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Managed services growth expected to balloon over next three years
Fresh study reveals optimism in managed services growth but confidence in metaverse tech remains low
The vast majority of European business leaders are anticipating managed services sales to grow in the next three years, the latest research from TD Synnex has revealed.
According to the company’s inaugural Ecosystem Benchmark Report, almost three-quarters of surveyed tech businesses expect to sell more managed services over that time, increasing the revenue stream as a result.
Conducted in collaboration with research firm Canalys, the report was developed based on an industry survey of mid-size tech ecosystem partners. It found that every category of services is expected to grow, with managed services top of the pile on 74%.
Professional services are expected to increase for 65% of respondents, followed by consumption-based anything as a service (XaaS) (50%), packaged services (44%), and product lifestyle services (38%).
The majority of European partners (63%) also forecasted that hardware resale will be fundamental to their business mix, with 25% saying the category will increase and 38% indicating no change.
TD Synnex noted that more than a third of respondents said that selling their own IP will be a bigger part of their business mix over the next two years.
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The findings follow a previous report from research firm Gartner back in January, which estimated that consulting and managed services would have the second-highest spending growth in 2022 at $1.3 trillion. Even back in pre-pandemic 2019, research from Barracuda MSP highlighted managed services as offering the greatest revenue potential for channel partners.
"Channel partners are actively developing their services businesses," said Rachel Brindley, senior director of channels at Canalys. "We see that partners are looking to invest across the technology ecosystem."
Most respondents expected to report growth this fiscal year, with 43% naming security, servers, and storage as the top revenue drivers, and 40% said these technologies are the most profitable. Security topped the list as the single most profitable tech for European partners, TD Synnex added.
Businesses also signalled that collaboration is a high-priority growth strategy, with 79% ranking engagement with ecosystem partners as important or very important to future growth.
“In an environment of continued rapid technological change, European IT businesses need to bring solutions to market faster,” explained Andy Gass, chief digital officer at TD Synnex. “Ecosystem collaboration accelerates that time to market, reduces costs, and minimises technology skills gaps.”
Elsewhere, TD Synnex’s report revealed widespread hesitation over the metaverse. Less than a fifth (17%) of European tech ecosystem business leaders said they will offer augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) solutions by 2024. That’s despite IDC’s projection of a $16 billion European metaverse market and an expected 150% increase in investments over that period.
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The two telugu speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are said to be in a battle to rope in US-based electric car maker Tesla Motors to their shores.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have sent representatives to Tesla boss Elon Musk.
The representatives will try to convince Musk about the advantages of setting up a manufacturing plant in their respective states. The three states are trying to crack a deal by offering SEZ's and port access.
A senior Andhra Pradesh government official stated that the AP government delegations had visited Tesla Motors' assembly plant a couple of times in the past year and discussed over energy efficiency.
The three states are striving hard to house Tesla Motors' Gigafactory, which is said to be the largest plants in the world to produce lithium-ion batteries that powers Tesla Motors' vehicles.
Tesla will be setting up its first Gigafactory in Nevada which is expected to get started on the battery plant in 2017. The company may consider housing its manufacturing plant in India after its US venture.
During the launch of Tesla Model 3, Musk has hinted that the electric car will hit Indian shores in the next couple of years. In fact the Indian customers can pre-order the Model 3.
Earlier in June this year, Union Road Transport and Highways and Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari also visited Tesla Motors' San Francisco facility and invited the firm to set up its plant in India through joint ventures with Indian auto makers.
Gadkari had also offered access to major ports in India to make India as the Asian manufacturing hub for Tesla Motors' vehicles.
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Mazda Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Fuel Pump Problems, Engine Stall Risks
Following a recent recall of more than 120,000 Mazda vehicles that contain a defective fuel pump, which may cause the vehicles to suddenly stall, a proposed class action lawsuit claims Mazda and the parts supplier Denso concealed known safety risks from consumers to avoid costly repairs.
The complaint (PDF) was filed by Zachery Haines and Townsend Vance on November 11, in the U.S. District Court Central District of California, seeking class action status to pursue damages on behalf of vehicle owners, claiming that information about the Mazda fuel pump problems were known for more than a year, yet consumers were not informed and a safety recall was not immediately issued.
On November 12, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a Mazda recall impacting approximately 121,038 vehicles, due to the potential for the impeller inside of the low-pressure fuel pump to prematurely deform and crack.
According to the recall notice, officials warned customers that if the pumps become deformed or cracked the vehicles could fail to start or suddenly stall while in motion, increasing the risk of an auto accident. However, the complaint filed against Mazda outlines additional hazards presented by the failing fuel pumps, warning that a faulty fuel pump may also present crash risks to drivers due to inconsistent or delayed acceleration.
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Although Mazda North America Operations issued the safety recall, Haines and Vance claim Mazda knew of the safety defects from the Denso-supplied fuel pumps for more than a year, and attempted to avoid issuing a recall to avoid costly repairs, leaving customers responsible for costly repair bills. The automaker issued a recall for vehicles equipped with the same fuel pump in China, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Mexico more than a year ago.
Plaintiff’s indicate Mazda not only failed to issue a timely recall of a known defect to avoid costly repairs, but also failed to identify the scope of the vehicles impacted by the defect and failed inform its customers of an issue with the fuel pumps that could cause crash hazards. Vance and Haines claim the same defective fuel pumps provided by Denso have been used in models as far back as 2013, citing fuel pump defects complaints to the NHTSA.
Denso Corporation is also the supplier of nearly 6 million faulty low-pressure fuel pumps installed on vehicles made by Acura, Ford, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Toyota.
A Toyota and Lexis fuel pump recall announced on January 15, impacted about 696,000 vehicles equipped with similar Denso fuel pumps, which were prone to cracking and causing the engines to stall without any advanced notice. However, following an internal investigation, Toyota ultimately issued two fuel pump recall expansions this year, bringing the total number of affected vehicles to more than 1.5 million.
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The Chip Shop Awards is the only creative celebration of advertising with no rules in the world and open to all levels of experience when it comes to creative practitioners.
The annual ceremony will once again feature categories such as Best Stunt or Experience, Best Ad Which Really Should Run, Best Shop Window Post Card and even Best Use of Bad Taste.
With nominations now being accepted for this year, we're discussing the creative ideas behind 2020's potential nominees in a series of interviews.
Talking about an entry for the awards is Ian Mann, design and production director for 1000Heads, for 'Lego: Australia' which saw the creation a playset to highlight the wildfires the country suffered earlier this year.
Watch him discuss the background to the idea entered into The Chip Shop Awards above. To find out more about the ceremony visit the official website. Entries are still being accepted with nominations set to be announced on 20 May.


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Dairy and leather go hand-in-hand. In addition to consumer demand for dairy products, leather demand provides an often overlooked financial incentive to breed ever larger herds. Indeed, without the support of the leather industry, dairy industry profits would suffer a decline.
This is especially significant in India and China, currently among the largest global suppliers of leather. The correlation between dairy and leather is expected to grow as dairy agribusiness is introducing industrialized-scale dairy factory farms across the regions.
However, could a shift in animal hide demand (and thereby herd size demand) be on the horizon?
Modern Meadows, a tissue engineering research company, has recently discussed their plans in creating the world’s first in-vetro leather. They project that a fully operational lab-produced leather facility could be functional by 2017.
If the leather industry reduces or eliminates their demand for animals’ hides, this will greatly decrease dairy industry profit margins, potentially reducing their drive towards larger herds and large-scale industrialization.
India and China’s leather industries (and leather industries the world over) could move from abattoirs and tanneries to scientific laboratories. Not only will this deter a growth in the dairy industry, but it will eliminate horrendous transportation and slaughter inflicted upon animals, many environmental toxic components to leather production, and hazardous working conditions for employees. How’s that for modernization?
Photo Courtesy Michael Foley Photography/Flickr


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Sony has dominated the video game console market for several years thanks to the PlayStation. But the company is now looking to diversify. This year, the Japanese gaming giant announced plans to release about 50% of its games on PCs and mobiles by 2025.
To do so, Sony will have to bet big on mobile games,” Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based game industry consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC.
And the opportunity is enormous: According to Newzoo, consoles account for about 27% of the $196.8 billion gaming market, while mobile accounts for more than half of the revenue.
Sony’s mobile strategy
The acquisition of Savage Game Studios is part of Sony’s acquisition drive to strengthen the development of titles on various platforms.
PlayStation Studios needs to expand its non-console titles to bring more great games to more customers than ever before,” said Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios. The acquisition of the talented team at Savage Game Studios is another strategic step toward this goal.
Sony said Savage Game Studios is developing “a new, as-yet-unannounced AAA mobile live service action game.” A “triple-A” game is usually an informal industry classification for blockbuster-type titles. Live service games are generally titles that developers continually update and add content to extend their lifespan and generate revenue over a longer period.
Daniel Ahmad, the senior analyst at Niko Partners, said, “The mobile success of Call of Duty Mobile and Diablo Immortal, created for consoles and PCs, “if executed well,” will give the small screen titles that are well known. It shows that there is demand,” he said.
While Sony’s mobile strategy will leverage its vast intellectual property (IP) library, it will also focus on developing specific games for smaller devices, noted Toto of Kantan Games.
Toto said, “Sony will likely encourage studios to develop new franchises from scratch for smart devices, in addition to offering existing PlayStation IP for mobile.”
Chances of success
Sony is the latest console manufacturer to take a significant step into mobile gaming. Microsoft’s game console division, Xbox, also began its foray into mobile early on. Nintendo has also focused much of its efforts on smaller screen game formats over the past three years.
Sony will compete globally with some of the world’s most prominent mobile game players, notably Chinese giants Tencent and NetEase.
The mobile gaming market is overcrowded. There are currently over a million games in the app store. But players like Sony, even if they are new entrants, can succeed because of their firepower,” Toto told CNBC.
“There are not many companies like Sony, with such strong branding, a whole range of high-performing studios, and a treasure trove of valuable IPs.”


