Monthly Archives: January 2013

Rare earth shortage ‘critical’ for energy security

As a result a team led by Ames Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, has been selected for an award of up to $120m over five years to establish an Energy Innovation Hub that will develop solutions to the domestic shortages of rare earth metals and other materials…

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WEF urges co-ordinated international approach to supply chain risk

A report by the World Economic Forum has recommended a single worldwide body should be responsible for developing and implementing a global risk assessment for supply chains.

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Government seeks ‘best councils to do business with’

The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a contest encouraging local authorities to share experiences of how they are helping small businesses to access and win contracts.

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Government demands progress on collaborative university procurement

In its annual grant letter, the UK government said it expects to see “quantifiable progress” this year on recommendations that 30 per cent of non-pay spend should be addressed by collaborative purchasing.

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Travel buyers cut costs with range of solutions

Purchasers of business travel around the world are united by their desire to reduce costs, but different regions are doing it in different ways.

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Apple vows to tackle child labour

A report published following an extensive audit following worker suicides at one of its suppliers, Foxconn, found 106 cases of underage labour being used at its suppliers’ premises last year.

The company increased audits of working conditions a…

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UK retailers review meat supply chain

The burgers which were supplied by Irish food firm Silvercrest to retailers including Tesco as well as fast-food giant Burger King, were revealed last week by the British press to contain horse DNA.

Since the revelation was made, supermarket chain Te…

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Asia Pacific companies rein in printer procurement

“Due to the economic slowdown, most of the graphic print service providers have been conservative on their budget, and holding back their spending in purchasing or changing their large format printers,” IDC noted.

Most of the countries in the region …

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HSBC outsources FM across property portfolio

This is the largest facility management contract awarded to a single provider on a global basis by a financial services firm, according to HSBC.The practice of outsourcing non-core real estate functions to dedicated third-party experts has increased i…

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Apple uncovers child labour at 11 supplier factories

“Our approach to underage labour is clear: we don’t tolerate it and we’re working to eradicate it from our industry,” the electronics company said in its 2013 supplier responsibility report.

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