Disinfectant Performance of a Chlorine Regenerable Antibacterial Microfiber Fabric as a Reusable Wiper.

Rechargeable disinfectant performance of a microfiber fabric grafted with a halamine precursor, 3-allyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (ADMH), was tested in an actual use situation in a university student dining hall. The precursor was successfully incorporated onto the surfaces of polyester fibers by using a radical graft polymerization process through a commercial finishing facility. The N⁻H bonds of ADMH moieties on the fibers can be converted to biocidal N⁻Cl bonds, when the fabrics are washed in a diluted chlorine bleach containing 3000 ppm available chlorine, providing a refreshable disinfectant function. By wiping the surfaces of 30 tables (equivalent to 18 m²) with wet chlorinated fabrics, both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in concentrations of 10⁵ CFU/mL were totally killed in a contact time of 3 min. The disinfectant properties of the fabrics were still superior after 10 times successive machine washes (equivalent to fifty household machine washes), and rechargeable after wiping 30 tables before each recharge. Recharging conditions, such as temperature, time, active chlorine concentration and pH value of sodium hypochlorite solution, as well as the addition of a detergent, were studied. The product has the potential to improve public safety against biological contaminations and the transmission of diseases

Corporate reputation and organisational performance: an Australian study

PURPOSE - To test for a relationship between corporate reputation and financial performance, using Australian data. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH - Econometric modelling. FINDINGS - No causal relationship between corporate reputation and financial performance (in either direction) was found. This is contrary to some findings in other countries. Reputation may not have a significant impact on performance in Australia. There may be weaknesses in the existing measure of reputation, or the finding may be due to unobserved variability in the intervening variable of managerial exploitation of the reputation. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS - The findings may be specific to Australia. In Australia, the linkage between reputation and performance may be too small to be significant in the available sample. It is argued that in corporate practice the link between reputation and performance proceeds via strategy and competitive advantage. Having a reputation resource is not enough; it needs to be managed well and exploited if it is to yield financial results. More work is needed to establish reliable measures of reputation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE - It is the first known study to investigate the link on Australian data. The discussion of the findings raises issues for the measurement and management of reputation

GHG mitigation in Australia: an overview of the current policy landscape

This report outlines Australia’s policy framework for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, identifies areas of potential change in the near term, and attempts to evaluate the impact of current policies on Australia’s emissions trajectory to 2020. It assesses Australia’s international commitments, and the major policies of federal and state institutions to reduce emissions. It also assesses the likely success of these policies in achieving Australia’s emissions reduction goals.Authored by Olivia Kember and Erwin Jackson with Merry Chandra

Managing the unavoidable while avoiding the unmanageable: climate policy tests for the 2013 federal election

IntroductionEvery Federal election, The Climate Institute undertakes a qualitative assessment of the climate change policy position of political parties and independents represented in the Parliament. The Institute bases this assessment on our analysis of what is required for Australia to contribute to effective global climate change solutions and build a prosperous, resilient economy and society.This policy brief explains the rationale for our 2013 Federal election policy tests.This Federal election is critical to Australia’s economic and climate future. The next Government will determine whether Australia will:1. Help or hinder global solutions to climate change: This will in large part be determined by our ability to meet international commitments to do our fair share to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and help the poorest countries adapt to an increasingly hostile climate and invest in low carbon development pathways. Both of these elements will influence the positive or negative role Australia could play in current negotiations to finalise a global agreement in 2015 that will cover emission commitments from all major economies.2. Continue the historic decline in domestic emissions and accelerate low carbon investment: Driven by global trends and domestic policies like renewable targets and carbon prices, pollution from some of Australia’s largest emission sources have begun to decline. Positive global trends in clean energy technology and increasing scrutiny of the risks associated with investments in high carbon assets are among the global mega-trends that leave our economy exposed in the real world of significant, if insufficient, action to price and constrain carbon emissions.3. Boost preparations for unavoidable extreme weather and other climate impacts: Agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF and the International Energy Agency are increasingly warning that climate change threatens to reverse gains made over decades of economic and social development. We no longer live in the relatively safe climate enjoyed by our ancestors. Even if we achieve more urgent and ambitious action now, our climate will get more hostile with the dangerous levels of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere. How well we prepare for our increasingly unsafe climate will influence the health and wellbeing of Australians and our economic systems. It will determine the extent to which we can minimise the suffering of unavoidable impacts.Australia is faced with a challenge to manage the unavoidable and avoid the unmanageable. To be credible, let alone strong and effective, 2013 climate election policies will need to:1. Cut carbon pollution.2 Accelerate low carbon investments.3 Prepare for climate impacts