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By Arwa Lodhi
Shamballa Jewels has had the fabulous idea of asking one of the world’s most creative supermodels to design a bracelet for charity.
International supermodel and photographer Helena Christensen has produced a one-of-a-kind Shamballa bracelet featuring the brand’s trademark pave beads on a hand braided macrame band. Her choice of design includes pink and blue sapphires, grey moonstones and brown diamonds encrusted in 19k gold spheres decorating the band.
According to a spokesman for Shamballa, all gems and metals used in the brand’s jewellery are ethically sourced from transparent providers. We think the piece is extremely modern, but the designer would beg to differ: ‘To me it’s a magical piece you would find in a vintage jewellery box, like maybe it belonged to a great-grandmother,’ Christensen stated in the MailOnline.
The bracelet will be exhibited at the Dillon Gallery in New York from March 11th, and the auction for the piece will be closed on March 21st, 2014. Bidding starts at $12,000, and all proceeds from the sale of the bracelet will go to Operation Smile. This charity provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and facial deformities for over 200,000 children around the world, helping these children to smile as proudly and often as Ms. Christensen has throughout her career.


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This new crowdfunding project proves there really is a fetish for everything.
However, if there’s one thing the virtual reality experience is most often used for, it’s bringing fantasies to life in front of your eyes, making the impossible virtually possible, sometimes in the strangest of ways.
Case in point is this new project, from a self-confessed “woman’s-legs-straddling-a-bicycle-seat lover“, who’s decided to set up a crowdfunding campaign to help fund his dream of filming and sharing 100 VR videos dedicated to this particular fetish.
As you can see from the trial VR clip provided, the new videos aim to put the viewer in between the saddle and the handlebars, in a strategic position that also provides you with a 360-degree view.
According to the project details, this test video was created using a cheap VR camera taped to the middle section of a borrowed bicycle. To get the full experience, viewers are advised to wear VR goggles while watching the video.
The filmmaker is hoping to raise 1.01 million yen (US$8,986.83) to create 100 videos, with 250,000 ($2,252.50) yen being used to purchase VR camera equipment and the rest used for things like editing and payment for the models and their clothing.
A tweet from their official Twitter account lists all the different returns available for patrons: For 3,000 yen ($26.70), you get to view the preliminary VR video, for 5,000 yen you get to choose which model to watch on the bicycle, and for 10,000 yen you get to view the new 2018 edition of the VR video.
If you’ve got money to burn, 20,000 yen gets you an advertisement in the video and the option to appear in it, while 30,000 yen lets you choose the model and her clothing, and 40,000 yen lets you customise the saddle, model and clothing in the video to your liking.
The campaign, which is currently up on Yahoo! Japan’s PassMarket site, began on 8 July and will run until 1 September. While it’s too early to tell how sought after these videos will be, with a dedicated Fetish VR video series site set up for the project, it looks like this may well be just the tip of the saddle for more VR fetish videos to come.


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North Texas Company Recalling Panera Bread Chicken Tortilla Soup ProductsA North Texas company is recalling approximately 6,400 pounds of chicken tortilla soup products that may be contaminated with extraneous material.
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Panera Bread Voluntarily Recalls Some Cream CheesePanera Bread Co. is voluntarily recalling some cream cheese sold in its U.S. stores because of possible bacterial contamination.
Panera Bread To Use Cage-Free Eggs By 2020Panera Bread on Thursday became the latest restaurant chain to announce plans to stop using eggs from cage-confined hens. The company said that it will use cage-free eggs in its U.S. restaurants by 2020.


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Virgin Retail is planning a significant upgrade to its Internet operations in the next two months which will affect both its high-street and online presence. The company is also investigating the potential of Voice over IP, but has no plans for RFID technology.
The retail chain of the Virgin group of companies which includes the high-profile Virgin Megastores, is to upgrade its Internet shopping systems for customers in-store and at home. The new Web-based ecommerce system is due to go live in April.
According to Tony Johnson, Virgin Retail's IT director the company is moving away from its existing system of in-store kiosks for Internet shopping because they confused customers. "We discovered that a lot of customers did not realise what the kiosks were for and assumed they were some kind of guide or portal about the store itself," he said.
Virgin will replace the kiosks with an Internet-based ordering system managed by Virgin staff rather than by customers. Goods will be delivered to shoppers the day after the order.
The same system will also be made available to consumers via a new transactional Web site which Virgin hopes will help it keep pace with growing competition from online retailers such as Amazon and Tesco.com.
But rather than opting to build its transactional Web presence from scratch Johnson said Virgin is planning to use an unidentified third-party provider to design and host the site. "A lot of technology is becoming commoditised. Web sites are falling into this bracket too, so why should I bother developing that myself? We are working with a provider which effectively gives us all that 'out of the box'."
Johnson was speaking at the annual employee and partner conference of virtual network provider Vanco in Budapest. Vanco will manage much of the network upgrade required to manage the new in-store technology and Web-site upgrade.
"Real time sales data and inventory is the holy grail for our business. Now we have got a network in place to enable this means we are going to move to a virtual real time environment in our stores," said Johnson.
Virgin Retail is also assessing the potential of voice-over-IP services to help cut communications costs in the organisation. But Johnson said the significant infrastructure costs associated with VoIP meant that the company will not be rushing into a deployment and would probably carry out an initial trial at any new green-field sites the company may open in the future.
Johnson also added that the company had looked into RFID technology but the costs involved were prohibitive at this time. He explained the electronic tag and reader system for identifying products throughout a retailers supply chain was only viable for company's with the scale of WalMart or Tesco.


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Echobox announces Nomad and Traveler titanium headphones with 3-year long warranties
At CanJam 2017 Singapore, Echobox showed off its two new titanium headphones.
Called the Nomad and Traveler, the former will be the company’s new flagship in-ear headphones while the latter will be its new entry-level model.
Echobox presently has one model in the market called the Finder, which will sit in the middle of the new Nomad and Traveler.
Like the Finder, the new Nomad and Traveler headphones will feature titanium shells. The Nomad’s will be carved out of a solid block of titanium, while the Traveler’s will be machined.
Titanium was chosen for a number of reasons. Not only is it strong and light, it is also hypoallergenic and has important acoustic properties.
In addition, also like the Finder, the Nomad and Traveler headphones will feature Echobox’s German-made PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) dynamic driver.
A neat thing about Echobox’s headphones is that they are designed to be nigh indestructible. The titanium housings have no joints and are exceptionally strong. In addition, the cables are designed to be tangle resistant and rugged. But the best thing about Echobox’s headphones is that they come with 3-year warranties, which is above average for headphones.
According to Echobox, they are likely to launch the Nomad and Traveler headphones later this year around June. The Nomad will be priced at around US$399, while the Traveler will be significantly more affordable at US$99. The Finder is available now for US$149.


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While genetics and exercise play a large role in your brain health and risk of developing dementia, diet is quite influential, too. There is no magical elixir that can cure or completely prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, but scientists have been able to pinpoint certain nutrients that are associated with improved cognitive function or memory. Keeping your diet full of the foods that contain them, then, can help you protect your brain.
Cocoa flavanols are found naturally in cocoa and can be beneficial to your brain health; they make dark chocolate healthier than regular chocolate, which has been washed out with milk and sugar. A 2014 study examined the impact of eating a high cocoa flavanol diet over the course of three months. The researchers focused primarily on the dentate gyrus (DG), a part of the hippocampal formation in the brain that, when it declines, is often associated with aging. Scientists believe this part of the brain is linked to memory loss. After eating a lot of cocoa flavanols, the researchers report that the participants experienced “enhanced DG function.”
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, mackerel, and tuna, are going to not only help your heart health, but they’ll also give you a boost in brainpower. According to a 2014 study, mice that were given supplements of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid showed improved cognitive function while they aged — showing better object recognition memory, spatial and localized memory, and aversive response retention.
Nuts contain omega-3 fatty acids like fish, so adding nuts to your diet in addition to fish will provide you with solid amounts. Walnuts, in particular, have been shown to fight memory loss. In one recent large-scale analysis, researchers found that a diet supplemented with walnuts — which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, folate, antioxidants, and melatonin — improved adults’ performances on a series of six cognitive tests.
Scientists believe that a magnesium deficiency may play a role in cognitive decline, brain aging, and ultimately, dementia. So taking magnesium supplements — or eating foods that contain magnesium, like chard, spinach, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, almonds, black beans, avocados, figs, dark chocolate, or bananas — can help you fight off the effects of the aging brain.
Blueberries are delicious, but they also help in boosting your memory. According to a 2010 study, blueberries were shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They also contain anthocyanins, compounds that are associated with increased neuronal signaling in the brain’s memory areas. In the study, researchers found that participants who drank wild blueberry juice on a daily basis had improvements in paired associate learning and word list recall; they also found lower depressive symptoms and glucose levels.
According to the National Institute on Aging, eating a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help stave off cognitive decline as well as other chronic diseases, like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Green, leafy, cruciferous vegetables in particular (like broccoli and spinach) have been shown to reduce the rate of cognitive decline. The Mediterranean diet, in particular (vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, fish, olive oil, mild amounts of alcohol — as well as low consumption of saturated fats, dairy, meat, and poultry) has shown in studies to be beneficial for cognitive health compared to more “Western” diets that are high in fats, carbs, and meat.
Green tea is good for a lot of things — but it’s also going to help you protect your brain. In a recent study completed at the University of Basel, researchers found that green tea extract enhances your thinking process and working memory. Participants scored higher for working memory tasks after they received the green tea extract, and an MRI showed a boost in connectivity between the parietal and frontal cortex of the brain, meaning that green tea “might increase the short-term synaptic plasticity of the brain,” said Professor Stefan Borgwardt, an author of the study.


