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and has been recognized by Corporate Knights as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World and by Corporate Responsibility magazine as one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. Baxter was also ranked first in the healthcare category of Newsweek’s inaugural Green Rankings in 2009. Baxter is a member of the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College, the Business Environmental Leadership Council of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, the Chicago Climate Exchange, the U.S. EPA’s Climate Leaders, and the Ethics & Compliance Officer Association. Baxter endorses the Ceres principles and is an organizational stakeholder of the Global Reporting Initiative.

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.

The 675,000 square foot distribution facility is located at the Greenspring Industrial Park in York, PA and is the largest facility in the Company’s distribution network. Focused on efficient water and energy use as well as resource conservation, some of the steps UNFI took to achieve gold certification included:

• Over 60% of building materials sourced from regional suppliers;
• Diversion of over 95% of construction waste from local landfills;
• Building materials used during construction contained over 35% recycled content;
• Installing a cistern to store 20,000 gallons of diverted rainwater to use for facilitation of the center’s refrigeration system;
• Water use reduction of over 40% using motion-activated sensors and flow controls throughout the building.

“Our associates continue to make significant strides in reducing our impact on the environment by incorporating sustainability in all of our business practices. This LEED® certification is another example of UNFI’s commitment to utilizing environmentally-friendly design and construction practices,” commented Steve Spinner, UNFI’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“UNFI’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and United Natural Foods serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

UNFI partnered with ARCO Design/Build, Inc of Atlanta, GA to provide sustainable design and site planning for the York distribution center, which commenced operations in the Fall of 2008. Jake M. Stefan, Vice President at ARCO Design/Build, Inc. commented, “UNFI and its ‘Green team’ is an incredibly dedicated and driven group that is deeply committed to extending environmentally sustainable initiatives. Their attention to detail and willingness to find the answers are what helped to make the project a success for all involved. UNFI sets an example for the industry by letting their actions speak for them.”

“Implementing new technologies both during construction and in building management is just one of the ways that we make sure we’re doing the right things for the environment even as we continue to grow as an organization,” said Tom Dziki, Vice President of Sustainable Development. “Over 70% of all electronic equipment and appliances in the York facility are ENERGY STAR rated. This and other technologies we’ve employed enable this facility to reduce lighting power density by more than 25% when compared with a typical building of the same size.”

The York distribution center is UNFI’s second LEED® certified distribution facility. In 2009, UNFI’s Ridgefield, WA distribution center was recognized with LEED® Gold certification. The Company is also pursuing LEED® Silver certification for its new headquarters in Providence, RI and LEED® Gold at a new 590,000 square foot distribution center that is being constructed in Lancaster, Texas.

USGBC is the nation’s leading evaluator of environmentally sustainable buildings. LEED® is an internationally recognized green building certification system and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. (www.unfi.com) carries and distributes more than 60,000 products to more than 23,000 customer locations in the United States and Canada. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as one of the “Best Managed Companies in America,” ranked by Fortune in 2006 – 2010 as one of its “Most Admired Companies,” winner of the Supermarket News 2008 Sustainability Excellence Award, and recognized by the Nutrition Business Journal for its 2009 Environment and Sustainability Award.

For more information on United Natural Foods, Inc., visit the Company’s website at www.unfi.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management estimates; actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements are described in the Company’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2009 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed thereafter, and include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to successfully deploy its operational initiatives in the Canadian market; the Company’s dependence on principal customers; the Company’s sensitivity to general economic conditions, including the current economic environment, changes in disposable income levels and consumer spending trends; increased fuel costs; the Company’s sensitivity to inflationary pressures; the relatively low margins and economic sensitivity of the Company’s business; the ability to identify and successfully complete acquisitions of other natural, organic and specialty food and related product distributors; and management’s allocation of capital and the timing of capital expenditures. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company is not undertaking to update any information in the foregoing reports until the effective date of its future reports required by applicable laws. Any projections of future results of operations are based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company’s control and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur. These projections are subject to change and could differ materially from final reported results. The Company may from time to time update these publicly announced projections, but it is not obligated to do so.

GOP state senator Randy Brogdon (OK), who is the “tea party favorite” in his race for the Republican nomination for governor in his state, indicated that he fully and absolutely endorses the second vision.  TP has the story of the another member of the GOBP .

