CA-CP Home>CA-CP Business Program>'06 Pocantico Forum

Driving Corporate Climate Leadership Through Consumer Choice, Standards and Labeling

Meeting of the Global Brands Climate Change Leadership Group

On October 17-18, Clean Air–Cool Planet and The Climate group convened a retreat at the Pocantico Conference Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in Tarrytown, NY, bringing together representatives of a dozen businesses that are engaged in voluntary climate action.

Participants at the two-day event heard the latest data on US public opinion on climate and energy, as well as an inside-the-Beltway glimpse at prospects and challenges for pending legislative action in Washington. There were presentations from three corporations experienced with supply chain management of carbon emissions, an overview on efforts to establish independent standards on carbon offsets, and a discussion of lessons learned from established environmental labeling and marketing systems.  

See what was covered and download materials from the retreat below.

U.S. Public Opinion and Policy Briefing  Facilitator: Adam Markham

• The current state of US public opinion on climate and energy issues & its implications for corporate climate strategies - Mark S. Mellman, CEO, The Mellman Group
• Turning supply chain challenges into opportunities (PDF of PPT)
  – Dan Viederman, CEO, Verité

Managing Carbon in The Supply Chain Facilitator: Dan Viederman

• Mark Buckley, VP for Environmental Affairs, Staples
• ... At Timberland - Betsy Blaisdell, Manager of Environmental Stewardship, The Timberland Company
• ... At Whole Foods - Kathy Loftus, National Energy Manager, Whole Foods Market

An inside look at prospects and challenges for US energy & climate policy
– Rafe Pomerance, Chairman, Climate Policy Center

Making the links between Climate Leadership and Leading Brands
-Sven Lindblad, CEO, Lindblad Expeditions and Chairman of The Adventure Collection.

What do consumers want? Facilitator: Mark Kenber

• Communications and Messaging to Empower Consumers: Insights from Qualitative Research (PDF) - Simon Glynn, Senior Partner, Lippincott Mercer
  Handout (PDF)
• Driving change through consumer choice - Ben Stimson, Director of Corporate Responsibility, British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)

Labeling products and services: Lessons learned Facilitator: Mark Kenber

• FSC: Lessons from a Trusted Environmental Brand (PP) - Michael Washburn, Principal, Washburn Consulting, and former Vice President of Brand Management, Forest Stewardship Council
• Dr. Urvashi Rangan – Eco-labeling Project Director, Consumers Union
• Carbon Neutral - Interface's "Cool" Approach (PDF of PPT)
  - Erin Meezan, Manager Environmental Affairs, Interface

Current initiatives with carbon labeling

• Developing international standards for carbon offsets and carbon neutrality
  - Voluntary Carbon Standard (PDF)
  - Consultation Letter for VCS (PDF)
  Mark Kenber, The Climate Group
• First Look: Results from a new survey and comparative assessment of the quality of carbon offsets in the US voluntary market
  – Mark C. Trexler, President, Trexler Climate & Energy Services.