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Now available at Rite Aid: Pertussis immunizations
CAMP HILL, Pa. One week after Walgreens announced that it was offering pertussis immunizations at its California locations, Rite Aid has followed suit.
Rite Aid said Monday that pharmacists at more than 500 Rite Aid stores across the state will offer pertussis, or whooping cough, vaccinations to individuals ages 7 years and older. The disease already has claimed the lives of nine infants in the state and is on pace to become the worst epidemic the state has seen in 50 years.
Patients in California and across the nation can go online to RiteAid.com/pharmacy/immunization/ to locate the most convenient Rite Aid pharmacy where immunizations are available. Patients are urged to call first to check availability and for questions on health insurance, which may cover some of the cost of a vaccination. Walk-ins are accepted whenever possible.
Rite Aid has been offering Tdap, the whooping cough vaccination, for the past several years, and currently is available in more than half of the states where Rite Aid operates, a Rite Aid spokesperson said.
"Helping protect against whooping cough in California is just another example of how convenient neighborhood Rite Aid pharmacists can help the community stay healthy," said Robert Thompson, Rite Aid EVP pharmacy. "Administering these shots is part of Rite Aid’s expanded national immunization program, with more than 7,000 pharmacists in more than 3,000 stores vaccinating patients against flu, pneumonia and up to a dozen other highly infectious diseases."
Walgreens announced earlier this month that it was offering vaccinations for pertussis at 150 select stores in the state.
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Re-evaluating Chinese currency remains a bad idea
WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Herbert Hoover is alive and well — and picking up his prescriptions at the local drug store.
(THE NEWS: Retailers urge Congress to reject Chinese currency legislation. For the full story, click here.)
Of course, he isn’t. But if he were, he might have some advice to offer current members of Congress and occupants of the White House based on his experience with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which attempted to rescue the U.S. economy by imposing tariffs on imported goods, but instead ignited a trade war that many historians blame for deepening the Great Depression.
The legislation to impose tariffs on Chinese imports as a way to force it to revalue the yuan is based on the assumption that China manipulates its currency to make its manufactured goods more competitive in the U.S. market. Thus, the reasoning goes, if China were to revalue the yuan, it would help American manufacturers by making Chinese imports more expensive and American goods more competitive in China, thereby helping to ease the U.S.-China trade deficit, which totaled $226.9 billion last year and has so far reached more than $145 billion this year, according to U.S. Census data.
But it’s not that simple. In 1930, the United States manufactured most of its own consumer goods; but that’s no longer true, and the bulk of consumer goods, from toys to digital cameras, now come from China. Also frequently lost in the melee is the fact that most of the supposedly Chinese goods are not Chinese at all, but rather products with American, Japanese, Korean and European brands that are assembled in China. Unlike in the 1970s and 1980s, when such Japanese companies as Sony were eating the lunch of such American counterparts as General Electric, the “Made in China” label now graces the products of both.
For that reason, if legislators imposed big tariffs on Chinese goods or if China dramatically revalued the yuan, it would simply force retailers to pass the extra costs to consumers. So after picking up his prescriptions, Hoover would find the digital camera he had planned to buy from behind the counter noticeably more expensive. While this would not likely lead to another Great Depression, it would certainly diminish consumers’ purchasing power.
As for the manufacturing jobs, many experts have said they would simply migrate to cheaper countries rather than returning to the United States. This trend already is under way in textiles, as many clothing companies have started moving factories from China to such countries as Bangladesh in response to the increasing costs of manufacturing in China.
Perrigo seeks approval for generic Zegerid OTC, Schering-Plough files suit
ALLEGAN, Mich. Perrigo has filed for regulatory approval of a generic version of an over-the-counter medication for frequent heartburn, prompting a lawsuit from the branded version’s manufacturer.
The company announced Friday that it had filed for approval for omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate in the 20 mg/1,100 mg strength. The medication is a generic version of Zegerid OTC, made by Schering-Plough HealthCare, a subsidiary of Merck.
Schering-Plough filed a lawsuit Monday alleging patent infringement in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to prevent Perrigo’s commercialization of the product.
Zegerid had sales of around $60 million during the 12-month period ended in the “most recent month,” according to SymphonyIRI Group.
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Evaluating externalities to drive sustainability
As the WRI reports in its recent working paper, "Aligning Profit and Environmental Sustainability: Stories from Industry," other companies are also finding ways to value the cost of environmental impacts to drive sustainability and growth.
• Natura, the Brazilian cosmetics company, is reducing the environmental impact of its supply chain by including in its supplier selection criteria the estimated cost of various suppliers' environmental footprints. Natura estimates the financial cost of purchased products' impacts, such as carbon dioxide emissions, waste generation, water use and more. By reflecting these impacts into product costs, the company is able to select the suppliers that not only deliver the most cost-effective product, but have the lowest environmental impact. This helps Natura keep costs down and meet its commitment to sustainable sourcing.
• Greif, an industrial packaging products and services company, does not price environmental impacts directly, but does take a lifecycle view of its products' footprints in its business planning. For example, Greif expanded its business to include remanufactured and reconditioned shipping containers, after finding them to have a lower environmental impact while better meeting the needs of customers.
Using policy to account for environmental costs
While some companies are taking the lead in developing their own ways of factoring environmental impacts into financial decision-making, public policies that put a price on environmental impacts would help all companies account for environmental externalities. These policies include those that put a price on greenhouse gas emissions or water use, as well as policies that create demand for more efficient products like vehicle fuel efficiency standards or building codes.
While the impact of policies like this will vary across businesses, some companies are already benefiting. Environmental regulations, high energy prices and a price on carbon in Europe, for example, have helped Siemens grow its portfolio of environmental products, including things like wind turbines, highly efficient combined cycle power plants and efficient trains. Siemens has not only helped its customers reduce 332 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions -- equivalent to about 40 percent of Germany's annual emissions -- but it generated $44.6 billion in revenue from its environmental product portfolio in fiscal year 2012.
Alcoa is another example. The aluminum manufacturer found that the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards are driving demand for lighter vehicle materials. The company is well-positioned to provide these materials as a result of its R&D investments. It recently invested $300 million in an Iowa facility in order to provide lightweight aluminum for the 2014 vehicle model year.
Factoring environmental impacts into business decision-making is critical to helping companies minimize their footprints in commercially smart ways. It's encouraging to see corporate leaders starting to account for environmental externalities, but to really mitigate environmental and financial risk, we need more action. We look forward to tracking the innovations that help more companies incorporate environmental costs into their financial and product planning.
Pipe image by Iamnao via Shutterstock


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While rugged mobile tablets are making their way into the food services market, one element of the checkout experience that continues to be in demand for restaurant patrons are self-serve kiosks.
In many ways, Sionic Mobile is the anti-Pay when it comes to today's mobile payments marketplace. Mobile Payments Today recently conducted a Q&A with Ronald Herman, the company's founder and CEO, to get his thoughts on the current state of the industry.
There has been a massive evolution in the use of technology within the past decade, the past five years — and even within just the last year. There are no signs of that evolution of technology use slowing, including in the fast casual restaurant industry.
A new partnership between Microsoft and PayPal opens the door for PayPal Here to run on any device running Windows 8.1, and Panasonic is releasing a new Toughpad, which also runs on Windows 8.1.
Your app is an extension of your brand, and an app with sub-par design or functionality can do serious damage to that brand.
To approach mobile payments, make sure your guests want it, that you have the right infrastructure in place and that you have a plan for the data you can collect.
Seth Priebatsch, LevelUp's Chief Ninja, prognosticates about the future of Apple's mobile payments platform as it applies to restaurant chains.
Millennials expect your website to have more than just your location, hours of operation and phone number; they want to see your menu, reviews, promotions and photos.
By the end of 2015, it’s expected nearly every retailer will have NFC readers.
Having the ability to send relevant promotions, rewarding users with instant incentives and providing security thresholds are critical components.
As of right now, about 15 percent of restaurants accept mobile payments, but this is expected to rise to 68 percent in 2015.
Focusing on the creation of an experience that’s easy for the customer, instead of optimal for the brand, makes customers feel like VIPs.
Apple Pay just demolished the payment value of a branded app, making it possible for consumers to pay without downloading your app by offering the ability to store a credit card and use it with any NFC-enabled device.
Apple tries to make everything easy for consumers and that usually equals widespread consumer adoption down the road.
By combining NFC with finger touch recognition technology, Apple is able to offer NFC payment securely inside PassBook, making PassBook more relevant than ever.
The new mobile wallet eliminates the need for a magstripe, instead generating a single-use, unique number for each transaction.
With Apple's rollout of Apple Pay, now might be a good time for marketers to get to know Passbook.
Order-ahead solutions, like mobile/online ordering, are boosting restaurants' average checks by 15-plus percent.
The second annual ATM & Mobile Innovation Summit in September will feature experts with exceptional depth of knowledge in areas of innovation, security, compliance and regulation.
With geo-triggered ordering, customers make their order in advance and the order gets pushed to the kitchen only when the customer walks in.


