Francorp has worked with 112 of the most recent Franchise 500 companies. This is important from the perspective that Francorp as a consulting firm has done work with these franchise systems, many of which Francorp developed from the ground up. Francorp is renowned as the world leader in franchise development and new franchise launches. The firm continues to develop successful franchise systems today after 34 years of franchise consulting work. Look over the Francorp corporate site for more information on the firm and the clients Francorp has developed.
www.Francorp.com
Showing posts with label Francorp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Francorp. Show all posts
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Should I Franchise?
Should I Franchise?
Whether you have a totally new concept or an established business in need of faster growth that is lacking the capital, time and people to expand the question is, “Should I franchise?”
Today more Businesses and greater variety of businesses are implementing franchising to distribute their products and services. Virtually any business can be expanded through franchising. Franchising a business is often the only viable source of capital available for expansion especially in today’s tight credit markets. In most instances, the cost of franchising is often a smaller investment that the cost of establishing just one new location.
After paying the initial cost of developing your franchise program, the remaining cost of expansion along with most of the business risk is assumed by the franchisees. Because the franchisee pays an upfront franchisee fee the franchisor is often able to recoup the total cost of franchise program development rather quickly while establishing a monthly revenue stream from royalties paid by the franchisees.
Franchising can provide the capital for rapid growth when your business doesn’t have the capital, the people, or even the time to establish a company owned growth program. Franchising solves the problems of slow growth, the problems of finding outside capital and the problems of finding the right employees associated with company owned units. Franchising a business is the solution for the problems of money, time and people.
Money
Franchising transfers almost the entire cost of expansion to the franchisees. Franchisees build the building or pay the rent, buy the inventory, pay the employees, do the marketing and provide the working capital until sales make the business profitable. In reality, the growth of a franchise system is limited only by the number of people willing to buy the franchise and the number of locations that can be sold.
Time
If you’re anxious to move quickly before the competition catches on with a hot new concept franchising provides solution. Franchising is the one growth system that allows businesses to expand exponentially. A franchise can grow rapidly simply by selling individual units. Some franchises can grow even faster by selling multiple units or territories to sub franchises. Either way, it is almost always faster to open franchises than company-owned units.
People
Franchisees make excellent employees and managers. They have a vested interested in making the business successful. They own it. A franchisor not only gets a dedicated manager they are relieved from the daily problems associated with hiring, firing and managing employees.
In summary, if you are looking to expand your business and lack capital, time or people, franchising is a viable solution to all three problems. If this scenario applies to you and your business the answer to the question, “Should I franchise?” is definitely yes.
Whether you have a totally new concept or an established business in need of faster growth that is lacking the capital, time and people to expand the question is, “Should I franchise?”
Today more Businesses and greater variety of businesses are implementing franchising to distribute their products and services. Virtually any business can be expanded through franchising. Franchising a business is often the only viable source of capital available for expansion especially in today’s tight credit markets. In most instances, the cost of franchising is often a smaller investment that the cost of establishing just one new location.
After paying the initial cost of developing your franchise program, the remaining cost of expansion along with most of the business risk is assumed by the franchisees. Because the franchisee pays an upfront franchisee fee the franchisor is often able to recoup the total cost of franchise program development rather quickly while establishing a monthly revenue stream from royalties paid by the franchisees.
Franchising can provide the capital for rapid growth when your business doesn’t have the capital, the people, or even the time to establish a company owned growth program. Franchising solves the problems of slow growth, the problems of finding outside capital and the problems of finding the right employees associated with company owned units. Franchising a business is the solution for the problems of money, time and people.
Money
Franchising transfers almost the entire cost of expansion to the franchisees. Franchisees build the building or pay the rent, buy the inventory, pay the employees, do the marketing and provide the working capital until sales make the business profitable. In reality, the growth of a franchise system is limited only by the number of people willing to buy the franchise and the number of locations that can be sold.
Time
If you’re anxious to move quickly before the competition catches on with a hot new concept franchising provides solution. Franchising is the one growth system that allows businesses to expand exponentially. A franchise can grow rapidly simply by selling individual units. Some franchises can grow even faster by selling multiple units or territories to sub franchises. Either way, it is almost always faster to open franchises than company-owned units.
People
Franchisees make excellent employees and managers. They have a vested interested in making the business successful. They own it. A franchisor not only gets a dedicated manager they are relieved from the daily problems associated with hiring, firing and managing employees.
In summary, if you are looking to expand your business and lack capital, time or people, franchising is a viable solution to all three problems. If this scenario applies to you and your business the answer to the question, “Should I franchise?” is definitely yes.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sustainability Emerges as a Business Model
These two entrepreneurs have learned the cost savings and competitive advantages of going green. Learn how you can be a green entrepreneur in your industry.
When pondering the question "how many ex-environmentalists do you know?" Village Associates real estate agent Ben Olsen's answer is immediate. "The answer is none--once your customers get it, they get it forever." That's why he's incorporating green strategies into his business plan.
Continue to read at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28196581/
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Going Green in Franchising
Going green
Sustainable building practices deliver savings
By Beth Mattson-TeigAs published in: Franchise Times - February 2007
What do waterless urinals, energy sensors and recycled carpet have in common? They are all elements commonly incorporated in green building.
The premise behind green or sustainable building is to minimize the environmental impact and reduce energy consumption. Green building also has proven to have a positive impact on lowering operating costs, and some studies even show that green buildings contribute to the health and productivity of its occupants.
Green building techniques have been in use since the 1980s, but practical applications are gaining momentum in large part due to rising energy and fuel costs, as well as mounting concerns about global warming. In fact, some industry observers believe that green building will become part of mainstream real estate construction within the next decade.
“We believe that sustainable business practices are the way of the future, and five to 10 years from now, sustainable business practices are going to be extremely important to be able to capture market share from the public,” says Phil Baugh, vice president of Chicago-based Baum Realty Group.
Just Fresh is among a growing number of national brands ranging from Target and Gap to Chipotle and Starbucks that are incorporating green building elements into its stores. Just Fresh began to utilize green building in 2004 with new restaurants such as its Just Fresh store in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
The restaurant includes green building elements that range from waterless urinals and energy-efficient lighting to the use of natural products such as wheat board in its millwork. Just Fresh also purchased materials from local suppliers to save on fuel consumption in the transportation of those building supplies.
Just Fresh plans to continue to incorporate green building into future stores wherever possible in both ground-up construction and improvements to existing stores. “It ties into our overall business philosophy. Our concept is really focused on being clean and green,” says Dana Sinkler, CEO of Charlotte-based JF Restaurants. Yet Just Fresh also was motivated by the cost savings of features such as automated HVAC and lighting controls.
“It’s really a win-win, because we also save on energy costs going forward,” Sinkler adds.
Exploring green options
Traditionally, the push for green building has been backed by a desire to create a healthier environment and a better planet, notes Taryn Holowka, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Green Building Council. “Now we’re seeing more companies going green because it’s a smart business move for them,” Holowka says.
Green building techniques produce tangible results in using less electricity, which translate to lower utility bills and water bills. In addition, some studies have shown that green building environments also have a positive impact on worker productivity, which in theory translates to fewer sick days and lower employee turnover.
Companies interested in adding green building elements to existing or new stores have a larger selection than ever before. The laundry list of green building products is growing to include everything from less toxic paint and varnishes to recycled steel, tile or carpeting. The top two features for most businesses interested in green building are to reduce the amount of toxins in their environment and reduce energy costs.
One popular product is paint with low levels of volatile organic chemicals (VOC). The low-VOC paint doesn’t produce as much off-gassing or paint fumes, which leads to a cleaner environment. In addition, there are more cabinetry and finished wood products, such as furniture, that are not finished with toxic lacquers and adhesives. Businesses also can reduce energy use with products such as energy sensors, solar heat panels and more efficient light bulbs.
Although the cost of green building materials varies depending on the specific product, many sustainable products are comparable in cost to traditional materials. Recycled drywall, for example, costs about the same as standard drywall. Other items might carry a higher upfront cost, such as energy-efficient light bulbs, but the overall cost is less considering total savings in energy use and the longer life of the bulbs. “Oftentimes you will pay a little more to make it happen, but in the long run I think it will come back to you in energy savings and efficiency,” Sinkler says.
Growing momentum
Other companies that are embracing green building products and design techniques include Rapid Refill, which has taken its corporate recycling philosophy and applied it to its own retail space. For example, the store’s trademark countertops are made from sunflower seed husks that are glued together to create a wood top that also has a distinctive look.
“We like that because it plays into the whole proposition of recycle and reuse,” says Steve Hockett, president of Rapid Refill Ink in Chanhassen, Minn. Rapid Refill reconditions, remanufactures and refills used inkjet and laser toner cartridges for printers, copiers and fax machines.
Total Resource Group is another firm that promotes green building efforts. The company has offered sustainable building materials in the turnkey stores it provided for the last five years. But the company recently decided to go exclusively in that direction and hopes to offer an entirely sustainable store within the next six months. Total Resource Group provides a complete “store-in-a-box”—basically outsourcing everything a franchise needs to create a store from carpeting to furniture.
“We made a corporate decision over the last few months that wherever we can, we are going to encourage our clients to allow us to build out their retail environment as a green store or a sustainable store,” says Bruce Olans, a principal at Total Resource Group in Lincolnwood, Ill. The list of sustainable products runs the gamut from floor to ceiling with items such as sheetrock, carpeting, laminates, paint, lighting, windows and furniture, among others.
“More than anything, we decided to take this particular direction because we feel this is the way of the future,” Olans says.
Sustainable building practices deliver savings
By Beth Mattson-TeigAs published in: Franchise Times - February 2007
What do waterless urinals, energy sensors and recycled carpet have in common? They are all elements commonly incorporated in green building.
The premise behind green or sustainable building is to minimize the environmental impact and reduce energy consumption. Green building also has proven to have a positive impact on lowering operating costs, and some studies even show that green buildings contribute to the health and productivity of its occupants.
Green building techniques have been in use since the 1980s, but practical applications are gaining momentum in large part due to rising energy and fuel costs, as well as mounting concerns about global warming. In fact, some industry observers believe that green building will become part of mainstream real estate construction within the next decade.
“We believe that sustainable business practices are the way of the future, and five to 10 years from now, sustainable business practices are going to be extremely important to be able to capture market share from the public,” says Phil Baugh, vice president of Chicago-based Baum Realty Group.
Just Fresh is among a growing number of national brands ranging from Target and Gap to Chipotle and Starbucks that are incorporating green building elements into its stores. Just Fresh began to utilize green building in 2004 with new restaurants such as its Just Fresh store in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
The restaurant includes green building elements that range from waterless urinals and energy-efficient lighting to the use of natural products such as wheat board in its millwork. Just Fresh also purchased materials from local suppliers to save on fuel consumption in the transportation of those building supplies.
