CSR - General : News brief

In a bid to offset the rising cost of fuel, Wal-Mart plans to expand its offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables grown and shipped from local farms across the U.S.

During the last two years, partnerships between local farms and the world's largest retailer have jumped 50 percent, and the company anticipates it will source about $400 million in local produce this year, making it the country's largest buyer of produce that is grown and sold within a state's borders.

Once reserved for St. Patrick's Day, green beer is now available year round in the form of more ecologically sound beers.

Alex Hausman, CSR reporting manager at Timberland, writes that “CSR reporting is an important component of an overall strategic focus on sustainability. Once the right pieces are in place - strategic alignment, trend data, collaboration, sustained effort - we can start to see progress against some of the most significant challenges our society faces.”

"I always felt that big oil was going to win," said Lytle, 56. "But now I found out what true meaning of punitive damages is: puny."

Given AAA's lobbying record it was only a matter of time before someone started taking notice and offering an alternative.

Chevron, Cisco Systems Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Agilent Technologies and Occidental Petroleum took the top five slots for overall environmental and sustainability reporting.

The scope of the companies that have come together to make these recommendations is uncommon. The group encompasses virtually every industry sector.

The Fair Trade Centre, together with Levi Strauss Foundation and CTM Altromercato have financed the start-up of a production chain.

Nothing But Nets, the best-known campaign, has raised $20 million from 70,000 individuals, most of it in donations averaging $60.

Without widespread corporate support, passage of the bill - already a long shot at best - becomes even more unlikely this year.