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New 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally designed for off-road fun
Ford says the Mustang Mach-E Rally will be available to order early next year
Ford gave its engineers free rein with its Mustang Mach-E and they’ve come up with the hardcore ‘Rally’ variant. The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a few months ago, but now we have more specifications on the wild all-electric rally car.
The Mustang Mach-E might not be the first car you think of when someone says ‘rally’ but that’s not stopped Ford giving its electric SUV some serious off-road potential. The Mach-E Rally certainly looks like it would be at home on a rally special stage. There’s a new front bumper with an integrated splitter, a tow hook and additional fog lights in the closed-off grille.
A new spoiler has sprouted on the rear which has taken inspiration from the Focus RS, plus there's upper and lower body mouldings to protect against rocks, trees and whatever else litters a typical rally stage. The Mach-E Rally also comes with two racing stripes, ‘Mach-E Rally’ decals and a selection of colours including Grabber Blue, Shadow Black, Eruption Green, Grabber Yellow, Star White and Glacier Grey.
The Mach-E Rally is based on the current range-topping all-wheel drive Mustang Mach-E GT. As such, it gains that car’s 91kWh battery powering two electric motors for 487bhp and 880Nm of torque. Performance numbers haven’t been revealed but we expect it to be slightly slower than the GT’s 3.7-second 0-62mph time given the Rally’s off-road focus.
To help achieve its rallying goals, the Mach-E Rally sports a unique suspension system with new shocks and springs that raise the ride height by 20mm over the Mach-E GT. The GT’s big Brembo brakes are carried over to the Rally.
To make sure the Rally’s power can be put down on the rough stuff, Ford has added off-road tyres with more sidewell to promote grip. They’re wrapped around some rally-style white alloy wheels.
Ford’s development of the Mach-E Rally also included setting up a new driving mode. ‘RallySport Drive Mode 6’ is designed specifically for off-road use to “allow for bigger slides” according to Ford. Ford performance seats and white trim detailing can be found in the cabin, plus the huge 15.5-inch portrait screen on the dash is retained from the GT.
Customers will be able to order the Mach-E Rally at the beginning of 2024 and first deliveries should arrive shortly after that.
Now check out the fastest electric cars in the world...


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In late 2014, when the government allowed market pricing of diesel, oil marketing companies (or OMCs as they are called in India) feared that they would begin losing share to private retailers.
After all, the only reason private retailers such as Reliance Industries and Essar Oil had failed in their first attempt to crack open the market in the 2000s was the fact that they had no control over prices. The OMCs—IndianOil Corp. Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd (HPCL)—expected Reliance Industries and Essar Oil to take three to four years to garner a 5-8% market share.
It’s happened much faster. In less than two years, RIL and Essar Oil have cornered nearly 5% of the fuel retail market. “Private players have captured 4.7% market share in 2015-16; h IOCL and BPCL lost 1% each; HPCL lost 0.3%,” said Dhaval Joshi and Nilesh Ghuge of Emkay Global Financial Services, a domestic brokerage, in a note dated 27 May. While deregulation of petrol and diesel prices has augured well for RIL and Essar Oil, their cause has also been helped by cheaper crude oil, stable fuel prices and rise in demand, the note added.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, closed at $49.20 on Monday, down 46% from October 2014 levels when it was at $90.94 per barrel. Crude was trading at $115.71 on 19 June 2014. While petrol prices were deregulated or market-linked in June 2010, diesel prices were market-linked only in October 2014, phasing out subsidies and making the fuel market attractive for RIL and Essar Oil which could, as a result of the change, sell petrol and diesel at the same rate as that of OMCs.
Historically, diesel was sold at subsidised prices in India, with the government compensating the OMCs later. Private fuel marketers received no such subsidy, and were thus edged out of the market when crude oil prices climbed as high as $150 a barrel in 2008. To combat competition, state-owned oil companies plan to spend Rs.25,000 million to open close to 3,100 fuel stations this financial year even as their rivals from the private sector step on the gas. The three OMCs together sell over 95% of all petrol and diesel consumed in India.
Officials from the OMCs admit they expect tough competition from private companies but add that they have already undertaken several measures, including automating retail outlets and strengthening their customer loyalty programs, to beat competition. “We are aware of the expansion that RIL and Essar Oil have undertaken. But we will be expanding too. We have also introduced automation, better customer interface and a transparent mechanism in terms of billing. We don’t expect RIL and Essar to capture more than 8-10% market share,” said a BPCL official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
BPCL plans to open around 500 outlets this financial year at a cost of Rs.4000-5000 million. It opened 630 outlets last year. It has automated 8,000 of its 13,000-odd retail outlets so far. HPCL, the second largest fuel retailer which opened 590 outlets last year, plans to open 800 outlets this year at a cost of Rs.9000 million. “We have a 26% market share in the fuel retailing segment. But with the measures that we are putting in place, we will continue to grow,” said an HPCL official, who did not wish to be identified. The HPCL official added that the company is confident about the stickiness of its loyalty schemes and the revenue it can generate from the non-fuel segment. Meanwhile, private fuel retailers are expanding too.
Last quarter, RIL said it may look at opening new fuel retail outlets later this year. RIL has been re-opening its retail outlets and had re-started 950 of its 1,400 retail outlets till April 2016. RIL had around 14% market share in fuel retailing in 2005-06, but had to shut down its outlets in 2008 as crude oil hit $150 a barrel and lack of subsidies made the business unviable. Essar Oil has 2,100 fuel retail outlets commissioned. It plans to have a total of 5,000 retail outlets. This will make it the largest private fuel retailer in India.
India’s fuel demand jumped 11% in 2015-16, the fastest in two decades, according to data from the government’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell. Demand for diesel, which accounts for roughly 40% of India’s total oil products demand, rose 15.12% over the previous year to a record high of 6.78 million metric tons (mmt). Petrol consumption was up 14.5% to 21.8 mmt Zack Kassian JerseyShare This


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Friday Economic Snapshot: Home prices creep up
As we head into the season of giving thanks, this week we can all be grateful that we’re not Obamacare point person Kathleen Sebelius or Toronto Mayor Rob Ford who have both had undeniably rough weeks.
Looking at the American economy is much less tumultuous and salacious — something we can all be grateful for. In this week’s biggest economic news, gas prices continue looking positive (Typhoon Haiyan’s impact remains to be seen), home prices are back on the rise, household debt is increasing ahead of the holiday season, weekly unemployment claims have taken yet another welcome dip and, you guessed it, the stock market has been on a tear shooting up more than 200 pounds during this second full week of November.
From FNC comes excellent news that home prices posted the fastest quarterly gain since the beginning of the economic recovery. Its index, which gauges the price movement among non-distressed home sales, increased 2.5 percent between the second and third quarters of 2013.
From the report: “Rising home sales and relatively low foreclosure sales are the key drivers of continued increases in home prices. As of September, foreclosure sales nationwide accounted for 13.4% of total home sales, up slightly from August’s 12.7% but down from 16.6% a year ago. Home prices are expected to grow at a more moderate pace in the coming months because housing demand tapers off in the winter.”
As long as we’re keeping an eye out for a bubble (anybody seen how many cranes are hovering over Miami?), rising home prices are good news for most every sector of the American economy.
Here’s a data point we haven’t shared in a while, the Household Debt and Credit Report from the New York Federal Reserve. According to its latest analysis, consumer debt increased in the third quarter by $127 billion, which is the largest increase seen since the first quarter of 2008.
Total consumer debt is up to a face melting $11.28 trillion, an increase of 1.1 percent from Q2. This is 11 percent below the national peak of $12.68 trillion in the third quarter of 2008.
It’s a fascinating report, and one that suggests consumers are through with years of deleveraging that, according to the report, “is a significant change.” It sure is…
Weekly unemployment claims have settled into a post-recessionary period mimicking levels consistently seen between 2004 and early 2008, and this week’s data shows seasonally adjusted initial claims at 339,000. This is a modest decrease of 2,000 from the previous week, and puts the four-week moving average at 344,000, a decrease of 5,750 from last week’s numbers that showed a surprising jump in claims.
All in all, economic fundamentals are looking good with the ever-present looming threat of government meddling after the first of the year. Until then, we’re looking at rising home prices, palatable gas prices and holiday spending that is looking to be lower than the previous year.
We’ll have to see how the markets and retailers swallow this pill should it prove to be accurate. On the plus side, we all should really work on those swelling debt levels, let alone gravy-fed waistlines.


