From PROCUREMENT LEADERS:

“Microsoft has announced that it will require its vendors to file annual sustainability reports.

“Starting in 2013, the software company will require a ‘cross section’ of its suppliers to provide reports on their adherence to the requirements listed in the existing Microsoft Vendor Code of Conduct.

“The new reporting mechanism will work alongside Microsoft’s existing auditing and assurance programmes, which include third-party monitoring of its contract hardware manufacturers. The reporting requirement will also drive sustainability improvements in Microsoft’s supply chain, according to the company.

“Microsoft said it will begin informing a dozen of its key vendors about the new reporting process in the coming months. Starting 2013, Microsoft will include a summary of information from the vendor reports in its annual Citizenship Report. Vendors also will be encouraged to make their reports public. The programme will continue to be evaluated in subsequent years to identify options to expand it and provide further visibility to shareholders.”

So, businesses of Singapore. Would you like to be a “key vendor” to Microsoft? I know I would. Start sustainability reporting now.

Have I mentioned I am a PC user? Ha!

From Thrifty & Green:

“Gorgeous, shiny, healthy hair is universally desirable and easy to achieve. First, the basics: Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep. These will be reflected in the condition of your skin and hair.

“Natural hair rinses are as simple to create as making your favourite cup of tea. In fact, several of the ingredients, such as dried herbs and flowers, can be found in the tea aisle of your local grocery store.”

The 7 simple recipes:

1. Calendula Plants – To brighten blonde hair, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1/4 cup of calendula petals; let cool. Use as a final rinse post-shampoo.
2. Catnip – For a quick dandruff cure, brew a strong tea of dried catnip leaves and boiling water and massage into your scalp after shampooing. Rinse well with cool water.
3. Lemon Juice – The juice of 1 lemon and 1 cup water mixed together brings back life and shine to dull hair. Use as a final rinse after shampooing, following with a cold-water rinse to remove all of the lemon water.
4. Baking Soda – One tablespoon baking soda and 1 cup water mixed together gets your hair really clean and removes all traces of styling gels and hair spray. Massage well into hair and scalp and rinse with warm followed by cool water.
5. Apple Cider – Two tablespoons of vinegar to 1 cup of water gives your hair shine and bounce. Use as a final rinse after shampooing and then rinse well with cool water.
6. Flat Beer – One cup of flat beer will give your hair body. The beer scent will not remain once your hair is dry. For extra body, use beer as your final rinse (i.e. leave it in).
   
7. Tomato Juice – One cup of tomato juice will remove any odor, such as smoke, from your hair. Massage into hair and rinse with warm, then cool water.

Obviously, not all of these ingredients are commonplace here in Singapore. Also, Calendula plant tea for blonde hair probably affects a small percentage of our readers, but it’s good to keep in mind. One never knows when one might go platinum blonde right?

Beyond that and catnip, the other ingredients should be relatively easy to obtain. So if you’ve got a big party coming up, why not give it a shot? You might discover a way to save the hefty bill from the hairdresser!

From SEC:

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is happy to announce the re-branding of its volunteer programme, we are now called Earth Helpers!!

We hope that you will continue to support us in our efforts to spread the green message across Singapore. We have launched a self-service portal that now allows you to sign-up for activities online and allows you to update your profile and to keep track of your past volunteer experience, activities and programmes.

To inject some excitement, we are implementing a new recognition system for all our volunteers. We shall not spoil the surprise, so do stay tuned for more updates on this.

We invite both corporations and individuals to sign up as Earth Helpers with us and they will be able to choose from an array of projects with different communities and industry groups. Short stints will be available for those who have limited time to commit to a project.

We need you as our current volunteer to create an account with us so we can both keep in touch better. We request that you provide us with some details such as your personal areas of interests in volunteering for the environment and if you have any special skills that can help us in matching you to the right activity. Please help us fill in the online form, it will only take a few minutes.

Don’t wait! Sign up as an Earth Helper today.

Composer: Lee Fengheng (Top winner of NEA’s Eco-Music Challenge 2011)

Clean & Green Singapore 2012 music video “World Without Fences” depicts the development of Singapore’s beautiful, clean and green environment through the eyes of a female protagonist, as she grows progressively younger. The video hopes to inspire every individual to play a part to safeguard and cherish this environment for future generations.

Like our Facebook page.

Follow us on Twitter.

-

If you have some time on your hands, and/or are a control freak who needs to have absolute control over everything, this is the blogpost for you. Otherwise, come to our shop.

From treehugger.com:

Check out the Global 500 and US 500 on The Daily Beast.

Looks hazy doesn’t it?

From: Press Release (Singapore, October 20, 2011)

Fifty lucky taxi drivers and their passengers can look forward to more comfortable rides, while at the same time, participate in an exciting initiative to reduce carbon footprint and contribute to environmental sustainability. 3M is sponsoring the installation of 3M™ Crystalline Solar Films in a fleet of 50 taxis, which will result in a natural reduction in temperature of up to 2.8 degrees Celsius in the vehicles.

“3M™ Crystalline Solar Films feature a proprietary, multi-layer optical film technology that combines over 200 layers in a film that is thinner than a Post-it® Note. Each optical layer is specially designed to reflect the infrared and UV rays while allowing visible light to pass through. This technology is the reason a clear film can reject more heat than darker films, without changing a car’s appearance. The premium product combines technology with clarity and is eco-friendly too,” said Mr Edmund Tan, General Manager of 3M Singapore’s Industrial & Transportation Business.

Solar heat comes from two primary sources, the visible light that one sees and the infrared light that one feels. Crystalline solar films reject up to 97% of the sun’s heat-producing infrared light and block up to 60% of the heat coming through the windows. These industry-leading, spectrally-selective films are designed to keep one cool, comfortable and protected. Each degree Celsius less will save about 10% on energy use.

To comply with the Land Transport Authority’s car tint law, crystalline films allow up to 90% of the natural light into the vehicle. As these films are non-metallized, there is zero interference with GPS and cell phone signals. Some 8,000 sq ft of the solar films, costing $75,000, will be used in this exercise.

“3M’s technologies are being applied by customers worldwide to enable them to meet their own environmental challenges. A vital component of 3M’s sustainability strategy is to develop product solutions, and our portfolio of hundreds of products, is a living example of our expertise in inventing products for a better tomorrow,” Mr Tan elaborated.

This green initiative is in conjunction with the launch of the 3M eCommerce Platform (www.3Mmarketplace.com.sg), where car owners can directly purchase solar films from 3M online. Members of the public can recognised the 50 designated taxis as they will carry 3M advertising with the taxi wrap media, in addition to being installed with the crystalline solar films.

Mr Soh Piak San, 54, who has been driving a Comfort Delgro cab for 11years and one of the 50 at the wheel of the designated 3M taxis, said, “Singapore is so hot and humid. We are in our taxis for at least eight hours a day. With the 3M™ Crystalline Solar Films installed, we can feel the difference – it is much cooler and helps us save energy as we don’t have to turn up the air-conditioning. Add to that, it also protects us from harmful UV rays!”

Mr Lim Ser Teck, 39, concurred, “I’ve been driving a taxi since I was 25 and 3M window films do stand out. Not only do they make the cab cooler when it’s really hot, they also do not affect radio signals and GPS unlike some other films!”

GHG Protocol Launch – Opening Remarks by Manish Bapna, WRI from World Resources Institute on Vimeo.