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Microsoft became the first company to purchase carbon credits generated by the Makira conservation project in Madagascar, which intends to preserve 320,000 hectares of forests and prevent 32.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

Interface announced that its Dutch manufacturing facility now runs on 100% renewable energy, sends zero waste to landfills, and uses almost no water in its manufacturing processes. Interface has pledged eliminate any negative impact it has on the environment by 2020 under its Mission Zero strategy.

Nike opened a waterless dying facility in Taiwan that requires 60% less energy than traditional factories.

Consumer goods giant says 70 per cent of its revenue growth last year came from its 'sustainable living' brands

Sky promises to source 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020 where available, while Bloomberg promises to purchase all green electricity by 2025 Two of the world's largest media firms have pledged to get all their electricity from renewable sources as part of the RE100 initiative, which encourages businesses to source 100 per cent renewable power.

Palm Oil Free Certification programme launches in UK and Australia A new certification programme has launched to validate consumer products that make no use of palm oil, which has been blamed for fuelling deforestation in Asia. Set up by a group of women experts, the Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Programme (POFCAP) is now in operation in Australia and the UK following approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, IP Australia, and IPO UK. Fourteen other nations have applied to introduce the label. Australia-based eco cleaning products company Clean Conscience is the first to carry the label, and the group is working with a host of other companies on certification. Despite improvements to tackle deforestation, POFCAP said "only 17% of all palm oil used can be classed as 'non-conflict'". The scheme is based on extensive research and trusted methods to trace all potential palm oil and palm oil derivative ingredients of a product back to their source. (Business Green)

The story that should dominate every end of year round up from every media outlet on the planet came last month in the form of two reports released at the U.N. climate summit in Bonn. The first confirmed atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest levels in at least 800,000 years and possibly 3 million to 5 million years. As Emily Shuckburgh of the British Antarctic Survey said, the last time concentrations of greenhouse gas were as high as they are, sea levels were around 10 meters higher. Up to two meters of sea level rise this century is now entirely plausible. However, the second report was the real kicker. The Global Carbon Project predicted carbon emissions will rise this year after four years when flat emissions fuelled hopes global economic growth and carbon emissions had been decoupled