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Transactions in society are transforming. We live in exciting times and the very ideas of value, exchange and currency are being disrupted by systems that trade in trust, social currency and data.
Recent research by Starcom reveals a third of Brits believe we will be cashless by 2031. The speed and scale of disruption the financial sector is facing mirrors many of the challenges the media, publishing, music and film industries continue to encounter. These traditional business models have been challenged and transformed almost overnight. Across the finance sector we believe there are four key areas of disruption on the way: how consumers choose to pay and earn, the proliferation of competitive intermediaries and the new responsibilities businesses must accept and adopt in this era of electronic/digital payment.
These disruptions are happening across the globe, but the UK is a particularly interesting marketplace for all observers. The UK has an established banking system, but perhaps the fact that we are smaller means it has been less burdensome to update our payment systems (eg introduction to contactless terminals). This has led to less reservation and reluctance to adopting new innovations.
Today’s booming entrepreneurial spirit – born from a mix of technology, a tough economic climate and the fact that we live much longer – means we are on the brink of unlocking potential value in the world around us. With a rise of 38 per cent between 2011 to 2015, the flourishing base of startups shows no sign of abating, despite the recovering economy. Brands and media businesses need to embrace the growth of the startup community and start thinking of new ways to engage with consumers as contactless payments increase.
Assets that were formerly owned and static can now be used as part of the dynamic sharing economy. The scale in which we embraced the ability ‘to Airbnb our spare rooms’ and ‘Uber our cars’ has meant that the chancellor’s budget this year had to look at ways of taxing these earnings.
Actions from customers can also unlock credit which in turn builds engagement with advertisers. It could be an extended happy hour by giving the brand a #shoutout. Lyft, a competitor to Uber, rewards customers with additional credit for being a polite, decent five-star rated customer.
We are all traders now. We do what we can to earn what we want. And, this exchange doesn’t have to feature money. All businesses must find ways to tap into this pioneering new world of trading.
The world in which we live is based primarily on a desire for services and experiences rather than just products. This could mean that you flip your product on its head. Are you selling coffee or selling a creative space to work? Coffee shop Ziferblat charges individuals by the hour rather than the coffee they drink. Advertisers must therefore consider how they can integrate payments into consumer experiences.
We must also acknowledge that we still live in a world with issues such as climate change, famine, war and extreme poverty. Businesses have options. Either compete in tough, saturated markets, or support those who have nothing to grow new markets for your products, and in the process make the world a better place. Coca-Cola’s initiative to help five million female entrepreneurs by 2020 answers precisely this brief.
The implications, both now and in the future, are whether brands decide to use their customers as data to be traded or alternatively provide valuable data to their customers to allow them to trade and thereby create new revenue streams. In a world of increasing digital payment, brands, and indeed all media businesses, must take on these responsibilities in order to excel.
Heather Dansie is associate director of research at Starcom


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The legislative process enjoys a reputation for a paint-drying level of fascination. However, Hank Gutman revealed some of the machinations and intrigue behind passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
For instance, the Budget Act and the requirements of revenue reconciliation imposed requirements with short-term work-arounds that will have long-term consequences. Many of the tax breaks in the law expire after eight years precisely to remain within the 10-year revenue limits imposed by reconciliation.
Mark Mazur employed highly persuasive visuals that made the case for America’s relatively light tax burden as compared to peer nations. However, the visual that will likely remain with attendees the longest depicted the massive growth in mandatory spending that threatens to all but squeeze out discretionary spending in the not too distant future. All panelists concurred that the Coronavirus will have an impact on the U.S. economy in 2020, but Richard Bard made the case that the virus may be an opportunity to reassess our reliance on Chinese goods and manufacturing.


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In a panel session, Gagnon asked what the display industry had done that didn’t work. Bhowmik immediately identified 3D as a technology that just didn’t happen. Sanduski said that the reaction to Avatar was great and that drove hope. However, watching in a theatre, you’re in a very focused experience and so wearing glasses is not a problem. However, for TV, the experience is multi-tasking and that is why 3D failed.
Walline said that phones getting too big is an issue. Netbooks were a similar problem, of expectations not meeting reality. Customers didn’t understand the compromises that had been necessary and that netbooks were not just cheap notebooks.
There was general agreement that a consistent user experience across a range of devices is really important. It is also important to get devices working together but that is not an easy task and companies such as Intel can help. Bhowmik that everything needs to be smart, to compute and to communicate. Products that don’t will disappear.
Sanduski said that 10 years ago, a stand alone TV was saleable, but not any more. If it doesn’t connect, it’s just not feasible any more. Sanduski said that Sharp would introduce Android TV to the US market shortly.


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The wait for the upcoming RPG KonoSuba: Fantastic Days are still to be for a couple of months more, but to the surprise of the fans, the global publishers of the game Nexon recently released the interview videos with the main voice actors of the game Jun Fukushima, who stars as Kazuma, and Sora Amamiya, starring as Aqua, as they shared their thoughts on the imminent global release of the game.
Interview with the Voice actors of KonoSuba: Fantastic Days
In the online interview, the voice-over actor of Aqua, Sora Amamiya addressed the fans and added her thoughts on the global release: “It’s been only a year since the game came out in Japan and I thought there is no way overseas players can play this game. But the game has become popular overseas and I’m so happy that everyone can now play KonoSuba: Fantastic Days.”. She later added: “The content in the game is very fulfilling and the characters are super cute. I hope you’re excited!”
Similarly, an interview with the voice actor of another lead character in the game, Kazuma, was released as well. The actor Jun Fukushima also expressed the excitement of the upcoming global release and added his thoughts on the release: “With the game’s global release, I’m happy that the KonoSuba community can continue to expand.“
On asked about the approach he took for voicing Kazuma, he said:
About KonoSuba: Fantastic Days
KonoSuba: Fantastic Days is a mobile RPG that is developed based on the popular novel “KonoSuba” series. The game follows the original storyline from the popular Japanese anime series “KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!” Featuring original characters from its original series, including Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, Darkness, all-new exclusive characters along with new storylines will also be created uniquely for the game. Initially released in Japan in February 2020, the game gained massive success and positive response from fans, and hence Nexon took over to launch the game globally.
Nexon confirmed that the global release of mobile RPG KonoSuba: Fantastic Days will be sometime around 2021 for both iOS and Android devices.
Did you enjoy the interview of the voice actors of KonoSuba: Fantastic Days? Let us know in the comment section below!


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A change in permitted terms for Irish whiskey in the US has been turned from a problem into an opportunity by the market leader, Pernod Rica...
Diageo’s recent court victory in the Vodkat “passing off” case has brought the world of spirit regulations into the headlines. But, accordin...
Diageo is to launch a new Cardhu Scotch expression throughout Western Europe.
Every autumn Diageo releases a collection of limited edition single malt Scotch whiskies. Ten such single malt whiskies are being released this year.
Diageo's The Managers' Choice Scotch whisky collection
Diageo is set to release a new expression of its Cardhu whisky.
As the controversy continues to mount regarding Diageo’s decision to change the make-up of its Cardhu brand, the company hit back yesterday saying it was “passionate about Scotland and Scotch whisky” and that without innovation the company’s “economic and social performance would at best stand still.”
- Analysis - SABMiller to add bolt-ons in Africa?
- A-B InBev's Move on Tennent's Super Makes Sense
- Brand Diversification Driving Craft Brewery Growth
- Analysis - Stock Spirits: Poland's number one
- What's on the M&A cards for San Miguel Brewery?
- Diageo scraps Arthur's Day, but singer left sad
- Pernod Ricard's Café de Paris Pear, Pomegranate
- PepsiCo CEO sees "profound" change in US consumers
- William Grant sinks GBP185,000 into "No" camp
- SodaStream silent on John Lewis pullout in UK


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Any news on a NJ SC?
I saw some threads a while back talking about a NJ service center in Edison coming in the spring. I had also heard something similar from a Tesla employee at the Short Hills store last year. Looking at the Tesla Motors website, there is no mention of a NJ SC... although there are several SC's in other locations placarded "coming soon."
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And now it seems Bunnings is in on the action with their own deal - with one shopper revealing to the Markdown Addicts Australia group that she picked up the 17-pack for just $5.
She writes: ‘If you’re like me and missed out on the Woolworths $5 9-pack containers, I found in my local Bunnings 17-piece food storage containers on clearance for $5.’
It appears the flash sale is only limited to some stores - but they are available online at Bunnings for $6.98, so be sure to check your local store for availability.
Another shopper says she’s already picked up six of the Bunnings packs - that’s over 100 pieces! - and others are doing the same. ‘I’m going to Bunnings now,’ said one. Added another: ‘This is all because of the Coles promo.’
Shopper Carly also took advantage of the Bunnings deal - giving them a 5-star review, and revealing that they have excellent seals. She writes: 'Not a markdown but an amazing find at an incredible price I could not share! 17 storage containers for $6.98 at Bunnings! That works out to be roughly 40c per container !
She adds: 'Those asking how the seals are. I filled one with water and tipped upside down [see second photo, top of page].'
The Bunnings deal comes just days after it was revealed that Coles had come under fire when it was revealed that the 600ml container required 20 credits - which means shoppers would have to spend $200 to get them smallest container.
A larger container, meanwhile, would require around $400 in credits.
Says one shopper: ‘It’s a joke!’