Just Fresh plans to continue to incorporate green building into future stores wherever possible in both ground-up construction and improvements to existing stores. “It ties into our overall business philosophy. Our concept is really focused on being clean and green,” says Dana Sinkler, CEO of Charlotte-based JF Restaurants. Yet Just Fresh also was motivated by the cost savings of features such as automated HVAC and lighting controls.
“It’s really a win-win, because we also save on energy costs going forward,” Sinkler adds.
Exploring green options
Traditionally, the push for green building has been backed by a desire to create a healthier environment and a better planet, notes Taryn Holowka, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Green Building Council. “Now we’re seeing more companies going green because it’s a smart business move for them,” Holowka says.
Green building techniques produce tangible results in using less electricity, which translate to lower utility bills and water bills. In addition, some studies have shown that green building environments also have a positive impact on worker productivity, which in theory translates to fewer sick days and lower employee turnover.
Companies interested in adding green building elements to existing or new stores have a larger selection than ever before. The laundry list of green building products is growing to include everything from less toxic paint and varnishes to recycled steel, tile or carpeting. The top two features for most businesses interested in green building are to reduce the amount of toxins in their environment and reduce energy costs.
One popular product is paint with low levels of volatile organic chemicals (VOC). The low-VOC paint doesn’t produce as much off-gassing or paint fumes, which leads to a cleaner environment. In addition, there are more cabinetry and finished wood products, such as furniture, that are not finished with toxic lacquers and adhesives. Businesses also can reduce energy use with products such as energy sensors, solar heat panels and more efficient light bulbs.
Although the cost of green building materials varies depending on the specific product, many sustainable products are comparable in cost to traditional materials. Recycled drywall, for example, costs about the same as standard drywall. Other items might carry a higher upfront cost, such as energy-efficient light bulbs, but the overall cost is less considering total savings in energy use and the longer life of the bulbs. “Oftentimes you will pay a little more to make it happen, but in the long run I think it will come back to you in energy savings and efficiency,” Sinkler says.
Growing momentum
Other companies that are embracing green building products and design techniques include Rapid Refill, which has taken its corporate recycling philosophy and applied it to its own retail space. For example, the store’s trademark countertops are made from sunflower seed husks that are glued together to create a wood top that also has a distinctive look.
“We like that because it plays into the whole proposition of recycle and reuse,” says Steve Hockett, president of Rapid Refill Ink in Chanhassen, Minn. Rapid Refill reconditions, remanufactures and refills used inkjet and laser toner cartridges for printers, copiers and fax machines.
Total Resource Group is another firm that promotes green building efforts. The company has offered sustainable building materials in the turnkey stores it provided for the last five years. But the company recently decided to go exclusively in that direction and hopes to offer an entirely sustainable store within the next six months. Total Resource Group provides a complete “store-in-a-box”—basically outsourcing everything a franchise needs to create a store from carpeting to furniture.
“We made a corporate decision over the last few months that wherever we can, we are going to encourage our clients to allow us to build out their retail environment as a green store or a sustainable store,” says Bruce Olans, a principal at Total Resource Group in Lincolnwood, Ill. The list of sustainable products runs the gamut from floor to ceiling with items such as sheetrock, carpeting, laminates, paint, lighting, windows and furniture, among others.
“More than anything, we decided to take this particular direction because we feel this is the way of the future,” Olans says.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Francorp Expands Into India
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Francorp
(800) 372-6244
Francorp Expanding Into India
(Olympia Fields, IL) – Francorp Chairman Don Boroian announced today that Francorp has awarded Franchise India Holdings Limited the Francorp India franchise.
The contract was signed between Don Boroian, Francorp India U.S.A. Representative Atul Bhatara, and President of Franchise India Holdings Limited Guarav Marya.
“Franchise India Holdings Limited has already paved the way with franchise expos, franchise and business publications, and franchise consulting in India,” shares Boroian. “We are honored to have them as part of our team.”
Franchise India Holdings Limited has been Asia’s leading integrated franchise consulting company since 1999, with an authority on franchising, licensing, retailing, real estate, and marketing. With its strategically formed divisions, Franchise India Holdings Limited has created its own niche as the pioneers of the franchise industry and a small business authority in India.
According to Marya, “Francorp India will help boost investor confidence by providing professionally managed franchise consulting and development support, all under a common one-step gateway to facilitate entry into India and vice-versa.”
India is home to over a billion people, with a flourishing class of urban consumers possessing considerable amount of disposable income. With the continued growth of the economy, India has strengthened its claim to be a viable and beneficial destination for a foreign franchisor.
Since its beginning in the early 90s, the franchise industry has grown in leaps and bounds in the Indian sub-continent, and there is still much to explore. Based on the successful growth of many franchise brands in India, the future of franchising in India is highly promising.[1]
This promising future of the Indian franchising industry is backed up by an equally powerful market report that shows statistics of this thriving sector.
According to reports, for the past five years the Indian franchise market has recorded a steady growth of 30 to 35% per annum. Also, the annual turnover of the Indian franchise industry soared to 3.3 billion USD and is projected to soar higher in the coming years.[2] “We are very excited about the opportunity to enter the Indian market at a time when the concept of franchising is experiencing tremendous growth and acceptance,” noted Boroian.
For over 30 years, Francorp has been the leader in the franchise consulting industry. They have assembled a team of experts whose talents are coordinated seamlessly to create customized materials that fit the specific needs of their clients. As an international company, Francorp has the global reach to help clients expand their business, with a local presence to adjust their business to fit each country’s unique culture and laws. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Francorp has assisted more than 10,000 companies for expansion, and has developed more than 2,000 franchise programs throughout the U.S., Japan, South Africa, Middle East, Central America, Malaysia, Philippines, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
For more information, visit www.francorp.com or call (800) 372-6244.
# # #
[1] Franchiseek, Indian Franchise Statistics and Information. November 17, 2008, available at www.franchiseek.com.
[2] Franchiseek, Indian Franchise Statistics and Information. November 17, 2008, available at www.franchiseek.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Francorp
(800) 372-6244
Francorp Expanding Into India
(Olympia Fields, IL) – Francorp Chairman Don Boroian announced today that Francorp has awarded Franchise India Holdings Limited the Francorp India franchise.
The contract was signed between Don Boroian, Francorp India U.S.A. Representative Atul Bhatara, and President of Franchise India Holdings Limited Guarav Marya.
“Franchise India Holdings Limited has already paved the way with franchise expos, franchise and business publications, and franchise consulting in India,” shares Boroian. “We are honored to have them as part of our team.”
Franchise India Holdings Limited has been Asia’s leading integrated franchise consulting company since 1999, with an authority on franchising, licensing, retailing, real estate, and marketing. With its strategically formed divisions, Franchise India Holdings Limited has created its own niche as the pioneers of the franchise industry and a small business authority in India.
According to Marya, “Francorp India will help boost investor confidence by providing professionally managed franchise consulting and development support, all under a common one-step gateway to facilitate entry into India and vice-versa.”
India is home to over a billion people, with a flourishing class of urban consumers possessing considerable amount of disposable income. With the continued growth of the economy, India has strengthened its claim to be a viable and beneficial destination for a foreign franchisor.
Since its beginning in the early 90s, the franchise industry has grown in leaps and bounds in the Indian sub-continent, and there is still much to explore. Based on the successful growth of many franchise brands in India, the future of franchising in India is highly promising.[1]
This promising future of the Indian franchising industry is backed up by an equally powerful market report that shows statistics of this thriving sector.
According to reports, for the past five years the Indian franchise market has recorded a steady growth of 30 to 35% per annum. Also, the annual turnover of the Indian franchise industry soared to 3.3 billion USD and is projected to soar higher in the coming years.[2] “We are very excited about the opportunity to enter the Indian market at a time when the concept of franchising is experiencing tremendous growth and acceptance,” noted Boroian.
For over 30 years, Francorp has been the leader in the franchise consulting industry. They have assembled a team of experts whose talents are coordinated seamlessly to create customized materials that fit the specific needs of their clients. As an international company, Francorp has the global reach to help clients expand their business, with a local presence to adjust their business to fit each country’s unique culture and laws. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Francorp has assisted more than 10,000 companies for expansion, and has developed more than 2,000 franchise programs throughout the U.S., Japan, South Africa, Middle East, Central America, Malaysia, Philippines, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
For more information, visit www.francorp.com or call (800) 372-6244.
# # #
[1] Franchiseek, Indian Franchise Statistics and Information. November 17, 2008, available at www.franchiseek.com.
[2] Franchiseek, Indian Franchise Statistics and Information. November 17, 2008, available at www.franchiseek.com.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
What Does it Take to be GREEN?
There are so many companies today who strive to be "green"....what exactly does this mean for a firm? At Francorp this means using less paper, carpooling, using resources longer within the office environment and overall conservation practices for Francorp employees at home.
It all starts at the top though, the leader Don Boroian has a vision to give back to our eco system and the environment which is ever important. The leader of any firm must have the goal and the purpose of truly being green. Trust me...people will follow and the company will profit.
www.francorp.com
It all starts at the top though, the leader Don Boroian has a vision to give back to our eco system and the environment which is ever important. The leader of any firm must have the goal and the purpose of truly being green. Trust me...people will follow and the company will profit.
www.francorp.com
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Francorp
Being a green company takes a large commitment from both the management and the people within the organization. Francorp takes pride in supporting our perpetual race for conservation and eco-friendly business. Francorp is the world leader in franchise consulting and franchise development.
www.francorp.com
www.francorp.com
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Scientists Confirm Shark's Virgin Birth
Scientists confirm shark's ‘virgin birth’
Pup carried by Atlantic blacktip shark contained no male genetic material
Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark. In a report in The Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.
Matthew D. Potenski / Instttute for Ocean Conservation Science
Tales of sharks and survival
Real-life 'Jaws' in Martha's Vineyard?July 11: Lifeguards say they spotted what they believe to have been the dorsal fin of a great white shark in the waters off of Martha's Vineyard. Shark expert George Burgess talks to MSNBC's Tamron Hall.
Rarely seen creaturesFeast your eyes on these extraordinary creatures from under the sea and on land.
By Steve Szkotak
RICHMOND, Va. - Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark.
In a study reported Friday in the Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.
The first documented case of asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis, among sharks involved a pup born to a hammerhead at an Omaha, Neb., zoo.
"This first case was no fluke," Demian Chapman, a shark scientist and lead author of the second study, said in a statement. "It is quite possible that this is something female sharks of many species can do on occasion."
The aquarium sharks that reproduced without mates each carried only one pup, while some shark species can produce litters numbering in the dozen or more. The scientists cautioned that the rare asexual births should not be viewed as a possible solution to declining global shark populations.