Instead of placing blame on BP for the massive environmental and economic disaster that it has caused in the Gulf of Mexico, Brogdon claimed that government is “the problem” and that the spill is a “perfect example of why government should never be involved in the private sector”:

In Oklahoma, where oil and natural gas drive the state’s economy, tea party favorite Randy Brogdon, a Republican candidate for governor, said federal involvement in the BP disaster is only making the situation worse.

“This is a perfect example of why government should never be involved in the private sector,” said Brogdon, a state senator campaigning on limited federal government. “Government is not the solution. It’s the problem. The more government tries to get in and regulate the free market, the worse things become.”

Of course, BP’s oil disaster may have resulted from too little — not too much — government involvement. Although the exact cause of the disaster is still unknown, there is a growing mountain of evidence that suggests BP’s own corporate negligence, combined with Bush-era regulators turning a blind eye to safety violations, are what created the environment that led to the oil spill.

It would be interesting to know exactly what Brogdon means by saying the oil disaster proves that the government should “never” be involved in the private sector. Does Brodgon believe, for example, that BP’s malfeasance should end government regulation of child labor, the minimum wage, food and drug safety, and airline travel?

A repost from Think Progress.

During 2009-2010 Mary Robinson (President of Realizing Rights, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) wrote to the CEOs of 100 companies, encouraging them to adopt a human rights policy if they had not already done so. The firms contacted are headquartered in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania and Turkey. Many responded with an existing policy or intentions to develop one.

Every company human rights policy statement known to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is featured on its website:

www.business-humanrights.org/ToolsGuidancePortal/Policies

Those with policies include firms as diverse as Anadolu Efes (beverages, Turkey), Cerrejón (coal, Colombia), Ericsson (telecommunications, Sweden), Mitsubishi (automotive & other, Japan), Pfizer (pharmaceuticals, USA).

Mary Robinson said, “Business increasingly recognises the importance of respecting human rights. Human rights provide an internationally-accepted, comprehensive framework for managing a company’s impacts on workers, communities, and broader society. I congratulate those firms with policies and encourage others to follow suit.” Mary Robinson further elaborates on the importance of human rights policies in a statement issued this week, available here.

John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business & human rights, recommends that companies adopt a human rights policy. Doing so is the first step in the “due diligence” process for respecting human rights that he has developed – followed by human rights impact assessments, implementation, and tracking/reporting performance.

The Resource Centre website links to guidance for business on developing a human rights policy, and to specially-written commentaries by experts who make the case for corporate human rights policies. They include:

Wambui Kimathi, Kenyan National Commission for Human Rights: “The KNCHR would like to see more businesses, especially those publicly listed in the Nairobi Stock Exchange, state corporations and big market leaders in various sectors, acknowledge their corporate responsibility to respect human rights by having a policy on human rights.”

Faris Natour, Director Research & Innovation, Business for Social Responsibility: “The vast majority of companies around the world still have not taken the simple first step of adopting a human rights policy. The time is right for these companies to do this, and there are many free resources to get started.”

If your company has a human rights policy statement, or adopts one in the future, please contact Business & Human Rights Resource Centre so that it can be added to the list:

• Christopher Avery, Director avery@business-humanrights.org +44 7946 147652
• Malena Bengtsson, Researcher bengtsson@business-humanrights.org +44 (20) 7636 7774

Companies known to have adopted a human rights policy statement* (as of June 2010)