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Monday will kick off a busy week for data on Wall Street, with the latest manufacturing ISM index due at 10 a.m. ET.» Read More
March 10- William Ackman's hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management LP said it would unveil on Tuesday details about Herbalife Ltd's violations in China as the activist investor sharpened his attack against the nutritional products company.
BOSTON, Feb 19- Nutrition and weight loss products company Herbalife Ltd lowered its forecast range for 2014 sales and again defended itself on Wednesday against allegations by billionaire investor William Ackman that its business is a fraud.
Feb 18- Herbalife Ltd, the nutrition products company accused by billionaire investor William Ackman of being a pyramid scheme, raised its forecast for the first quarter of 2014 on strong sales growth in China.
Jan 21- Skincare products maker Nu Skin Enterprises Inc said it would suspend promotional meetings in China where it recruits new distributors, days after Chinese regulators launched investigations into its business practices. Shares of Herbalife Ltd, which has a business model similar to Nu Skin, fell 10 percent the same day.
Jan 21- Skincare products maker Nu Skin Enterprises Inc said it would suspend promotional meetings where it recruits new distributors in China, days after Chinese regulators launched probes into its business practices.
BEIJING, Jan 16- China's regulators launched probes into skincare products maker Nu Skin Enterprises Inc after local media questioned the U.S. company's business practices, dragging down shares of several retailers that use similar distribution models.
CNBC's Herb Greenberg weighs in on Nu Skin as officials in China say they will investigate the company on pyramid scheme allegations.
Nu Skin shares are getting shellacked after the People's Daily in China ran a report suggesting the company is running an illegal pyramid scheme.
CNBC's Herb Greenberg reports on a controversy involving Nu Skin's China operations. Greenberg also shares his take on Valeant Pharma.
Some of Wednesday's midday movers:
Some of Tuesday's midday movers:
Some of Friday's midday movers.
Nu Skin soared on earnings data, and RadioShack hired 2 former JC Penney executives. CNBC's Herb Greenberg questions whether this will pay off for RadioShack.
Sept 20- Shares of real estate website Zillow Inc fell as much as 10 percent on Friday after short-seller Citron Research questioned its business model for the second time in a year and noted that senior executives have been selling the stock.
Some of the names on the move ahead of the open.
It’s time for the Lightning Round. Cramer makes the call on viewer favorites.
Take a look at some of Thursday's midday movers:
The trouble, according to Joe Mariano, president of the Direct Selling Association, that "there are a lot of pyramid schemes that like to disguise themselves as legitimate direct-selling companies."
Multi-level marketers get a pass from regulators, critics say. Are consumers on the losing end?
The story of the guy who started it all.


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Small Drones Could Be Better for Climate Than Delivery Trucks, Says Study
By Zeke Hausfather
Automated, unmanned drones are poised to revolutionize the package delivery industry, with a number of companies already testing drone-based delivery methods.
A new study in Nature Communications looks at the climate impact of a shift from truck-based to drone-based package delivery. It finds that while small drones carrying packages weighing less than 0.5 kg would reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel or electric trucks anywhere in the U.S., the same is not true for larger drones carrying heavier packages.
Game of Drones
The cost of drones has fallen dramatically over the past decade. At the same time, improvements in battery energy storage and a reduction in battery costs have led to drones that can fly much larger distances. Advances in automation and computer vision has made it possible to conceive of drones that could deliver packages to individual homes without requiring a human operator.
The combination of these factors has led companies—including Amazon, Google, UPS, DHL and others—to start developing programs for drone-based delivery of packages. Due to their fast delivery speed, drones are a natural fit for same-day delivery of orders, something that a number of different companies have been pursuing in recent years.
While the commercial use of drones is strictly regulated today, both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency are developing regulations to allow the use of drones for delivery purposes.
Current in-city delivery of packages is primarily via diesel trucks in both the U.S. and Europe. Some companies are piloting electric delivery trucks. While their deployment to date has been fairly small, they are expected to take a larger market share in the future.
In most prototype programs developed by companies so far, the drones used for delivery have been relatively small battery-powered quadcopters or octocopters. These drones can only fly for around 10-15 minutes before their batteries are exhausted, limiting the range in which they can deliver packages.
The new study looks at the climate impacts of two specific types of drones: small quadcopters capable of transporting 0.5kg and large octocopters that can carry up to 8.1kg. Both types of drones are capable of carrying a single package up to 4km and returning to refuel before their battery runs out.
More Drones, More Warehouses
The limited range of drones compared to traditional diesel delivery trucks would require companies to build many drone-enabled warehouses in locations close to customers. The authors of the new study suggest that this would increase direct energy use by these additional warehouses, as well as require additional deliveries to these distributed warehouses.
The authors give an example of how warehouses for drone delivery in the San Francisco Bay Area might work, as shown in the figure below. As drones only have a range of around 4km, a warehouse would be needed every few kilometers to cover an entire region. They suggest that most of San Francisco itself could be supplied from only four warehouses given its density (left map), but that 112 warehouses would be needed to supply the entire San Francisco Bay Area (right map).
Example of optimal warehouse locations to supply most of the city of San Francisco (left map) and greater San Francisco Bay Area (right map) assuming a small quadcopter with a range of 3.5km. Taken from Figure 3 of Stolaroff et al 2018.
Small Drones Can Reduce Emissions
All types of delivery drones are much more efficient per mile travelled than diesel trucks. However, delivery trucks generally do not carry only one parcel. Thus, the energy used per package is considerably smaller. The researchers point out that "delivery trucks carry many packages, delivering on average 0.94 packages per km (1.51 per mile), and their impacts need to be allocated per package."
To account for this, the authors calculate the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in grams of CO2-equivalent (CO2eq) per package from small drones, large drones, diesel trucks, natural gas trucks, electric trucks and petrol vans. They further examine how these findings vary across the different electricity generation mixes found in the U.S. You can see their main results in the figure below.
Greenhouse gas emissions (in grams CO2eq) per package for different delivery methods. Adapted from Figure 5 of Stolaroff et al 2018.
The authors find that small drones that carry packages lighter than 0.5kg have the lowest overall GHG emissions of any delivery system they examined. This is true both in places such as California (where electricity is relatively low-carbon), for the U.S. average grid mix and for areas of the U.S. with the most carbon-intensive electricity.
Small drones result in a 50 percent reduction in GHG emissions per package delivered compared to diesel trucks in California and 37 percent less carbon than diesel trucks on average across the whole U.S. In Missouri, which has among the most carbon-intensive electricity in the country, small drones still result in a 23 percent reduction in emissions.
If it is assumed that the alternative to drone delivery is electric delivery trucks rather than diesel trucks, small drones reduce GHG emissions by 26 percent in California and 33 percent for the whole U.S. Interestingly, for the current U.S. electricity grid mix, electric trucks result in about the same emissions as diesel trucks.
The picture is quite different for large drones, which carry packages up to 8.1kg. While they still reduce emissions in "low-carbon" California, they only result in a 9 percent reduction compared to diesel trucks. In the U.S. as a whole, their emissions are actually 24 percent. This will change in the future as the U.S. grid mix becomes cleaner.
In general, drones have a large potential for reduced transport emissions, while potential carbon reductions for diesel vehicles are more limited.
Breaking Down the Sources
The paper further breaks down emissions from each delivery option based on the portion that comes from transporting the packages, energy used for storing packages in warehouses, and the producing batteries used in drones and electric trucks.
The figure below shows the breakdown for various delivery options for the average U.S. grid mix.
Greenhouse gas emissions (in grams CO2eq) per package by source for a subset of different delivery methods. Adapted from Figure 5 of Stolaroff et al 2018.
Small drones have a remarkably low transportation-related electricity use, with almost all their emissions coming from the additional warehouses that need to be built. By contrast, large drones require much more electricity. Their emissions per package delivered is higher, with their combined transport electricity and battery production emissions roughly equal to the diesel fuel emissions from conventional diesel delivery trucks for the U.S. average grid mix. Electric trucks also show similarly high transportation-related emissions.
While reducing the carbon intensity of electricity generation would reduce both large drone and electric truck emissions compared to diesel trucks, the authors say there is little reason to prefer large drones over electric trucks for package delivery due to the extra warehouse-related emissions that large drones require.
Overall, the researchers find "significant promise in the use of drones to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions." However, they also warn that "there are plausible scenarios where drones lead to overall higher energy use and greenhouse gas emissions compared to ground vehicles."
As Dr. Costas Sampras, the director the Center for Engineering and Resilience for Climate Adaptation at Carnegie Mellon University and one of the authors of the paper, told Carbon Brief:
"Our research finds that small package delivery by drones likely has lower GHG emissions than diesel trucks, even when accounting for the potential additional warehouse space needed. For larger packages, we found that it's probably better to use electric vans or electric trucks rather than large drones.
However, if warehouses to support urban drone delivery are constructed, they are likely to be used by both small and large drones—presenting a challenge for reducing GHGs from package delivery.
To maximise the climate benefits, firms should focus on smaller drones and an electrified ground fleet, while policy makers should focus on continued decarbonisation of electricity, as well as improved energy efficiency in buildings."
Reposted with permission from our media associate Carbon Brief.
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- Monarch Butterflies Will Be Protected Under Historic Deal - EcoWatch ›
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California faces another "critically dry year" according to state officials, and a destructive wildfire season looms on its horizon. But in a state that welcomes innovation, water efficacy approaches and drought management could replenish California, increasingly threatened by the climate's new extremes.
- Remarkable Drop in Colorado River Water Use Sign of Climate ... ›
- California Faces a Future of Extreme Weather - EcoWatch ›
Wisdom the mōlī, or Laysan albatross, is the oldest wild bird known to science at the age of at least 70. She is also, as of February 1, a new mother.

