The risks of waiting for legislation: why Wal-Mart's green shift will affect you

While Canadian companies such as Interface Flor continue to prove that going green can create a huge competitive advantage, the vast majority of companies are playing the waiting game. Perhaps inspired by the Harper government's “integrated” approach (widely regarded as a euphemism for wait-for-the-Americans-to-act-first), many see going green as an expense rather than an investment, and prefer to wait for the government to even the field.

But what if a multinational business, say the world's biggest retailer, were to preempt legislation and create a domino effect? The wait-and-see companies would then be at a disadvantage compared to those that had acted before action became necessary.

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Trois semaines, trois annonces de taille pour l'environnement, et qui risquent d'influencer le climat des affaires. Troisième texte sur trois

Une première depuis 40 ans - les déplacement en automobile ont chuté, selon la dernière analyse origine-destination de l'agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT). La chute de 1% est due aux choix de Montréalais avertis, qui en 2008 sont de plus en plus nombreux à choisir la formule Bike, Metro, Walk (BMW).

Les faits en bref:

-La chute de 1% s'applique aussi à la Ville de Laval et à la Rive-Sud, alors que la population à augmenté de 5% entre 2003 et 2008. À Montréal toute seule, les déplacements en auto ont été réduits de 6%. La région se démarque

Greenwashing's latest victim: one massive“bamboo-zle.”

The last few weeks have brought an unusually large number of environmental announcements that appear set to change the way we do business in Canada, particularly Quebec. The text below is the second of three mini-analysis' of these changes, and what they may mean for you.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Canadian Competition Bureau (CCB) recently accused companies of “bamboo-zling” consumers. Both are now accusing retailers of deliberately misleading consumers by labeling products as “made of bamboo fiber,” and forcing them to instead adopt the term “bamboo rayon.”

Yes, the raw material used to make bamboo fabric is indeed the fast-growing plant that requires little or no pesticides or fertilizers and is reputed to have natural anti-microbial properties. But the process to turn bamboo stalks into into those super-soft shirts, towels, underwear is so chemical intensive that the finished product does not retain any of bamboo 's natural properties. The products are therefore more accurately described as rayon or viscose, synthetic fibers similar to nylon. For a visual description of the chemical transformation, click here.