Emissions trading schemes around the world

Australia’s emissions trading scheme ETS, known as the Carbon Pricing Mechanism (CPM), came into force on 1 July 2012 as part of the Clean Energy Future package. As the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet has stated frequently, Australia is not the only country to have legislated an ETS. In 2010 the Parliamentary Library provided a listing of all ETSs in operation around the world in its Greenhouse gas emissions: still trading after all these years publication. Since then, there has been some progress globally and a number of changes. On 2 May 2012, (for example) the South Korean National Assembly passed legislation for its own type of ETS.This paper provides an overview of international carbon trading in mandatory schemes and presents the current status on legislated multinational, national and regional ETSs around the globe as at the end of April 2013. New proposals relating to existing schemes and emerging schemes in overseas jurisdictions are made on an ongoing basis, so readers should take account of any new developments when assessing future situations. The paper includes two appendices, a map and a table which summarise and consolidate the information on ETSs for easy reference

Building a Framework for Implementing Total Responsibility Management

While numerous writers have argued in general terms about the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability management (e.g. Dunphy, Griffiths and Benn 2003, 2007) there has been little empirical exploration of these highly generalised prescriptions. We explore a framework for the management and implementation of CSR and sustainability developed by leading scholars Waddock and Bodwell (2007). Waddock and Bodwell s (2007) Total Responsibility Management (TRM) model implies that TRM begins with inspiration, gains strength with integration and stays relevant with constant innovation. Using data from two corporations with strong performances according to CSR and sustainability assessment mechanisms such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, we aim to identify examples of the management practices and processes associated with inspiration, integration and innovation. We conclude that there is clear evidence that inspiration and integration systems of TRM are associated with the successful implementation of CSR and sustainability. Innovation may be another factor in the implementation of CSR but this may be more important in some industry sectors than others

The reputation of the corporate social responsibility industry in Australia

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly seen as an imperative for sustainable business and there is a growing literature on the effect of CSR on corporate reputation. Despite this, a pall of ambiguity and uncertainty remains around what CSR means and how it should be practiced. This paper offers a unique addition to the body of literature to date by revealing that CSR is an emerging industry in Australia, which is in the process of developing its own reputation as a set of business practices. The paper is based on exploratory qualitative research using a case study methodology. Interviews were conducted with key actors within the industry to investigate shared understandings of what CSR means, perceptions of CSR practice and of the industry as a whole, and who is involved in shaping these perceptions. The research revealed that the CSR industry in Australia is in its early stages of development and is therefore in need of increased internal cooperation if it is to develop a strong reputation

Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

Based on the geographic limitations of previous meta-analysis made about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Financial Performance (FP) and on the evidence found in previous work on the country's influence in this relationship, the aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between these two variables studying the possible moderating effect that the country variable may have on it. By the use of the cultural dimensions of GLOBE (2004), we classify the countries, and test the hypothesis through the statistical technique of meta-analysis. The results show that the country where the companies are home-based moderates the relationship between CSR and FP. In particular from the results, we can conclude that while in Australia, Canada, USA and the United Kingdom the relationship is stronger and larger, in some countries, such as Japan, there is no relationship

Storage Business Models: Lessons for Electricity from Natural Gas, Cloud Data and Frozen Food

The aim of this paper is to evaluate different well-established non-electrical storage markets (gas, frozen food and cloud storage) in order to identify relevant lessons for electrical energy storage (EES) connected to the electricity distribution networks. The case studies that have been evaluated are Centrica Storage (gas storage), Google Drive (cloud storage) and Oakland International (frozen food storage). A specific business model methodology has been selected for comparing the different business model components across these sectors. The methodology (following Johnson et al., 2008) refers to key interconnected components: customer value proposition, the revenue formula, key resources and key processes. The evaluation of the three case studies suggests that well-developed business models already exist in growing and mature storage markets. Regulation also plays an important role across the different storage markets and business model components, how-ever its importance varies depending on the type of market. Innovation in storage business models is also observed (technological and contractual) which should be also facilitated in EES. Innovation helps move markets towards more sustainable business models