"It is very unlikely that a small number of female survivors could build their numbers up very quickly by undergoing virgin birth," Chapman said.
The medical mystery began 16 months ago after the death of the Atlantic blacktip shark named Tidbit at the Virginia Beach aquarium. No male blacktip sharks were present during her eight years at the aquarium.
In May 2007, the 5-foot, 94-pound shark died of stress-related complications related to her unknown pregnancy after undergoing a yearly checkup. The 10-inch shark pup was found during a necropsy of Tidbit, surprising aquarium officials. They initially thought the embryonic pup was either a product of a virgin birth or a cross between the blacktip and a male of another shark species — which has never been documented, Chapman said.
Weird science: Top unexplained mysteries From Bigfoot to déjà vu, some strange phenomena remain to be explained. Tidbit's pup was nearly full term, and likely would have been quickly eaten by "really big sand tiger sharks" that were in the tank, Chapman said in a telephone interview from Florida.
That is what happened to the tiny hammerhead pup in the Omaha case.
"By the time they could realize what they were looking at, something munched the baby," he said of aquarium workers. The remains of the pup were used for the DNA testing.
Virgin birth has been proven in some bony fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and has been suspected among sharks in the wild. The scientists who studied the Virginia and Nebraska sharks said the newly formed pups acquired one set of chromosomes when the mother's chromosomes split during egg development, then united anew.
Absent the chromosomes present in the male sperm, the offspring of an asexual conception have reduced genetic diversity and, the scientists said, may be at a disadvantage for surviving in the wild. A pup, for instance, can be more susceptible to congenital disorders and diseases.
The scientists said their findings offer "intriguing questions" about how frequently automictic parthenogenesis occurs in the wild.
"It is possible that parthenogenesis could become more common in these sharks if population densities become so low that females have trouble finding mates," said Mahmood Shivji, one of the scientists and director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Click for related content
Weird science: Top unexplained mysteriesHow the turtle got its shell Super-sized dinos had super-sized stomachs
The DNA fingerprinting techniques used by the scientists are identical to those used in human paternity testing.
Chapman, who is with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook, was assisted in the study by Beth Firchau of the Virginia Aquarium.
Chapman and Shivji were on the team that made the first discovery of virgin birth involving the Nebraska shark.
www.francorp.com
Pup carried by Atlantic blacktip shark contained no male genetic material
Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark. In a report in The Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.
Matthew D. Potenski / Instttute for Ocean Conservation Science
Tales of sharks and survival
Real-life 'Jaws' in Martha's Vineyard?July 11: Lifeguards say they spotted what they believe to have been the dorsal fin of a great white shark in the waters off of Martha's Vineyard. Shark expert George Burgess talks to MSNBC's Tamron Hall.
Rarely seen creaturesFeast your eyes on these extraordinary creatures from under the sea and on land.
By Steve Szkotak
RICHMOND, Va. - Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark.
In a study reported Friday in the Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.
The first documented case of asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis, among sharks involved a pup born to a hammerhead at an Omaha, Neb., zoo.
"This first case was no fluke," Demian Chapman, a shark scientist and lead author of the second study, said in a statement. "It is quite possible that this is something female sharks of many species can do on occasion."
The aquarium sharks that reproduced without mates each carried only one pup, while some shark species can produce litters numbering in the dozen or more. The scientists cautioned that the rare asexual births should not be viewed as a possible solution to declining global shark populations.
"It is very unlikely that a small number of female survivors could build their numbers up very quickly by undergoing virgin birth," Chapman said.
The medical mystery began 16 months ago after the death of the Atlantic blacktip shark named Tidbit at the Virginia Beach aquarium. No male blacktip sharks were present during her eight years at the aquarium.
In May 2007, the 5-foot, 94-pound shark died of stress-related complications related to her unknown pregnancy after undergoing a yearly checkup. The 10-inch shark pup was found during a necropsy of Tidbit, surprising aquarium officials. They initially thought the embryonic pup was either a product of a virgin birth or a cross between the blacktip and a male of another shark species — which has never been documented, Chapman said.
Weird science: Top unexplained mysteries From Bigfoot to déjà vu, some strange phenomena remain to be explained. Tidbit's pup was nearly full term, and likely would have been quickly eaten by "really big sand tiger sharks" that were in the tank, Chapman said in a telephone interview from Florida.
That is what happened to the tiny hammerhead pup in the Omaha case.
"By the time they could realize what they were looking at, something munched the baby," he said of aquarium workers. The remains of the pup were used for the DNA testing.
Virgin birth has been proven in some bony fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and has been suspected among sharks in the wild. The scientists who studied the Virginia and Nebraska sharks said the newly formed pups acquired one set of chromosomes when the mother's chromosomes split during egg development, then united anew.
Absent the chromosomes present in the male sperm, the offspring of an asexual conception have reduced genetic diversity and, the scientists said, may be at a disadvantage for surviving in the wild. A pup, for instance, can be more susceptible to congenital disorders and diseases.
The scientists said their findings offer "intriguing questions" about how frequently automictic parthenogenesis occurs in the wild.
"It is possible that parthenogenesis could become more common in these sharks if population densities become so low that females have trouble finding mates," said Mahmood Shivji, one of the scientists and director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Click for related content
Weird science: Top unexplained mysteriesHow the turtle got its shell Super-sized dinos had super-sized stomachs
The DNA fingerprinting techniques used by the scientists are identical to those used in human paternity testing.
Chapman, who is with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook, was assisted in the study by Beth Firchau of the Virginia Aquarium.
Chapman and Shivji were on the team that made the first discovery of virgin birth involving the Nebraska shark.
www.francorp.com
Monday, October 13, 2008
Going Green is going Mainstream
Green Is Going Mainstream by Lara L. Sowinski October 1, 2007
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One year ago, the topic of green supply chains was found more in fringe discussions than on front pages. Sure, a number of companies were doing their part to be environmentally friendly, but it was largely a groundswell of consumer awareness in tandem with savvy marketing campaigns that has really pushed the issue to the forefront. A recent survey by UK-based eyefortransport (www.eyefortransport.com) finds that 94 percent of supply chain professionals polled rate green issues as a business priority. “With up to 75 percent of a company’s carbon footprint coming from transportation and logistics, the focus of supply chain greening is beginning to shift towards this area, where the opportunity to make the biggest difference exists,” according to eyefortransport. As to the steps that companies are taking to get greener, eyefortransport’s Katharine O’Reilly explains that greening is “fundamentally a cooperative process, with a majority of successful green initiatives being based on changing relationships with suppliers, partners, and logistics providers.” Like so many other supply chain strategies today, collaboration is again at the top of the ladder. Twenty-eight percent of the supply chain executives polled in the survey said they have (or plan to) partnered with a logistics provider to help them green their processes. Their efforts range from focusing on improving energy efficiency (59 percent), redesigning warehousing and distribution center networks (42 percent), and measuring and/or reducing emissions (39 percent). And, despite concerns that environmental initiatives are detrimental to supply chain efficiency, 66 percent reported that their green initiatives are not affecting their supply chain efficiency, while 27 percent said the changes are actually making their supply chains more efficient. Rising energy costs alone are pushing companies to explore ways to reduce overall consumption, and it’s not just limited to oil. Electrical power consumption is at “the tip of a melting iceberg for an IT industry that is currently unsustainable,” warns research firm Gartner (www.gartner.com). Large organizations spend between 4 and 8 percent, and sometimes as much as 10 percent, of their IT budget on energy and it’s expected to increase fourfold within the next five years. Rakesh Kumar, research vice president at Gartner, notes: “Organizations are increasingly deploying more computing power. These systems require considerably more power and cooling than the last generation of hardware. Because global energy prices are rising, there is a significant increase in data center operational budgets.” Furthermore, data centers waste nearly two-thirds of their energy consumption on cooling equipment, and 75 percent of the 512 million PCs that will be disposed of in the next five years with end up in landfills rather than being recycled. Kumar believes this kind of consumption and waste is not sustainable. “This is bad for the environment and bad for business. Enlightened consumers and enterprise buyers will increasingly vote with their wallets, choosing more sustainable products and services from suppliers with environmentally conscious corporate social responsibility programs.” Fortunately, there’s been movement from the talking stage to the ‘doing’ stage. A newly released study by data center operator Digital Realty Trust shows that 55 percent of companies have formed detailed strategies for making their data centers more energy efficient. For example, some companies are consolidating servers to reduce energy consumption, along with making better use of open space between server racks and making sure data center temperatures aren’t calibrated too cold. Many of these small steps are easy to make and can save a lot of money. For instance, simply raising the temperature in data centers by three or four degrees can lower cooling costs by 10 percent or more. Green initiatives are also sprouting up on the software side. In August, RedPrairie (www.redprairie.com), a leading consumer-driven optimization company, announced a green initiative to create programs and provide education to companies in order to help them reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains. It’s worth noting that RedPrairie is also the first supply chain technology provider to be accepted as an Affiliate member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWaySM Transport Partnership, which was established to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and improve the efficiency of ground freight transportation. John Jazwiec, president and CEO of RedPrairie, said: “We are committed to our green strategy, including delivering solutions that are conscientious of the environment and programs to educate and enable employees. Through more efficient transportation, storage and packaging of goods, companies can significantly reduce dioxide emissions, wasted packaging, paper, and energy consumption.” RedPrairie’s whitepaper entitled “Greenlighting Efficiency: 7 Easy Steps to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Today’s Supply Chains,” offers some practical tips that are fairly easy to implement. Optimize Routing and Consolidation. Optimized routing and consolidation provides the ‘best possible path’ through a series of stops and ensures that drivers spend as little time as possible at each stop. Fleet clients can save an average of 10 to 15 percent in miles driven from improvements in this area, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Improve Fleet Management. Some of the biggest benefits in this area come from a reduction in idling time and improved equipment use. In addition, more states and county governments have proposed laws to restrict the amount of time a vehicle can idle its main engine. Increase Global Transport Efficiency. Delays due to port clearance documentation, poor duty payment coordination, or general lack of visibility into the global supply chain are costly not only in terms of lost sales but for the environment too. Create System-generated Tasks and Communications. Many warehouses are still paper intensive when it comes to communications. However, electronic interfaces, RFID, voice-based technologies, and electronic Advanced Ship Notices (ASNs) can significantly reduce paper waste. Take Full Advantage of Improved Packaging Strategies. Many companies are already taking steps to reduce packaging materials, but not everyone is reconfiguring their shelving to take full advantage of those gains. A sophisticated warehouse management solution can help streamline storage and accurately track crates and pallets so transportation materials can be more easily recycled and reused. Deliver on Energy Conservation Strategies in the Warehouse. Energy-saving motion sensors for lights, solar power, and reusable pallets are a few ways to save money in the warehouse. In the U.S., more than 2 billion wooden pallets are used each year, which is equivalent to approximately 1 million acres of hardwood forest. Improve Labor Management. Essentially, it’s about working smarter, not harder, and includes analyzing how a job should be performed in order to avoid wasted efforts. It also extends to optimizing work schedules to cut down on excessive commuting and unnecessary overtime.
