CNBC’s Trevor Curwin on eco-improvements in railroad cars – and quotes HIP CEO R. Paul Herman:

EXCERPT: “With more efficient construction of next-generation railway cars, there is more room for larger customer loads and cutting rail operators’ operational costs.

“There continues to be pressure on companies to reduce their cost structures,” says R. Paul Herman, founder and CEO of sustainable investment firm HIP Investor. … READ THE FULL FEATURE

 SureGround Solutions’ CEO Thera Kalmijn and HIP Investor CEO R. Paul Herman have co-authored multiple features on sustainability leadership – and its implication for profit and shareholder value – in Sustainable Life Media.

Read how to improve your company’s initiatives for higher human impact and profit – or gain plus good – here:

* Protecting Profits in a Water Scarce World – part 1 and part 2

* Innovators Creating Cash from Carbon Challenges: saving energy, pollution and money at the same time.

* New Profits from Non Profits? Partnerships among charities, companies and investors create value.

* Trust But Verify - A New Mantra for Company Growth

Meet the co-authors at SustainableBrands 2010 conference in Monterey, June 7-10, 2010.

CNBC.com’s Trevor Curwin interviews HIP about managing the pollution associated with carbon and greenhouse gasses, upcoming carbon legislation and competitive positioning across industries – and how it will affect investor portfolios.

“With carbon cap-and-trade legislation before Congress and increasing pressure from shareholders, US companies know they’ll have to deal with their greenhouse gas emissions, or carbon footprint, and many are jumping the gun to change their carbon liability into an asset.

“The best-managed companies are evaluating their carbon footprint,” says R. Paul Herman, founder and CEO of HIP Investor Inc., a Californian investment advisory firm that has created two sustainability indexes tracking the S&P 100 and S&P 500 constituent companies. “And they’re managing it lower to save energy and costs, reduce their future volatility of materials costs, mitigate potential environmental liabilities, and create new competitive advantages.”

Getting a handle on these emissions, however, takes work. …

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL FEATURE

Published in Sustainable Life Media and Sustainble Brands Weekly:

WHERE IS THE PROFIT IN CARBON-EFFICIENT SUPPLY CHAINS?

By Thera Kalmijn of Sure Ground Consulting & R. Paul Herman  of HIP Investor Inc.

Would your CEO or CFO want to know if up to 117% of profits were at risk? In other words, a profitable company would erase all profits? If yes, you may want to make sure you are paying attention to Copenhagen’s meetings on climate change.

The potential regulation and cap and trade systems are important issues, particularly in carbon-intensive industries where TruCost estimates carbon cost earnings (EBITDA) impacts of 2% to 117% for utilities, and 1% to 10% for less carbon-intensive industries1. However, those who are focusing only on strategies that will just meet regulatory requirements are missing the boat. Forward-thinking companies are seizing the opportunity created by the environmental crisis to shake costs not only out of their operations, but also out of supply chains. …  

 READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

JOIN THE NOV. 18 WEBINAR

“Cash in a Carbon Efficient Supply Chain”
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
11 a.m. Pacific (12n Mountain, 1p Central, 2p Eastern)

WATCH  THE FREE WEBINAR

 The second installment in our “How to Profit from Sustainability” webinar series will look at the strategic power of supply chain carbon metrics.   Join us for a discussion with Chris Erickson, CEO of  Climate Earth, on why carbon accounting is the key to reducing fossil fuel dependency and increasing long-term, stable profits.  

 The new Corporate Webinar Series, co-produced by HIP Investor Inc. and SureGround,  ”How to Profit From Sustainability” can help you satisfy customers, comply with suppliers like Walmart, engage employees and increase profits.

WATCH  THE FREE WEBINAR