Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are all the rage, with their many exciting application possibilities. But they also come with a significant environmental impact, mainly related to energy use. This is the first part in a series where we explore the environmental considerations regarding blockchain technology.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have captured the imagination of not just the governing bodies they were aimed at, but also of companies and consumers. To meet the growing interest from companies to show their contribution to the SDGs and communicate this to their customers, employees and investors, the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative commenced a project in which PRé and other partners created methodologies to link the SDGs to life cycle assessment (LCA). This allows companies to reliably measure their contributions and impacts and report on specific SDGs. In this article, we will mostly discuss PRé’s approach.

The term ‘fast fashion’ is well-known by now. It is the highly profitable business model where fashion trends are pushed to change quickly, the collection in clothing stores changes on an almost daily basis, and consumers are enticed with low prices to update their wardrobes to these new trends as often as possible. This high volume may work well for profits, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the effects on working conditions and the environment are far from good.

There is a wide range of strategies for creating a circular economy. Recycling may not be at the top of the list, but it has its part to play. And within recycling, it is important to understand what the recycling of electronic waste, or e-waste, involves, and what benefits it can bring. This short article presents a brief outline, but it also links to a longer research article that fleshes out the picture.

Every month, one of PRé’s people talks about their personal favorite sustainable initiative. This can be a product or a shop, a local initiative or a new website. This month, Margreet Riedstra talks about NLdoet, an annual national event at which tens of thousands of Dutch spend a day doing volunteer work.

This is part I in a two-part series on quantifying sustainability. Part I outlines how quantifying supply chain sustainability is a powerful way to manage business risks. Part II will give an overview of the tools available.