Seeing signs of green in the supply chain A number of companies in the broader transportation and logistics sector have already embarked on various green initiatives, including ports; ocean carriers; rail, truck, tugboat, and terminal equipment manufacturers; 3PLs; industrial real estate developers and warehouse operators; and manufacturers of reusable packaging and pallets. Tay Yoshitani, the new CEO for the Port of Seattle (www.portseattle.org) has emphasized environmental leadership as the number one priority for the port, both as a way to differentiate the port from others as well as a competitive advantage in the marketplace. “The Port of Seattle should be the greenest, cleanest, and most energy efficient in the U.S.,” Yoshitani said in a recent interview. Although the specifics of his plan are still being rolled out, one aspect includes a major staff reorganization. To the south, the ports of Los Angeles (www.portoflosangeles.org) and Long Beach (www.polb.com) are well on their way to pursuing green initiatives, partly because surrounding communities have long resisted expansion at the ports due to concerns over air quality. The San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan aims to reduce emissions from port operations by at least 45 percent by implementing a number of measures, including using low-sulfur fuels and emulsified fuels in container ships, adding more hybrid and alternative-fuel equipment to the terminal yards, and moving forward on plans to require cold-ironing for vessels (which means the ship uses electrical power while at berth instead of running its diesel engines). Earlier this year, ocean carrier APL (www.apl.com) began testing a revolutionary fuel emulsification system aboard its container ship the APL Singapore. The test involves injecting water into the ship’s bunker fuel in order to reduce harmful emissions. Furthermore, APL has converted to cleaner burning, low sulfur fuel on all 23 of its vessels that call California ports. At the same time, Foss Maritime (www.foss.com), the Seattle-based tug services company, has received funds from the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan to build the world’s first hybrid tugboat. The tug’s engine will work somewhat like Toyota’s hybrid Prius car, and shut down its diesel engine and switch to an electric motor during idling. It’s estimated that the tug will reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions by 44 percent. Foss will begin production of the tug this year and it will go into operation in Southern California in 2008. Green technology is evident elsewhere. Evergreen’s (www.evergreen-marine.com) new S-type “Greenships” feature double-skinned hulls to minimize the risk of oil pollution or fire in case of grounding or collision. Matson (www.matson.com) has maintained a zero waste discharge program for all of its vessels since 1993, and is currently working on an innovative ballast water treatment system on one of its vessels. In addition, Crowley Maritime (www.crowley.com) recently announced that its newly christened 650-3 is the first tank barge to be issued Green Passport certification. The Green Passport program is basically an inventory of materials present in a ship’s structure, systems, and equipment that may be hazardous to human health or the environment. It is regularly updated and is eventually passed from the ship’s owner to the recycling yard at the end of the ship’s life to help the yard to come up with a safe and environmentally sound way of breaking the ship. In the terminal yards, manufacturers such as Kalmar (www.kalmarind.com) are introducing a new generation of container handling equipment that’s more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and quieter. Last year, Kalmar embarked on a two-year project in conjunction with the West Coast Collaborative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to reduce pollution in ports by integrating three of its terminal tractors with hybrid technology. The green hybrid equipment is expected to reduce air emissions by 93 percent, which equates to 19 tons of nitrogen oxide and 200 pounds of particulate matter. Likewise, BNSF Railway (www.bnsf.com) is hoping that a proposed plan to own and operate its own fleet of trucks to move freight from marine terminals in LA-LB to a proposed intermodal yard four miles from the port complex will convince local residents and port officials that the new operation won’t negatively impact the environment. Specifically, the railroad says it will use 2007 model-year trucks to meet emission standards contained in the Clean Air Action Plan. The trucks will also be outfitted with global positioning tracking systems to allow BNSF to optimize a routing plan and lessen the impact on residential communities. Meanwhile, railroads are already using electric cranes, low emission switching locomotives, and alternative fuel yard tractors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rules for locomotives and diesel marine engines are also helping to drive changes. The agency’s proposed rules, which could take effect as early as next year, intend to reduce emissions by 90 percent for particulate matter and 80 percent for nitrogen oxides. Some of the biggest opportunities for greening the supply chain are the most obvious, like reducing paper and packaging waste and choosing reusable shipping containers. ALEX Pallet Systems (www.alexpallet.com) manufacturers a lightweight aluminum pallet that is superior to conventional wooden pallets in a variety of areas. The pallets are 100 percent reusable and recyclable and have a life-span of at least 20 years, and exceed industry standards for impact and static-loading performance. And, due to their composition, the pallets are exempt from government regulations requiring chemical- and heat-treatment to kill harmful bark beetles and other insects. Companies are also turning to alternative packaging materials. Last year, Wal-Mart Canada switched some of its shipping crates from cardboard to plastic, which allowed the crates to be used approximately 60 times instead of once. The company estimates it saved $4.5 million from the switch and reduced waste by 1,400 tons. Furthermore, in a show of corporate goodwill, the Wal-Mart Foundation announced in late August that it would donate $1.5 million to create a sustainability research center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as part of the company’s efforts to improve the environment. The Applied Sustainability Center will work to develop green business practices for the retail and consumer goods industries. Over the next year, the center plans to study ways to reduce carbon in products and identify key sustainability issues in agriculture. Meanwhile, reusable packages are also a part of Pelican Products’ (www.pelican.com) strategy. The company’s Repeat Use Packaging program was initially developed to protect shipments of electronics and other sensitive equipment for companies such as Apple and Gateway. The advantages of using high-quality, durable cases for other types of shipments became apparent immediately—there’s less impact on the environment, the container is reusable, and the risk of damaging goods in transit is dramatically minimized. According to the company, a recent study showed that a mere 5 pounds of waste was generated by 250 shipments inside a repeat use Pelican Protector Case (two cubic feet). This was in stark contrast to the 375 pounds of waste generated by the equivalent amount of cardboard boxes necessary for the same number of shipments.
Clean, energy efficient DCs get the green light Now that public awareness has heightened over the impact of transportation and logistics on the environment, warehouses are getting as much scrutiny as seaports and trucks, especially in high-profile regions such as Southern California. Tejon Ranch (www.tejonranch.com), located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles on Interstate 5, is a multi-use master-planned community. It is also the location for a 1.7 million square foot distribution center for furniture manufacturer Ikea. Given the Ranch’s history in farming and ranching, the focus on environmental stewardship is high on the minds of the company’s executives. According to Barry Hibbard, vice president of commercial industrial development at Tejon Ranch, truckers spend roughly $2.90 per hour in fuel costs when idling. To minimize that cost, the Ranch installed electrical power at the truck stop and charges truckers $1.95 per hour. Not only is it cheaper for truckers, but it’s quieter and cleaner for the surrounding community too. Within a warehouse’s four walls, other changes are taking place. Lighting is one area that warehouse operators can reduce costs. For instance, skylights and fluorescent lighting can improve energy efficiency by as much as 75 percent, while recycled building materials and asphalt, better use of landscaping, and reusing rainwater can all contribute to the bottom line. Supply chain solutions provider Manhattan Associates (www.manh.com) offers other ways to trim costs and operate more efficiently in the warehouse. For starters, companies should maximize the efficiency of their conveying and handling processes, advises Manhattan Associates. By integrating material handling and warehouse management systems, the warehouse can reduce the number of times products are moved and touched as well as minimize forklift usage. In addition to reducing handling costs, these techniques help to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Secondly, using advanced warehouse management systems allows companies to streamline warehouse operations to achieve higher levels of cross docking, which in turn cuts down on inventory and increases product turns.
Fostering green practices While many companies are jumping on the green bandwagon, a handful of them have earned a reputation for “green leadership,” explains John Davies, vice president of green technology research at AMR Research (www.amrresearch.com) “Enterprises that want to succeed in the marketplace must integrate ‘green’ thinking into their overall approach to growth and profitability,” he states. “Early movers are reporting long-term advantages both in cost savings as well as new revenue opportunities.” There are many examples of green leadership, some quite novel. Seattle-based freight forwarder and 3PL TransGroup (www.transgroup.com) has unveiled the industry’s first 100 percent greenhouse gas neutral logistics solution, called TransNeutral. “As a leader in transport logistics, we at TransGroup feel a responsibility to our industry and to the planet,” says Ron Lee, president and co-founder of the company. “So, we formed TransNeutral as a not-for-profit program that helps our customers to offset the climate-effecting impact of their shipments in a way that works collectively to preserve the environment.” Under the program, TransGroup customers can green their shipments with a nominal contribution (less than 1/7 of a cent per pound on domestic shipments) for every pound they ship. TransNeutral uses a weight-based calculation to determine the amount of climate-effecting greenhouse gases that a shipment emits, and then offsets those gases by contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction programs involving reforestation, wind power, and biofuel related farm renewal projects. Sometimes the best green initiatives are truly at our fingertips. The Port of Houston (www.portofhouston.com) recently launched a “Clean & Green” program to clean up litter and debris in and around Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel. Five days per week, a land-based crew will collect litter and debris from the banks while a water-based crew will work from a skimmer boat to remove litter from storm drains and banks. The program aims to collect in excess of 10 cubic yards of debris per day over the next year, which is enough to fill 83 garbage trucks. wt
Sidebar: The Forklift of the Future Earlier this year, the Raymond Corporation (www.raymondcorp.com) was awarded a contract for $750,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to research hydrogen fuel cell applications in electric lift trucks. The company has turned its New York manufacturing facility into a “living lab” with hydrogen fuel cell-powered Raymond forklifts in the facility. Raymond is also working on developing the necessary infrastructure for indoor fast-fill hydrogen refueling systems, which also represents new technology (refueling systems are typically installed outdoors). The goal of the program is to study the performance of hydrogen fuel in electric forklifts and to demonstrate the safety of a hydrogen-fueled forklift environment. Exp ected outcomes include a working indoor refueling system that meets all required code and standard requirements, and documented best practices for the design and application of indoor refueling systems. “The Raymond Corporation is committed to researching the application of hydrogen as an alternate method for storing energy on its forklift equipment,” remarked Michael Field, Raymond vice president, research and development. “The NYSERDA contract confirms the merits of our project and supports our business strategy to develop fuel cell technology for electric forklift applications. By using our own facility as a test lab, we can streamline the development process and learn firsthand the requirements for using fuel cell powered forklifts in a manufacturing environment.” In a conventional electric lift truck, the energy used to drive the truck is stored as electricity in a lead-acid battery. In a fuel cell, energy is stored as hydrogen gas and converted into electricity as needed. There appears to be significant potential to improve warehouse productivity and lower operating costs if fuel cells are used in high throughput warehouse applications. Hydrogen fuel cells offer higher productivity because they can be rapidly refueled—in several minutes versus several hours—eliminating the need to change a battery. A battery recharging cycle is long, typically taking one shift to charge and another shift to cool down the battery. For a three-shift operation, three batteries plus a charger may be needed per lift truck, as well as room to store and maintain them. Cost savings come from eliminating the need to buy batteries and chargers, and from labor savings. Another advantage is that the voltage delivered by a fuel cell remains constant; the vehicle experiences no performance degradation until the fuel runs out. Furthermore, hydrogen is environmentally clean; the only by-products from a fuel cell are water and heat.