ABB	Ericsson	Novo Nordisk
Abbott Laboratories	Eroski	Novozymes
Aberdeen Asset Management	ExxonMobil	O2
ABN Amro	FCC	Occidental Petroleum
ACS	Ferrovial	OceanaGold
Aegon	Ford	OMV
AGF	Fortis	Oz Minerals
Aker Solutions	Freeport-McMoRan	Pentland
Akzo Nobel	Friends Provident	Pepsico
Alcan	Fujifilm Holdings	Persimmon
Alcatel-Lucent	Fujitsu	Petrobras
Alcoa	GDF	PetroCanada
Alliance Boots	General Electric	Pfizer
Alstom	General Motors	Philips
Anadolu Efes	GlaxoSmithKline	Posco
Anglo American	Gold Fields	Premier Oil
ANZ Bank	Goodyear	PricewaterhouseCoopers
Aramex	Group 4 Securico	Procter & Gamble
ArcelorMittal	Gucci	Prudential/td>
Areva	Halliburton	Rabobank
Arla Foods	Handelsbanken	Reckitt Benchiser
ArmorGroup	HBOS	Reebok
ASN Bank	Henkel	Repsol YPF
Associated British Foods	Hess	Rexam
AstraZeneca	Hilton	Ricoh
Aviva	Hitachi	Rio Tinto
Balfour Beatty	Holcim	RitzCarlton
Banco Bradesco	HP	Roche
Banco do Brasil	HSBC	Royal Bank of Scotland
Barclays	Hydro	Royal Caribbean Cruises
Barrick Gold	Iberdrola	SABMiller
BASF	Ikea	Sanofi Aventis
Bayer	Imperial Tobacco	Sara Lee
BayernLB	Implats	Sasol
BBVA	Indian Oil	SCA
BG Group	ING	Securitas
BHP Billiton	Intel	Seven & I Holdings
BMV	InterContinental Hotels	Sharp
Boeing	International Power	Shell
Bonnier Group	ISS	Siemens
Bouygues	Japan Tobacco	Signet
BP	JFE Holdings	Skanska
Brambles	Johnson Matthey	Smiths Group
British Airways	KBC Group	Société Générale
British American Tobacco	KfW	Sodexo
BT Group	Kimberly-Clark	Sompo Japan Insurance
Cable & Wireless	Kinross	Sony
Cadbur	KPN	Sprint Nextel
Cadbury Schweppes	Lafarge	Standard Chartered
Carrefour	Lagardère	Stagecoach
Casino	Lego	Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Cemex	Levi Strauss	Statoil
Centrica	Lihir Gold	Stora Enso
Cerrejón	Linde Group	Sumitomo Electric Industries
Chevron	Lloyds TSB	Sumitomo Trust & Banking
Chiquita	Lonmin	Sun Microsystems
Chubu	Lundin Petroleum	Syngenta
Cisco Systems	L’Oreal	Taisei
Citigroup	Man Group	T&D Life
Coca-Cola	Marks & Spencer	Talisman
Codelco	Marriott	Tata
Colgate-Palmolive	Marubeni	Taylor Wimpey
Commercial International Bank	Mazda Motor	Telecom Italia
Commerzbank	McDonald’s	Telefónica
Compass Group	Merck	TeliaSonera
ConocoPhillips	Microsoft	Tesco
Continental	Mitchells & Butlers	Timberland
Control Risks	Mitsubishi	Tokyo Electric Power
Co-operative Bank	Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings	Tom’s of Maine
Cosmo Oil	Mitsubishi Electric	Tomkins
Crédit Agricole	Mitsui	Toshiba
Credit Suisse	Mizuho Financial Group	Total
DaimlerChrysler	Mobilnil	Tropical Cable & Conductor
Danone	Monsanto	UBS
De Beers	Morgan Stanley	Unilever
Dell	Motorola	United Technologies
Deutsche Bahn	National Grid	Vale
Deutsche Telekom	Naouri Gourp	Vattenfall
Diegeo	NEC	Verizon
DLH	Neste Oil	Vodafone
DnB Nor	Nestlé	Volvo
Dow Chemical	Newmont	Westpac
DuPont	Nexen	Weyerhaeuser
E.ON	Nipon Express	Whitbread
EADS	Nippon Yusen	Wolseley
EDF	Nokia	WPP
EMI	Nomura Holdings	Xerox
Enagás	Nordea	Xstrata
Encana	Novartis	Yara
Endesa	Novo Group	Yell
ENI

*Companies participating in the UN Global Compact (UNGC) commit to ten principles, including principles one and two on human rights. On this list we do not include all UNGC participants, only companies that have a separate commitment to human rights (for example within a company code of conduct or as a stand-alone human rights policy). Incorporating human rights into company policies is one of the recommendations in the UNGC document, “Help Mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.

The list does not include policy statements that refer/apply only to a company’s suppliers or employees.