Today's Topics:
Corporate Attitudes Towards the Environment
PVC
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Loop-Detect: GreenYes:98/159
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Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 16:01:45 -0500
From: "RecycleWorlds" <anderson@msn.fullfeed.com>
Subject: Corporate Attitudes Towards the Environment
When last heard from, British Petroleum's John Browne was breaking
ranks with most industry to support efforts to avert global warming.
Mr. Browne is again in the news for BP's merger/acquisition with Amoco
yesterday, which led to the occasion of a short profile in today's
Wall Street Journal (8/12/98).
According to the article, "BP's Bropwn is 'Green' but With Focus on
Profits," by Helen Cooper:
"If Tony Blair is New Labor, the rejuvenated 1990's face of
Britain's Labor Party, then John Browne ... is New Oil.
"The 50 year old Mr. Browne dines with members of Greenpeace, the
arch enemy of oil companies like BP.
"...
"In a surprising speech in California last year, Mr. Browne talked
about the steps he believes oil companies must take to prevent further
depletion of the world's oil resources and find alternative energy
sources. He has been featured as the principal speaker at a
Greenpeace conference on forging new alliances with business to help
solve environmental problems Last year, he dined privately with
Greenpeace's executive director, Lord Peter Melchett.
"'Mr. Browne has 'made a valiant attempt to put a green sheen on
his organization,' says Greenpeach campainger Matthew Spencer. But Mr.
Spencer isn't entirely sold. 'Inevitably,' hje says, 'if you scratch
the surface, you find an aggressive company looking for new oil
reserves.'..."
To the contrary to me it's good -- not bad -- news if, as Matt Spencer
opins, Browne is not a religious convert, but rather see financial
gains from grumming (i.e. GReening and slUMMING).
After all, at any one time, there never will be more than a small
handful of religious "nuts" (in the best sense of the word) in the
pillars of power. But, on the other hand, if the perception is that
the financial performance of someone in industry is enhanced by
grumming, that means there's hope for broader systemic changes if we
capitalize (isn't that a nice word) on it.
Without knowing more, it could be because a) it is perceived that the
consumer responds favorable to "green" appearing companies or b) long
term financial performance actually does turn out to be superior when
environmental considerations are recognized. But, in any case, that's
grist for our mills if we're smart. Let's find out more about what's
really going on here.
____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com
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Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 12:23:41 -0500
From: "RecycleWorlds" <anderson@msn.fullfeed.com>
Subject: PVC
According to the August 1998 Modern Plastics, "Oxychem-Geon Venture
Will Look Beyond PVC," at p. 12, Occidental Petroleum (Oxychem), the
major PVC manufacturer is entering into a joint venture with Geon, to
add a "platform for expanding value-added roles in vinyl supply, as
well as in non-vinyl resin supply."
How much this is a similar effort to diversify outside of PVC in the
face of challenges, such as Reynolds cigarettes into Nabisco food, is
not stated.
____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com
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End of GreenYes Digest V98 #159
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