Lara L. SowinskiLaraS@worldtrademag.com
Lara is Associate Editor for World Trade. You can reach her at LaraS@worldtrademag.com.
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One year ago, the topic of green supply chains was found more in fringe discussions than on front pages. Sure, a number of companies were doing their part to be environmentally friendly, but it was largely a groundswell of consumer awareness in tandem with savvy marketing campaigns that has really pushed the issue to the forefront. A recent survey by UK-based eyefortransport (www.eyefortransport.com) finds that 94 percent of supply chain professionals polled rate green issues as a business priority. “With up to 75 percent of a company’s carbon footprint coming from transportation and logistics, the focus of supply chain greening is beginning to shift towards this area, where the opportunity to make the biggest difference exists,” according to eyefortransport. As to the steps that companies are taking to get greener, eyefortransport’s Katharine O’Reilly explains that greening is “fundamentally a cooperative process, with a majority of successful green initiatives being based on changing relationships with suppliers, partners, and logistics providers.” Like so many other supply chain strategies today, collaboration is again at the top of the ladder. Twenty-eight percent of the supply chain executives polled in the survey said they have (or plan to) partnered with a logistics provider to help them green their processes. Their efforts range from focusing on improving energy efficiency (59 percent), redesigning warehousing and distribution center networks (42 percent), and measuring and/or reducing emissions (39 percent). And, despite concerns that environmental initiatives are detrimental to supply chain efficiency, 66 percent reported that their green initiatives are not affecting their supply chain efficiency, while 27 percent said the changes are actually making their supply chains more efficient. Rising energy costs alone are pushing companies to explore ways to reduce overall consumption, and it’s not just limited to oil. Electrical power consumption is at “the tip of a melting iceberg for an IT industry that is currently unsustainable,” warns research firm Gartner (www.gartner.com). Large organizations spend between 4 and 8 percent, and sometimes as much as 10 percent, of their IT budget on energy and it’s expected to increase fourfold within the next five years. Rakesh Kumar, research vice president at Gartner, notes: “Organizations are increasingly deploying more computing power. These systems require considerably more power and cooling than the last generation of hardware. Because global energy prices are rising, there is a significant increase in data center operational budgets.” Furthermore, data centers waste nearly two-thirds of their energy consumption on cooling equipment, and 75 percent of the 512 million PCs that will be disposed of in the next five years with end up in landfills rather than being recycled. Kumar believes this kind of consumption and waste is not sustainable. “This is bad for the environment and bad for business. Enlightened consumers and enterprise buyers will increasingly vote with their wallets, choosing more sustainable products and services from suppliers with environmentally conscious corporate social responsibility programs.” Fortunately, there’s been movement from the talking stage to the ‘doing’ stage. A newly released study by data center operator Digital Realty Trust shows that 55 percent of companies have formed detailed strategies for making their data centers more energy efficient. For example, some companies are consolidating servers to reduce energy consumption, along with making better use of open space between server racks and making sure data center temperatures aren’t calibrated too cold. Many of these small steps are easy to make and can save a lot of money. For instance, simply raising the temperature in data centers by three or four degrees can lower cooling costs by 10 percent or more. Green initiatives are also sprouting up on the software side. In August, RedPrairie (www.redprairie.com), a leading consumer-driven optimization company, announced a green initiative to create programs and provide education to companies in order to help them reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains. It’s worth noting that RedPrairie is also the first supply chain technology provider to be accepted as an Affiliate member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWaySM Transport Partnership, which was established to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and improve the efficiency of ground freight transportation. John Jazwiec, president and CEO of RedPrairie, said: “We are committed to our green strategy, including delivering solutions that are conscientious of the environment and programs to educate and enable employees. Through more efficient transportation, storage and packaging of goods, companies can significantly reduce dioxide emissions, wasted packaging, paper, and energy consumption.” RedPrairie’s whitepaper entitled “Greenlighting Efficiency: 7 Easy Steps to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Today’s Supply Chains,” offers some practical tips that are fairly easy to implement. Optimize Routing and Consolidation. Optimized routing and consolidation provides the ‘best possible path’ through a series of stops and ensures that drivers spend as little time as possible at each stop. Fleet clients can save an average of 10 to 15 percent in miles driven from improvements in this area, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Improve Fleet Management. Some of the biggest benefits in this area come from a reduction in idling time and improved equipment use. In addition, more states and county governments have proposed laws to restrict the amount of time a vehicle can idle its main engine. Increase Global Transport Efficiency. Delays due to port clearance documentation, poor duty payment coordination, or general lack of visibility into the global supply chain are costly not only in terms of lost sales but for the environment too. Create System-generated Tasks and Communications. Many warehouses are still paper intensive when it comes to communications. However, electronic interfaces, RFID, voice-based technologies, and electronic Advanced Ship Notices (ASNs) can significantly reduce paper waste. Take Full Advantage of Improved Packaging Strategies. Many companies are already taking steps to reduce packaging materials, but not everyone is reconfiguring their shelving to take full advantage of those gains. A sophisticated warehouse management solution can help streamline storage and accurately track crates and pallets so transportation materials can be more easily recycled and reused. Deliver on Energy Conservation Strategies in the Warehouse. Energy-saving motion sensors for lights, solar power, and reusable pallets are a few ways to save money in the warehouse. In the U.S., more than 2 billion wooden pallets are used each year, which is equivalent to approximately 1 million acres of hardwood forest. Improve Labor Management. Essentially, it’s about working smarter, not harder, and includes analyzing how a job should be performed in order to avoid wasted efforts. It also extends to optimizing work schedules to cut down on excessive commuting and unnecessary overtime.
Seeing signs of green in the supply chain A number of companies in the broader transportation and logistics sector have already embarked on various green initiatives, including ports; ocean carriers; rail, truck, tugboat, and terminal equipment manufacturers; 3PLs; industrial real estate developers and warehouse operators; and manufacturers of reusable packaging and pallets. Tay Yoshitani, the new CEO for the Port of Seattle (www.portseattle.org) has emphasized environmental leadership as the number one priority for the port, both as a way to differentiate the port from others as well as a competitive advantage in the marketplace. “The Port of Seattle should be the greenest, cleanest, and most energy efficient in the U.S.,” Yoshitani said in a recent interview. Although the specifics of his plan are still being rolled out, one aspect includes a major staff reorganization. To the south, the ports of Los Angeles (www.portoflosangeles.org) and Long Beach (www.polb.com) are well on their way to pursuing green initiatives, partly because surrounding communities have long resisted expansion at the ports due to concerns over air quality. The San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan aims to reduce emissions from port operations by at least 45 percent by implementing a number of measures, including using low-sulfur fuels and emulsified fuels in container ships, adding more hybrid and alternative-fuel equipment to the terminal yards, and moving forward on plans to require cold-ironing for vessels (which means the ship uses electrical power while at berth instead of running its diesel engines). Earlier this year, ocean carrier APL (www.apl.com) began testing a revolutionary fuel emulsification system aboard its container ship the APL Singapore. The test involves injecting water into the ship’s bunker fuel in order to reduce harmful emissions. Furthermore, APL has converted to cleaner burning, low sulfur fuel on all 23 of its vessels that call California ports. At the same time, Foss Maritime (www.foss.com), the Seattle-based tug services company, has received funds from the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan to build the world’s first hybrid tugboat. The tug’s engine will work somewhat like Toyota’s hybrid Prius car, and shut down its diesel engine and switch to an electric motor during idling. It’s estimated that the tug will reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions by 44 percent. Foss will begin production of the tug this year and it will go into operation in Southern California in 2008. Green technology is evident elsewhere. Evergreen’s (www.evergreen-marine.com) new S-type “Greenships” feature double-skinned hulls to minimize the risk of oil pollution or fire in case of grounding or collision. Matson (www.matson.com) has maintained a zero waste discharge program for all of its vessels since 1993, and is currently working on an innovative ballast water treatment system on one of its vessels. In addition, Crowley Maritime (www.crowley.com) recently announced that its newly christened 650-3 is the first tank barge to be issued Green Passport certification. The Green Passport program is basically an inventory of materials present in a ship’s structure, systems, and equipment that may be hazardous to human health or the environment. It is regularly updated and is eventually passed from the ship’s owner to the recycling yard at the end of the ship’s life to help the yard to come up with a safe and environmentally sound way of breaking the ship. In the terminal yards, manufacturers such as Kalmar (www.kalmarind.com) are introducing a new generation of container handling equipment that’s more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and quieter. Last year, Kalmar embarked on a two-year project in conjunction with the West Coast Collaborative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to reduce pollution in ports by integrating three of its terminal tractors with hybrid technology. The green hybrid equipment is expected to reduce air emissions by 93 percent, which equates to 19 tons of nitrogen oxide and 200 pounds of particulate matter. Likewise, BNSF Railway (www.bnsf.com) is hoping that a proposed plan to own and operate its own fleet of trucks to move freight from marine terminals in LA-LB to a proposed intermodal yard four miles from the port complex will convince local residents and port officials that the new operation won’t negatively impact the environment. Specifically, the railroad says it will use 2007 model-year trucks to meet emission standards contained in the Clean Air Action Plan. The trucks will also be outfitted with global positioning tracking systems to allow BNSF to optimize a routing plan and lessen the impact on residential communities. Meanwhile, railroads are already using electric cranes, low emission switching locomotives, and alternative fuel yard tractors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rules for locomotives and diesel marine engines are also helping to drive changes. The agency’s proposed rules, which could take effect as early as next year, intend to reduce emissions by 90 percent for particulate matter and 80 percent for nitrogen oxides. Some of the biggest opportunities for greening the supply chain are the most obvious, like reducing paper and packaging waste and choosing reusable shipping containers. ALEX Pallet Systems (www.alexpallet.com) manufacturers a lightweight aluminum pallet that is superior to conventional wooden pallets in a variety of areas. The pallets are 100 percent reusable and recyclable and have a life-span of at least 20 years, and exceed industry standards for impact and static-loading performance. And, due to their composition, the pallets are exempt from government regulations requiring chemical- and heat-treatment to kill harmful bark beetles and other insects. Companies are also turning to alternative packaging materials. Last year, Wal-Mart Canada switched some of its shipping crates from cardboard to plastic, which allowed the crates to be used approximately 60 times instead of once. The company estimates it saved $4.5 million from the switch and reduced waste by 1,400 tons. Furthermore, in a show of corporate goodwill, the Wal-Mart Foundation announced in late August that it would donate $1.5 million to create a sustainability research center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as part of the company’s efforts to improve the environment. The Applied Sustainability Center will work to develop green business practices for the retail and consumer goods industries. Over the next year, the center plans to study ways to reduce carbon in products and identify key sustainability issues in agriculture. Meanwhile, reusable packages are also a part of Pelican Products’ (www.pelican.com) strategy. The company’s Repeat Use Packaging program was initially developed to protect shipments of electronics and other sensitive equipment for companies such as Apple and Gateway. The advantages of using high-quality, durable cases for other types of shipments became apparent immediately—there’s less impact on the environment, the container is reusable, and the risk of damaging goods in transit is dramatically minimized. According to the company, a recent study showed that a mere 5 pounds of waste was generated by 250 shipments inside a repeat use Pelican Protector Case (two cubic feet). This was in stark contrast to the 375 pounds of waste generated by the equivalent amount of cardboard boxes necessary for the same number of shipments.