🚨Cute baby alert! Wisdom's chick has hatched!!! 🐣😍 Wisdom, a mōlī (Laysan albatross) and world’s oldest known, ban… https://t.co/Nco050ztBA
 — USFWS Pacific Region (@USFWS Pacific Region)1612558888.0

By Hui Hu
Winter is supposed to be the best season for wind power – the winds are stronger, and since air density increases as the temperature drops, more force is pushing on the blades. But winter also comes with a problem: freezing weather.
Comparing rime ice and glaze ice shows how each changes the texture of the blade. Gao, Liu and Hu, 2021, CC BY-ND
Ice buildup changes air flow around the turbine blade, which can slow it down. The top photos show ice forming after 10 minutes at different temperatures in the Wind Research Tunnel. The lower measurements show airflow separation as ice accumulates. Icing Research Tunnel of Iowa State University, CC BY-ND
While traditional investment in the ocean technology sector has been tentative, growth in Israeli maritime innovations has been exponential in the last few years, and environmental concern has come to the forefront.
theDOCK aims to innovate the Israeli maritime sector. Pexels
The UN hopes that new investments in ocean science and technology will help turn the tide for the oceans. As such, this year kicked off the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) to galvanize massive support for the blue economy.

According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem," Science Direct reported. It represents this new sector for investments and innovations that work in tandem with the oceans rather than in exploitation of them.

As recently as Aug. 2020, Reuters noted that ESG Investors, those looking to invest in opportunities that have a positive impact in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, have been interested in "blue finance" but slow to invest.

"It is a hugely under-invested economic opportunity that is crucial to the way we have to address living on one planet," Simon Dent, director of blue investments at Mirova Natural Capital, told Reuters.

Even with slow investment, the blue economy is still expected to expand at twice the rate of the mainstream economy by 2030, Reuters reported. It already contributes $2.5tn a year in economic output, the report noted.

Current, upward shifts in blue economy investments are being driven by innovation, a trend the UN hopes will continue globally for the benefit of all oceans and people.

In Israel, this push has successfully translated into investment in and innovation of global ports, shipping, logistics and offshore sectors. The "Startup Nation," as Israel is often called, has seen its maritime tech ecosystem grow "significantly" in recent years and expects that growth to "accelerate dramatically," iTrade reported.

Driving this wave of momentum has been rising Israeli venture capital hub theDOCK. Founded by Israeli Navy veterans in 2017, theDOCK works with early-stage companies in the maritime space to bring their solutions to market. The hub's pioneering efforts ignited Israel's maritime technology sector, and now, with their new fund, theDOCK is motivating these high-tech solutions to also address ESG criteria.

"While ESG has always been on theDOCK's agenda, this theme has become even more of a priority," Nir Gartzman, theDOCK's managing partner, told EcoWatch. "80 percent of the startups in our portfolio (for theDOCK's Navigator II fund) will have a primary or secondary contribution to environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria."

In a company presentation, theDOCK called contribution to the ESG agenda a "hot discussion topic" for traditional players in the space and their boards, many of whom are looking to adopt new technologies with a positive impact on the planet. The focus is on reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment, the presentation outlines. As such, theDOCK also explicitly screens candidate investments by ESG criteria as well.

Within the maritime space, environmental innovations could include measures like increased fuel and energy efficiency, better monitoring of potential pollution sources, improved waste and air emissions management and processing of marine debris/trash into reusable materials, theDOCK's presentation noted.

theDOCK team includes (left to right) Michal Hendel-Sufa, Head of Alliances, Noa Schuman, CMO, Nir Gartzman, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, and Hannan Carmeli, Co-Founder & Managing Partner. Dudu Koren
theDOCK's own portfolio includes companies like Orca AI, which uses an intelligent collision avoidance system to reduce the probability of oil or fuel spills, AiDock, which eliminates the use of paper by automating the customs clearance process, and DockTech, which uses depth "crowdsourcing" data to map riverbeds in real-time and optimize cargo loading, thereby reducing trips and fuel usage while also avoiding groundings.

"Oceans are a big opportunity primarily because they are just that – big!" theDOCK's Chief Marketing Officer Noa Schuman summarized. "As such, the magnitude of their criticality to the global ecosystem, the magnitude of pollution risk and the steps needed to overcome those challenges – are all huge."

There is hope that this wave of interest and investment in environmentally-positive maritime technologies will accelerate the blue economy and ESG investing even further, in Israel and beyond.

- 14 Countries Commit to Ocean Sustainability Initiative - EcoWatch ›
- These 11 Innovations Are Protecting Ocean Life - EcoWatch ›
- How Innovation Is Driving the Blue Economy - EcoWatch ›


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Bacon lovers, are you sitting down?
Better yet -- are you dead?
If so, your dream product is here.
Today they guys who brought the world Bacon Salt, Baconnaise and most recently, Bacon Lube, unveiled their latest creation: the bacon coffin.
For those who love bacon to death.
"You ate bacon, you decorated your body with bacon, your car with bacon and your home with bacon," the release says. "And now, you can peacefully rest wrapped in bacon."
The coffins are painted to look just like the deceased's favorite food -- with what the company calls a "bacon and pork shading." They are accented with gold handles and come with an adjustable bed and mattress, ivory crepe linens and, yes, a bacon memorial tube.
To spend eternity like this, it will cost you -- $2,999.95 plus shipping and handling. That's a lot of you know what.
The company has already sold one, to someone in Iowa, Dave
And -- there's a Maryland connection to the company. Lefkow's grandfather, Sigmund Danzansky, once co-owned the area funeral home, Danzansky-Goldberg.
"Given that it’s a Jewish funeral home," Lefkow joked, "I’m guessing they never would have sold these, but there you go."
For more information, or to freak your loved ones out and place an order: www.baconcoffins.com
Latest Baltimore Insider


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By Hope Winsborough, Contributing Writer | September 21, 2017
There were no registration lines at 9 a.m. on the opening day of Surf Expo and few vehicles in the massive parking lots at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
Gabby Sabharwal took her fashion marketing and public-relations experience and applied it to launch a swim brand, Giejo which mixes runway inspiration with street style to create pieces that can be worn on and off the beach.
When Lisa Hackwith launched her swimwear company, Hackwith Design Co., in 2013, she had a mission to produce quality, sustainable, locally made clothing.
The art world and Miami street style converged in December during the annual Art Basel modern and contemporary art festival in Miami Beach.
Swim Trends: Swimwear—On The Beach And Beyond
Irvine, Calif.–based La Jolla Group has formed a joint venture partnership with The Roark Revival in which La Jolla Group will provide Roark with “the tools, staffing, financial management and structure to scale their business seamlessly.”
The people and events that made the news in 2015.
This was a big year for Swim Collective, the 4-year-old Southern California trade show. In January, the trade show launched a companion event, Active Collective, which featured activewear and athleisure lines showing alongside Swim Collective’s swimwear brands.
One of the innovators and major companies of the surf business, Quiksilver Inc., wiped out this year.
Leading surfwear and fashion company …Lost Holdings announced that Rick Petri, a surf-industry veteran, will join the company as its president on Dec. 1.
Surf Industry Manufacturers Association has presented its SIMA Image Awards for 13 years, and on Nov. 11, it announced its slate of award nominees for work done in the past year. Winners will be announced Feb. 11.
Oaktree Capital Management, the Los Angeles–based investment firm, is ramping up its effort to buy Quiksilver Inc. out of bankruptcy.
Bob Hurley is stepping down as the chief executive officer of Hurley International.
The September run of the Surf Expo trade show has always been smaller than the show’s January edition, but for exhibitors and attendees of the recent Sept. 10–12 show, the fall edition is a good indicator of what’s to come.
Sequins, foil prints and gold and silver metallic accents add luxe sophistication and fun to animal prints, abstract designs, florals and stripes.
Day-glo colors and psychedelic swirl prints have textile designers seeing Mod with ’60s-inspired abstract prints.


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Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a “Food Additives and Child Health” policy statement calling for “urgently needed reforms to the current regulatory process at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food additives.” The policy applies to chemicals deliberately added to food or to food packaging or food processing equipment that get into food. These substances are used to flavor, color, preserve, package, process and store our food, but many never appear among the list of ingredients. AAP’s statement calls specifically for the following:
- “Greatly strengthening or replacing the GRAS [Generally Recognized as Safe] determination process;
- Updating the scientific foundation of the FDA’s safety assessment program;
- Retesting all previously approved chemicals; and
- Labeling direct additives with limited or no toxicity data.”
EDF applauds AAP’s policy statement and its decision to add its influential voice to the rising call for reform of the process by which FDA and food manufacturers decide additives are safe. AAP, a professional society representing 67,000 pediatricians, develops policy statements regarding federal, state, and community policies that affect children through an extensive, deliberative process that draws on tremendous scientific expertise. As with past policies, such as those concerning lead toxicity and fruit juice consumption, this statement on chemicals in food presents a well-reasoned assessment of the problem and clear recommendations for reform.
Over 10,000 chemicals are allowed to be used to flavor, color, preserve, package, process, or store food in the US – and 1,000 of these bypass FDA review. Due to a flawed law – the Food Additives Amendment of 1958 – and weak enforcement, many chemicals are inadequately tested, or not tested at all, and others are never even independently reviewed for safety. FDA and industry interpret the law as exempting additives that companies secretly determine to be “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) from agency or public review. While originally intended for common ingredients such as oil and vinegar, the process has become a massive loophole that companies have used to bypass FDA review and oversight.
In its statement, the AAP also draws attention to certain chemicals of concern and describes how they exemplify the failures of the food safety system. The following additives are cited as of most concern due to growing evidence of harm:
- Bisphenol A (BPA),
- Perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs),
- Artificial food colors, and
- Nitrates/ nitrites.
Health risks of these chemicals range from worsened attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder symptoms associated with synthetic food colorings common in children’s food to impaired fetal and child brain development, a known effect of perchlorate exposure.
For years, consumers have increasingly demanded food that is healthier and safer including limiting chemical additives and carcinogens. Food manufacturers have taken steps to respond to consumer concerns, but meaningful change will require strengthening and modernizing the regulatory system. EDF is striving to make our food safer by encouraging corporate leaders to remove chemicals of concern from their food and by strengthening and modernizing the current regulatory system. To properly ensure the safety of our food, we are working to:
- End secrecy: The Generally Recognized as Safe loophole allows companies to secretly decide on the safety of chemicals in our food — without FDA’s review or the public’s knowledge. Congress needs to create a more streamlined, public process for FDA to make safety decisions and encourage innovation.
- Use modern science: When FDA reviews chemicals in our food before they are used, it makes our food supply safer. But the agency needs to use the most modern science to do the best job.
- Ensure existing chemicals are safe: Thousands of chemicals were approved by FDA decades ago, when we had far less understanding about their impacts on human health. FDA needs to reassess their safety. Congress needs to provide FDA with the tools so the agency can get the information it needs to set priorities and make decisions about the 10,000 chemicals in our food.
We’re greatly encouraged to see the AAP take such a strong stance on the issue of chemicals in food, and we hope that FDA and policymakers will take immediate action to implement the critical changes needed to fix our nation’s broken food regulatory system and better protect children.


