Ryan Schuchard

Ryan Schuchard is Business for Social Responsibility’s Environmental Research & Development Associate.

View Full Bio

Five Reasons You Should Consider Generating Your Own Green Energy

By Ryan Schuchard, November 21, 2008

Over the past six months, oil prices have plunged more than 50 percent, renewable energy company asset values have taken an even bigger dive, and financial institutions have collapsed completely, leading to a worldwide credit crunch.

Is this really the best time for your company to be thinking about generating renewable energy onsite?

Before answering, consider these forecasts by the International Energy Administration (IEA) in its recent World Energy Outlook 2008:

-- Energy is going to get more expensive, with oil reaching $200 per barrel by 2030.
-- Carbon-intensive energy, which comprises well over half of the energy in the...

(5)
A-B-C-Design: Engaging the Whole Company in Developing Sustainable Products

By Ryan Schuchard, July 24, 2008

Given the sheer number of items we purchase, use and throw away every year, it's no surprise that consumer products are the ultimate drivers of carbon emissions. In that context, product design is critical for addressing climate change. As the concentration point for a large set of decisions about human and material resource flows, product design can influence emissions throughout the value chain, with the potential to yield significant results: According to the U.K.-based Climate Group, during the next decade, developments to information and communication technology products alone could reduce global GHG emissions by 15 percent, while...

(0)
The Difference Between Product and Supply Chain Footprinting

By Ryan Schuchard, June 26, 2008

As more companies gain carbon management experience, they are expanding work from their scope of direct operations to a broader sphere of influence. Expansion is happening through two main efforts -- product footprinting and supply chain footprinting, both of which are based on broadening from the organization to the inter-organizational value chain system. Each has interrelated issues and drivers, but they represent two different movements with distinct activities and tradeoffs. As standards emerge, understanding their common denominators is important for guarding against greenwashing and making the right investments. The question for companies...

(0)