Clean, energy efficient DCs get the green light Now that public awareness has heightened over the impact of transportation and logistics on the environment, warehouses are getting as much scrutiny as seaports and trucks, especially in high-profile regions such as Southern California. Tejon Ranch (www.tejonranch.com), located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles on Interstate 5, is a multi-use master-planned community. It is also the location for a 1.7 million square foot distribution center for furniture manufacturer Ikea. Given the Ranch’s history in farming and ranching, the focus on environmental stewardship is high on the minds of the company’s executives. According to Barry Hibbard, vice president of commercial industrial development at Tejon Ranch, truckers spend roughly $2.90 per hour in fuel costs when idling. To minimize that cost, the Ranch installed electrical power at the truck stop and charges truckers $1.95 per hour. Not only is it cheaper for truckers, but it’s quieter and cleaner for the surrounding community too. Within a warehouse’s four walls, other changes are taking place. Lighting is one area that warehouse operators can reduce costs. For instance, skylights and fluorescent lighting can improve energy efficiency by as much as 75 percent, while recycled building materials and asphalt, better use of landscaping, and reusing rainwater can all contribute to the bottom line. Supply chain solutions provider Manhattan Associates (www.manh.com) offers other ways to trim costs and operate more efficiently in the warehouse. For starters, companies should maximize the efficiency of their conveying and handling processes, advises Manhattan Associates. By integrating material handling and warehouse management systems, the warehouse can reduce the number of times products are moved and touched as well as minimize forklift usage. In addition to reducing handling costs, these techniques help to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Secondly, using advanced warehouse management systems allows companies to streamline warehouse operations to achieve higher levels of cross docking, which in turn cuts down on inventory and increases product turns.
Fostering green practices While many companies are jumping on the green bandwagon, a handful of them have earned a reputation for “green leadership,” explains John Davies, vice president of green technology research at AMR Research (www.amrresearch.com) “Enterprises that want to succeed in the marketplace must integrate ‘green’ thinking into their overall approach to growth and profitability,” he states. “Early movers are reporting long-term advantages both in cost savings as well as new revenue opportunities.” There are many examples of green leadership, some quite novel. Seattle-based freight forwarder and 3PL TransGroup (www.transgroup.com) has unveiled the industry’s first 100 percent greenhouse gas neutral logistics solution, called TransNeutral. “As a leader in transport logistics, we at TransGroup feel a responsibility to our industry and to the planet,” says Ron Lee, president and co-founder of the company. “So, we formed TransNeutral as a not-for-profit program that helps our customers to offset the climate-effecting impact of their shipments in a way that works collectively to preserve the environment.” Under the program, TransGroup customers can green their shipments with a nominal contribution (less than 1/7 of a cent per pound on domestic shipments) for every pound they ship. TransNeutral uses a weight-based calculation to determine the amount of climate-effecting greenhouse gases that a shipment emits, and then offsets those gases by contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction programs involving reforestation, wind power, and biofuel related farm renewal projects. Sometimes the best green initiatives are truly at our fingertips. The Port of Houston (www.portofhouston.com) recently launched a “Clean & Green” program to clean up litter and debris in and around Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel. Five days per week, a land-based crew will collect litter and debris from the banks while a water-based crew will work from a skimmer boat to remove litter from storm drains and banks. The program aims to collect in excess of 10 cubic yards of debris per day over the next year, which is enough to fill 83 garbage trucks. wt
Sidebar: The Forklift of the Future Earlier this year, the Raymond Corporation (www.raymondcorp.com) was awarded a contract for $750,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to research hydrogen fuel cell applications in electric lift trucks. The company has turned its New York manufacturing facility into a “living lab” with hydrogen fuel cell-powered Raymond forklifts in the facility. Raymond is also working on developing the necessary infrastructure for indoor fast-fill hydrogen refueling systems, which also represents new technology (refueling systems are typically installed outdoors). The goal of the program is to study the performance of hydrogen fuel in electric forklifts and to demonstrate the safety of a hydrogen-fueled forklift environment. Exp ected outcomes include a working indoor refueling system that meets all required code and standard requirements, and documented best practices for the design and application of indoor refueling systems. “The Raymond Corporation is committed to researching the application of hydrogen as an alternate method for storing energy on its forklift equipment,” remarked Michael Field, Raymond vice president, research and development. “The NYSERDA contract confirms the merits of our project and supports our business strategy to develop fuel cell technology for electric forklift applications. By using our own facility as a test lab, we can streamline the development process and learn firsthand the requirements for using fuel cell powered forklifts in a manufacturing environment.” In a conventional electric lift truck, the energy used to drive the truck is stored as electricity in a lead-acid battery. In a fuel cell, energy is stored as hydrogen gas and converted into electricity as needed. There appears to be significant potential to improve warehouse productivity and lower operating costs if fuel cells are used in high throughput warehouse applications. Hydrogen fuel cells offer higher productivity because they can be rapidly refueled—in several minutes versus several hours—eliminating the need to change a battery. A battery recharging cycle is long, typically taking one shift to charge and another shift to cool down the battery. For a three-shift operation, three batteries plus a charger may be needed per lift truck, as well as room to store and maintain them. Cost savings come from eliminating the need to buy batteries and chargers, and from labor savings. Another advantage is that the voltage delivered by a fuel cell remains constant; the vehicle experiences no performance degradation until the fuel runs out. Furthermore, hydrogen is environmentally clean; the only by-products from a fuel cell are water and heat.
Lara L. SowinskiLaraS@worldtrademag.com
Lara is Associate Editor for World Trade. You can reach her at LaraS@worldtrademag.com.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Green Consulting Movement
As a consulting firm, the greatest impact that we could ever have on the environment is on the work that we do for our clients. I am happy to say that we have been assisting numerous companies with an environmentally responsible agenda.
As a consulting firm that specializes in franchise development, Francorp creates the foundation for companies to expand throughout the US and even worldwide. Through our 13 international offices, we are working with numerous companies that are developing concepts that meet the environmental challenges that we have ahead of ourselves worldwide.
Some of these GREEN concepts in the US are Fisher Recycling - http://www.fisherrecycling.com/ , SynLawn - http://www.synlawn.com/ and a number solar companies that choose to be kept underwraps until they officially launch.
In addition to having the pleasure of working with socially responsible companies through our franchise development work, we also have been operating in a more environmentally friendly way oursleves. Many of our staff members now carpool to the office, work at home, some even take public transportation from the city out to our suburban location, and others have even purchased fuel efficient cars in order to be operating conservationists. We have also recently switched to recycled paper cups for office usage when a glass cannot be used. Furthermore, we discourage usage of bottled water and encourage filtered water provided to our staff. In addition, we purchased renewable bamboo tables for our lobby and refinished our Eames office chairs throughout our office instead of purchasing new chairs which prevented the filling of a land fill. We also used paint free of VOC's and replaced our light fixtures with high efficiency fixtures, which should save a great deal of energy. Our next addition will be new HVAC units that will further increase effeciency.
The beauty of these new GREEN initiatives is that they also offer a financial incentive now adays. Why not go green like Francorp? The price is right!
As a consulting firm that specializes in franchise development, Francorp creates the foundation for companies to expand throughout the US and even worldwide. Through our 13 international offices, we are working with numerous companies that are developing concepts that meet the environmental challenges that we have ahead of ourselves worldwide.
Some of these GREEN concepts in the US are Fisher Recycling - http://www.fisherrecycling.com/ , SynLawn - http://www.synlawn.com/ and a number solar companies that choose to be kept underwraps until they officially launch.
In addition to having the pleasure of working with socially responsible companies through our franchise development work, we also have been operating in a more environmentally friendly way oursleves. Many of our staff members now carpool to the office, work at home, some even take public transportation from the city out to our suburban location, and others have even purchased fuel efficient cars in order to be operating conservationists. We have also recently switched to recycled paper cups for office usage when a glass cannot be used. Furthermore, we discourage usage of bottled water and encourage filtered water provided to our staff. In addition, we purchased renewable bamboo tables for our lobby and refinished our Eames office chairs throughout our office instead of purchasing new chairs which prevented the filling of a land fill. We also used paint free of VOC's and replaced our light fixtures with high efficiency fixtures, which should save a great deal of energy. Our next addition will be new HVAC units that will further increase effeciency.
The beauty of these new GREEN initiatives is that they also offer a financial incentive now adays. Why not go green like Francorp? The price is right!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Francorp - Wild Things
Wild Things: Life as We Know It
Great white sharks, endangered frogs and more
By T.A. Frail, Megan Gambino, Anika Gupta, Laura Helmuth and Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian magazine, October 2008
It's not Easy Being Green (or Orange) Of 6,300 known amphibian species, one-third are vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, say scientists in California. Tropical countries have the most amphibians and the most threatened species. The culprits? Habitat loss, global warming and the fungal disease chytridiomycosis.
A Change in StrategyMilkweed plants defend themselves against caterpillars and other predators with toxins, spiky leaves and sticky latex. But a Cornell and Portland State University study of 38 milkweed species shows that the newest ones rely more on a different survival strategy: they regrow quickly after being damaged. Apparently resistance to predators is (relatively) futile.
The Baddest Bite Australian-led researchers have found that a great white shark clamps down with a force of 2 tons. The most powerful bite known of any animal alive, that's 3 times the force of a lion and 23 times that of a person—though just a nip compared with the 12- to 20-ton bite of the extinct megalodon shark.