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Hyundai Motor today announced that it has received over 11,000 bookings for the Alcazar SUV. The company had begun bookings for the Alcazar on June 9 and in just 10 days the car received an overwhelming 4000 bookings. A month after its launch, that number has climbed to 11,000.
Commenting on the remarkable bookings performance, Mr Tarun Garg, Director (Sales, Marketing & Service), Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “Hyundai Alcazar has received an overwhelming response from customers with over 11 000 Bookings received in less than a month since its launch. We are truly humbled and grateful to our customers.”
The Alcazar is available both in petrol and diesel engines
The company has already sold 5600 units of the Alcazar in the country and it plans to ramp up production based on the demand. Engine options on the new Hyundai Alcazar will include both petrol and diesel options. The 2.0-litre petrol unit churns out 157 bhp and 191 Nm of torque, while the 1.5-litre diesel belts out 113 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque. Both engines will be offered with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai claims a fuel efficiency figure of 14.5 kmpl on the petrol manual version, and 14.2 kmpl on the petrol automatic. The diesel model, on the other hand, claims a fuel efficiency of 20.4 kmpl while the automatic version returns 18.1 kmpl.


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Hydron start-up to develop autonomous fuel cell trucksJune 16, 2022
The technology will make it possible to power driverless vehicles using carbon emission-free hydrogen.
A TuSimple driverless trucking software co-founder is launching a new venture to develop autonomous fuel cell trucks running on zero-emission hydrogen.
Many trucking companies are looking to H2 as a potential future fuel to help them decarbonize.
While battery electric passenger vehicles have taken off, when it comes to larger vehicles such as long-haul trucks, hydrogen is standing out due to its rapid refueling and its range. The reason is that batteries are heavy enough that they cut into cargo capacity, and they require a substantial amount of time to recharge.
“Battery electric vehicles are well-suited for shorter routes. But they are not yet capable of supporting long-haul applications,” said Mo Chen, Hydron founder, as quoted in a FreightWaves report.
The initial announcement regarding the autonomous fuel cell trucks has been relatively light when it comes to details. It suggests that the start-up is currently releasing just enough to draw fundraising partners.
Hydron has become the first company to unveil a strategy linking H2-powered fuel cells with autonomous vehicles in the trucking industry. Its goal is the development, manufacturing, and sale of H2-powered vehicles. This would substantially slash the CO2 emissions resulting from Class 8 heavy trucks.
So far, no other vehicle maker has released an official plan for autonomous fuel cell trucks.
Toyota, Hyundai, Nikola, and Hyzon Motors are all interested in H2-powered vehicles in the trucking industry, but none have also released a plan that for driverless operation.
“We believe our unique approach focusing on both the autonomous-ready hardware and the hydrogen fuel cell technology gives Hydron a unique advantage over other companies in the market,” said Chen while discussing the autonomous fuel cell truck plan.
Hydron is working with neither TuSimple or Navistar. That said, its manufacturing partner is aimed at a ground-up Level 4 driverless vehicle in 2025. TuSimple is testing driverless vehicles that have been retrofitted with the technology in Arizona. It also has plans to continue its testing in Texas.
Chen is a TuSimple co-founder, having created that firm with current CEO and chair Xiaodi Hou in 2015.


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- Microsoft Continues to increase its revenue in Q1 2020.
- Revenue is better than before, because of the pandemic
Today, Microsoft reported the Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2021. Microsoft reported an income of $13.9 Billion and net revenue of $37.2 Billion for the first quarter of 2020. Even during this pandemic, Microsoft managed to do a business like this!
It is said that the Remote Work or Work-From-Home has some contribution to increasing this revenue to 13%. Many people who stayed at home used the services like Azure Cloud and Games from Microsoft, because of which Microsoft saw a tremendous increase.
The estimated revenue for the company was less but the current numbers changed the estimates. More people are now staying at home, because of which they are playing more games, having online meetings, learning new things, etc. This sudden Stay at Home condition helped many businesses working on the services using the internet and Microsoft is one of them.
Microsoft offers a variety of products, from cloud to Microsoft Surface, they have a vast range of products for normal consumers and businesses. The demand for the consumer PC’s has increased because of the pandemic. A lot of people purchased new laptops, smartphones, and other electronic stuff during the pandemic to attend online meetings, work on projects, or do some work. This boosted the revenue of many companies.


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Chinese Grey Market Is Flooded With REAL Apple-only White iPhone 4s
You think Apple might have have killed the white iPhone 4 in the favor of the iPhone 5? Think again! In the grey markets of China, white iPhone 4s are being sold with labels on them saying “for internal use only”, and moreover, they are all locked to AT&T, running iOS 4.1! Could this mean that Apple has plans to launch these forgotten babies in the US in the coming months or so?
The price of these supposedly genuine white iPhone 4s is undoubtedly high. The 16GB model costs around $828 to $1024, while the 32GB model costs even higher than that. But if you’re dying to get an iPhone 4 in white, now you know where to go, China. Or you can just contact the kid from New York and give your black iPhone 4 an overhaul into white.
Here are a couple of photos of the packaging. The iPhone 4 pictured is the 16GB model in white.
[GizChina | Thanks to Andi Sykes for the hat tip via Email]


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The 2 per cent interest subvention is estimated cost of the exchequer approximately Rs 1,542 crore, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
"Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister approved the scheme for interest subvention of 2 per cent for a period of 12 months, to all Shishu loan accounts under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)...," he added.
At end-March 2020, about 9.37 crore loan accounts under the Shishu category of PMMY with a total loan amount of about Rs 1.62 Lakh crore, were outstanding.
The scheme will be extended to loans that are outstanding as on March 31, 2020 and not in Non-Performing Asset (NPA) category, said an official release.
"The interest subvention would be payable for the months in which the accounts are not in NPA category including for the months that the account becomes a performing asset again, after turning NPA," it said and added the move will incentivise people who will make regular repayments of loans.
The scheme is for implementation of one of the measures relating to MSMEs, announced under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
The PMMY was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015, for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY. These loans are given by commercial banks, RRBs, small finance banks, MFIs and NBFCs.
The scheme will be implemented through the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and will be in operation for 12 months.
For borrowers, who have been allowed a moratorium, as permitted by RBI under the 'COVID 19 Regulatory Package', the scheme would commence post completion of the moratorium period till a period of 12 months (from September 01, 2020 till August 31, 2021).
For other borrowers, the scheme would commence with effect from June 1, 2020, till May 31, 2021.
In the release, the government said the scheme has been formulated as a specific response to an unprecedented situation and aims to alleviate financial stress for borrowers at the 'bottom of the pyramid' by reducing their cost of credit.
"The scheme is expected to provide much needed relief to the sector, thereby enabling small businesses to continue functioning without laying off employees due to lack of funds," it added.
By supporting small businesses to continue functioning during these times of crisis, the scheme is also expected to have a positive impact on the economy and support its revival, which is necessary for employment generation in future, the release said.
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the consequent lockdown has led to severe disruption of business for micro and small enterprises which are funded through Shishu Mudra loans.
Small businesses typically function on thin operating margins, and the current lockdown has had a severe impact on their cash flows, jeopardizing their ability to service their loans.
This could lead to default in repayment and have a resultant impact on access to institutional credit in future, the release said as it gave details of the Cabinet decision on interest subvention.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Sumitomo Mitsui, 4 Others Sought Info on IDBI Sale
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and one other global bank are among five potential investors that have sought information from the Centre about the sale of state equity in IDBI Bank through a formal query process that closed on November 10, people familiar with the matter told ET.Flipkart may go in for $700m Esop Buyback
Walmart-owned homegrown ecommerce marketplace Flipkart is likely to facilitate a $700 million employee stock buyback as part of digital payments platform PhonePe’s new financing round, multiple sources briefed on the matter told ET.Falling Input Costs may Cool Prices of Essentials, Apparel
Prices of groceries, daily essentials and apparel are likely to fall over the next two quarters as input costs are expected to decline, spurring sales in the process, according to consumer goods makers.
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