Long-Tailed Tipplers Pen-tailed tree shrews and at least six other small mammals in Malaysia imbibe naturally fermented bertam palm flower nectar, which is up to 3.8 percent alcohol, like beer. The animals are the only ones (aside from humans) known to drink regularly, say the researchers, from Germany and elsewhere, who saw no "motor incoordination or other behavioral signs of inebriation." The animals appear to have a high alcohol tolerance.
ObservedName: The Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana In Private: Males prefer to mate with large females. They also often pursue females that they have seen other males pursue.In Public: When rival males are present, a male disguises his choice of mate by feigning interest in a different female.In the Lab: Males went so far as to feign interest in a female of a different species, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Potsdam, Germany, and the University of Oklahoma. This bait-and-switch routine, the scientists say, may represent an attempt to direct rivals' attention away from the choicest female and avoid competing with other males.
Additional Sources
"Are we in the midst of the sixth mass extinction? A view from the world of amphibians," David B. Wake and Vance T. Vredenburg, PNAS, August 12, 2008
"Phylogenetic escalation and decline of plant defense strategies," Anurag A. Agrawal and Mark Fishbein, PNAS, July 22, 2008
"Male Fish Deceive Competitors about Mating Preferences," Martin Plath et al., Current Biology, August 5, 2008
"Three-dimensional computer analysis of white shark jaw mechanics: how hard can a great white bite?" S. Wroe et al., Journal of Zoology, August 12, 2008
"Chronic intake of fermented floral nectar by wild treeshrews," Frank Wiens et al., PNAS, July 29, 2008
www.francorp.com
www.francorp1.com
Great white sharks, endangered frogs and more
By T.A. Frail, Megan Gambino, Anika Gupta, Laura Helmuth and Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian magazine, October 2008
It's not Easy Being Green (or Orange) Of 6,300 known amphibian species, one-third are vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, say scientists in California. Tropical countries have the most amphibians and the most threatened species. The culprits? Habitat loss, global warming and the fungal disease chytridiomycosis.
A Change in StrategyMilkweed plants defend themselves against caterpillars and other predators with toxins, spiky leaves and sticky latex. But a Cornell and Portland State University study of 38 milkweed species shows that the newest ones rely more on a different survival strategy: they regrow quickly after being damaged. Apparently resistance to predators is (relatively) futile.
The Baddest Bite Australian-led researchers have found that a great white shark clamps down with a force of 2 tons. The most powerful bite known of any animal alive, that's 3 times the force of a lion and 23 times that of a person—though just a nip compared with the 12- to 20-ton bite of the extinct megalodon shark.
Long-Tailed Tipplers Pen-tailed tree shrews and at least six other small mammals in Malaysia imbibe naturally fermented bertam palm flower nectar, which is up to 3.8 percent alcohol, like beer. The animals are the only ones (aside from humans) known to drink regularly, say the researchers, from Germany and elsewhere, who saw no "motor incoordination or other behavioral signs of inebriation." The animals appear to have a high alcohol tolerance.
ObservedName: The Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana In Private: Males prefer to mate with large females. They also often pursue females that they have seen other males pursue.In Public: When rival males are present, a male disguises his choice of mate by feigning interest in a different female.In the Lab: Males went so far as to feign interest in a female of a different species, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Potsdam, Germany, and the University of Oklahoma. This bait-and-switch routine, the scientists say, may represent an attempt to direct rivals' attention away from the choicest female and avoid competing with other males.
Additional Sources
"Are we in the midst of the sixth mass extinction? A view from the world of amphibians," David B. Wake and Vance T. Vredenburg, PNAS, August 12, 2008
"Phylogenetic escalation and decline of plant defense strategies," Anurag A. Agrawal and Mark Fishbein, PNAS, July 22, 2008
"Male Fish Deceive Competitors about Mating Preferences," Martin Plath et al., Current Biology, August 5, 2008
"Three-dimensional computer analysis of white shark jaw mechanics: how hard can a great white bite?" S. Wroe et al., Journal of Zoology, August 12, 2008
"Chronic intake of fermented floral nectar by wild treeshrews," Frank Wiens et al., PNAS, July 29, 2008
www.francorp.com
www.francorp1.com
Francorp: Invasion of the Cassowaries
Invasion of the Cassowaries
Passions run high in an Australian town: Should the endangered birds be feared—or fed?
By Brendan Borrell
Smithsonian magazine, October 2008
Ripe fruit plunks to the ground and rolls to the road at my left. That instant, the cassowary bursts from a tangle of ferns outside Clump Mountain National Park near Mission Beach, Australia. The bird's sharp beak is pointed roughly at my neck. Her eyes bulge. She probably weighs about 140 pounds, and as she thumps past me her red wattles swing to and fro and her black feathers give off an almost menacing shimmer. Local residents call her Barbara, but somehow the name doesn't fit the creature in front of me. She looks like a giant, prehistoric turkey—a turkey, however, that could disembowel me with a swipe of its nearly five-inch claws. Luckily, she just wants the mango, which she scoops up whole and mashes with her beak.
Although many of Australia's mammals are, to North Americans anyway, infamous oddballs—from the duck-billed platypus to the eucalyptus-munching koala—the cassowary is gaudy proof that its birds can be just as strange. The southern cassowary is related to the emu and native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northern Australia. (Two other smaller cassowary species live in New Guinea.) Fewer than 1,500 southern cassowaries live in Australia, where they are endangered; much of their Queensland rain-forest habitat has been cleared for sugar cane and banana plantations.
While programs to protect koalas, which are not an endangered species, draw in millions of dollars in donations, cassowary conservation just squeaks by in the arid continent's last tropical outpost. But the ruggedly independent folk of Queensland feel a bond with their local emblem of biodiversity—everything from stuffed toys to cassowary-themed wind chimes can be purchased along the Cassowary Coast—perhaps out of respect for a flightless creature that's able to eke out an existence despite suffocating heat and devastating storms. And like the cassowaries, Queenslanders have long felt underappreciated; indeed, some urbanites in Sydney and Melbourne refer to them as "banana-benders," as if they have nothing better to do than put the crook in tropical fruit.
But the ornery cassowary is not an easy creature to love. In fact, it ranks as the world's most dangerous bird, at least according to Guinness World Records. A cassowary can charge up to 30 miles an hour and leap more than 3 feet in the air. On each foot are three claws—one slightly curved like a scimitar, the other two straight as daggers—that are so sharp New Guinea tribesmen slide them over spear points. The last person known to have been killed by a cassowary was 16-year-old Phillip McLean, whose throat was punctured on his Queensland ranch in 1926. There have been plenty of close calls since: people have had ribs broken, legs cracked and flesh gashed.
In Mission Beach (pop. 992), two hours south of Cairns, cassowaries have lately come out of the forest, cruising the streets and looking, it seems, for trouble. They peck at bedroom windows, chase cars and tangle with pet terriers.
Townspeople are divided over what to do about the invasion. Many want the birds back in the forest. But others enjoy feeding them, even though that's against the law. They claim that the birds need the handouts: a 15-year drought, a building boom and Cyclone Larry in 2006 wiped out many of the area's native fruit trees, which were prime cassowary food. One woman told me she spends $20 per week on bananas and watermelons for a pair of local birds named Romeo and Mario. "I feed them," she said. "I always have and I always will."
Biologists say she's not doing the birds a favor. "A fed bird is a dead bird," the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service insists on posters and brochures, underscoring the idea that luring the birds into town endangers them. Since the cyclone, some 20 cassowaries, out of a local population of perhaps 100, have died after being hit by cars or attacked by dogs. Wildlife wardens—clad in chain-saw chaps and groin protectors and wielding giant nets—regularly transport problem cassowaries to more suitable habitat.
To see how life in the cul-de-sacs of Mission Beach has affected the largest native land animal in northern Australia, I visited the Garners Beach cassowary rehabilitation facility five miles north of town. Steve Garrad, a conservation officer for the Australian Rainforest Foundation, was wearing a dirt-streaked khaki outfit and a pair of gaiters to ward off the region's infernal leeches. We entered a pen where a knee-high cassowary chick was zipping along like a teenager on a skateboard. Rocky had been plucked from a dog's mouth in South Mission Beach a few months earlier. Cassowary chicks are striped for camouflage, and Rocky seemed to vanish in the shady enclosure. We finally cornered him near an artificial pond. "It'll lose those stripes in three months' time," Garrad said, "and become a pretty ugly-looking mousy brown." In about a year, Rocky will burst into his adult colors and develop wattles and the species' most remarkable feature: the casque atop its head.
It's an odd structure, neither horn nor bone; it has a hard covering but is spongy inside and somewhat flexible overall. Some researchers have speculated that cassowaries use the strange protuberance as a crash helmet to deflect thick foliage while running through the jungle, or perhaps as a weapon for settling territorial disputes. Ornithologists in New Guinea have proposed another function: amplifier. They reported seeing cassowaries inflate their necks, vibrate their bodies and emit a pulsing boom that drops below the threshold of human hearing. "An unsettling sensation," is how one author described standing in front of a thrumming bird.
Cassowary males and females look pretty much the same when they're young, but females eventually grow about a foot taller, reaching some six feet. They start breeding at age 4 or 5 and can live 40 years or more. The birds are solitary aside from brief encounters during the breeding season. Females abandon their one-pound eggs soon after laying them, and males build a rudimentary nest on the forest floor and incubate up to five eggs for almost two months. After chicks hatch, they follow the male for six to nine months as he protects them from predators such as wild pigs and dogs, and guides them to fruit trees within a home range several hundred acres in size. Scientists studying cassowary scat have identified the seeds of 300 plant species, making the bird a key player in spreading rain-forest plants over great distances.
At the rehab center, Rocky retreated back into the shadows. He has made a full recovery after his encounter with the dog. Adult male cassowaries will adopt orphaned chicks, and Garrad hoped to find a surrogate dad in the wild that would rear Rocky. Garrad said it's sometimes hard to send the little ones off to an uncertain fate, but the best thing for wildlife is to return to the wild.
Brendan Borrell is based in Brooklyn.
Ripe fruit plunks to the ground and rolls to the road at my left. That instant, the cassowary bursts from a tangle of ferns outside Clump Mountain National Park near Mission Beach, Australia. The bird's sharp beak is pointed roughly at my neck. Her eyes bulge. She probably weighs about 140 pounds, and as she thumps past me her red wattles swing to and fro and her black feathers give off an almost menacing shimmer. Local residents call her Barbara, but somehow the name doesn't fit the creature in front of me. She looks like a giant, prehistoric turkey—a turkey, however, that could disembowel me with a swipe of its nearly five-inch claws. Luckily, she just wants the mango, which she scoops up whole and mashes with her beak.
Although many of Australia's mammals are, to North Americans anyway, infamous oddballs—from the duck-billed platypus to the eucalyptus-munching koala—the cassowary is gaudy proof that its birds can be just as strange. The southern cassowary is related to the emu and native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northern Australia. (Two other smaller cassowary species live in New Guinea.) Fewer than 1,500 southern cassowaries live in Australia, where they are endangered; much of their Queensland rain-forest habitat has been cleared for sugar cane and banana plantations.
While programs to protect koalas, which are not an endangered species, draw in millions of dollars in donations, cassowary conservation just squeaks by in the arid continent's last tropical outpost. But the ruggedly independent folk of Queensland feel a bond with their local emblem of biodiversity—everything from stuffed toys to cassowary-themed wind chimes can be purchased along the Cassowary Coast—perhaps out of respect for a flightless creature that's able to eke out an existence despite suffocating heat and devastating storms. And like the cassowaries, Queenslanders have long felt underappreciated; indeed, some urbanites in Sydney and Melbourne refer to them as "banana-benders," as if they have nothing better to do than put the crook in tropical fruit.
But the ornery cassowary is not an easy creature to love. In fact, it ranks as the world's most dangerous bird, at least according to Guinness World Records. A cassowary can charge up to 30 miles an hour and leap more than 3 feet in the air. On each foot are three claws—one slightly curved like a scimitar, the other two straight as daggers—that are so sharp New Guinea tribesmen slide them over spear points. The last person known to have been killed by a cassowary was 16-year-old Phillip McLean, whose throat was punctured on his Queensland ranch in 1926. There have been plenty of close calls since: people have had ribs broken, legs cracked and flesh gashed.
In Mission Beach (pop. 992), two hours south of Cairns, cassowaries have lately come out of the forest, cruising the streets and looking, it seems, for trouble. They peck at bedroom windows, chase cars and tangle with pet terriers.
Townspeople are divided over what to do about the invasion. Many want the birds back in the forest. But others enjoy feeding them, even though that's against the law. They claim that the birds need the handouts: a 15-year drought, a building boom and Cyclone Larry in 2006 wiped out many of the area's native fruit trees, which were prime cassowary food. One woman told me she spends $20 per week on bananas and watermelons for a pair of local birds named Romeo and Mario. "I feed them," she said. "I always have and I always will."
Biologists say she's not doing the birds a favor. "A fed bird is a dead bird," the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service insists on posters and brochures, underscoring the idea that luring the birds into town endangers them. Since the cyclone, some 20 cassowaries, out of a local population of perhaps 100, have died after being hit by cars or attacked by dogs. Wildlife wardens—clad in chain-saw chaps and groin protectors and wielding giant nets—regularly transport problem cassowaries to more suitable habitat.
To see how life in the cul-de-sacs of Mission Beach has affected the largest native land animal in northern Australia, I visited the Garners Beach cassowary rehabilitation facility five miles north of town. Steve Garrad, a conservation officer for the Australian Rainforest Foundation, was wearing a dirt-streaked khaki outfit and a pair of gaiters to ward off the region's infernal leeches. We entered a pen where a knee-high cassowary chick was zipping along like a teenager on a skateboard. Rocky had been plucked from a dog's mouth in South Mission Beach a few months earlier. Cassowary chicks are striped for camouflage, and Rocky seemed to vanish in the shady enclosure. We finally cornered him near an artificial pond. "It'll lose those stripes in three months' time," Garrad said, "and become a pretty ugly-looking mousy brown." In about a year, Rocky will burst into his adult colors and develop wattles and the species' most remarkable feature: the casque atop its head.
It's an odd structure, neither horn nor bone; it has a hard covering but is spongy inside and somewhat flexible overall. Some researchers have speculated that cassowaries use the strange protuberance as a crash helmet to deflect thick foliage while running through the jungle, or perhaps as a weapon for settling territorial disputes. Ornithologists in New Guinea have proposed another function: amplifier. They reported seeing cassowaries inflate their necks, vibrate their bodies and emit a pulsing boom that drops below the threshold of human hearing. "An unsettling sensation," is how one author described standing in front of a thrumming bird.
Cassowary males and females look pretty much the same when they're young, but females eventually grow about a foot taller, reaching some six feet. They start breeding at age 4 or 5 and can live 40 years or more. The birds are solitary aside from brief encounters during the breeding season. Females abandon their one-pound eggs soon after laying them, and males build a rudimentary nest on the forest floor and incubate up to five eggs for almost two months. After chicks hatch, they follow the male for six to nine months as he protects them from predators such as wild pigs and dogs, and guides them to fruit trees within a home range several hundred acres in size. Scientists studying cassowary scat have identified the seeds of 300 plant species, making the bird a key player in spreading rain-forest plants over great distances.
At the rehab center, Rocky retreated back into the shadows. He has made a full recovery after his encounter with the dog. Adult male cassowaries will adopt orphaned chicks, and Garrad hoped to find a surrogate dad in the wild that would rear Rocky. Garrad said it's sometimes hard to send the little ones off to an uncertain fate, but the best thing for wildlife is to return to the wild.
Brendan Borrell is based in Brooklyn.
www.francorp.com
Passions run high in an Australian town: Should the endangered birds be feared—or fed?
By Brendan Borrell
Smithsonian magazine, October 2008
Ripe fruit plunks to the ground and rolls to the road at my left. That instant, the cassowary bursts from a tangle of ferns outside Clump Mountain National Park near Mission Beach, Australia. The bird's sharp beak is pointed roughly at my neck. Her eyes bulge. She probably weighs about 140 pounds, and as she thumps past me her red wattles swing to and fro and her black feathers give off an almost menacing shimmer. Local residents call her Barbara, but somehow the name doesn't fit the creature in front of me. She looks like a giant, prehistoric turkey—a turkey, however, that could disembowel me with a swipe of its nearly five-inch claws. Luckily, she just wants the mango, which she scoops up whole and mashes with her beak.
Although many of Australia's mammals are, to North Americans anyway, infamous oddballs—from the duck-billed platypus to the eucalyptus-munching koala—the cassowary is gaudy proof that its birds can be just as strange. The southern cassowary is related to the emu and native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northern Australia. (Two other smaller cassowary species live in New Guinea.) Fewer than 1,500 southern cassowaries live in Australia, where they are endangered; much of their Queensland rain-forest habitat has been cleared for sugar cane and banana plantations.
While programs to protect koalas, which are not an endangered species, draw in millions of dollars in donations, cassowary conservation just squeaks by in the arid continent's last tropical outpost. But the ruggedly independent folk of Queensland feel a bond with their local emblem of biodiversity—everything from stuffed toys to cassowary-themed wind chimes can be purchased along the Cassowary Coast—perhaps out of respect for a flightless creature that's able to eke out an existence despite suffocating heat and devastating storms. And like the cassowaries, Queenslanders have long felt underappreciated; indeed, some urbanites in Sydney and Melbourne refer to them as "banana-benders," as if they have nothing better to do than put the crook in tropical fruit.
But the ornery cassowary is not an easy creature to love. In fact, it ranks as the world's most dangerous bird, at least according to Guinness World Records. A cassowary can charge up to 30 miles an hour and leap more than 3 feet in the air. On each foot are three claws—one slightly curved like a scimitar, the other two straight as daggers—that are so sharp New Guinea tribesmen slide them over spear points. The last person known to have been killed by a cassowary was 16-year-old Phillip McLean, whose throat was punctured on his Queensland ranch in 1926. There have been plenty of close calls since: people have had ribs broken, legs cracked and flesh gashed.
In Mission Beach (pop. 992), two hours south of Cairns, cassowaries have lately come out of the forest, cruising the streets and looking, it seems, for trouble. They peck at bedroom windows, chase cars and tangle with pet terriers.
Townspeople are divided over what to do about the invasion. Many want the birds back in the forest. But others enjoy feeding them, even though that's against the law. They claim that the birds need the handouts: a 15-year drought, a building boom and Cyclone Larry in 2006 wiped out many of the area's native fruit trees, which were prime cassowary food. One woman told me she spends $20 per week on bananas and watermelons for a pair of local birds named Romeo and Mario. "I feed them," she said. "I always have and I always will."
Biologists say she's not doing the birds a favor. "A fed bird is a dead bird," the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service insists on posters and brochures, underscoring the idea that luring the birds into town endangers them. Since the cyclone, some 20 cassowaries, out of a local population of perhaps 100, have died after being hit by cars or attacked by dogs. Wildlife wardens—clad in chain-saw chaps and groin protectors and wielding giant nets—regularly transport problem cassowaries to more suitable habitat.
To see how life in the cul-de-sacs of Mission Beach has affected the largest native land animal in northern Australia, I visited the Garners Beach cassowary rehabilitation facility five miles north of town. Steve Garrad, a conservation officer for the Australian Rainforest Foundation, was wearing a dirt-streaked khaki outfit and a pair of gaiters to ward off the region's infernal leeches. We entered a pen where a knee-high cassowary chick was zipping along like a teenager on a skateboard. Rocky had been plucked from a dog's mouth in South Mission Beach a few months earlier. Cassowary chicks are striped for camouflage, and Rocky seemed to vanish in the shady enclosure. We finally cornered him near an artificial pond. "It'll lose those stripes in three months' time," Garrad said, "and become a pretty ugly-looking mousy brown." In about a year, Rocky will burst into his adult colors and develop wattles and the species' most remarkable feature: the casque atop its head.
It's an odd structure, neither horn nor bone; it has a hard covering but is spongy inside and somewhat flexible overall. Some researchers have speculated that cassowaries use the strange protuberance as a crash helmet to deflect thick foliage while running through the jungle, or perhaps as a weapon for settling territorial disputes. Ornithologists in New Guinea have proposed another function: amplifier. They reported seeing cassowaries inflate their necks, vibrate their bodies and emit a pulsing boom that drops below the threshold of human hearing. "An unsettling sensation," is how one author described standing in front of a thrumming bird.
Cassowary males and females look pretty much the same when they're young, but females eventually grow about a foot taller, reaching some six feet. They start breeding at age 4 or 5 and can live 40 years or more. The birds are solitary aside from brief encounters during the breeding season. Females abandon their one-pound eggs soon after laying them, and males build a rudimentary nest on the forest floor and incubate up to five eggs for almost two months. After chicks hatch, they follow the male for six to nine months as he protects them from predators such as wild pigs and dogs, and guides them to fruit trees within a home range several hundred acres in size. Scientists studying cassowary scat have identified the seeds of 300 plant species, making the bird a key player in spreading rain-forest plants over great distances.
At the rehab center, Rocky retreated back into the shadows. He has made a full recovery after his encounter with the dog. Adult male cassowaries will adopt orphaned chicks, and Garrad hoped to find a surrogate dad in the wild that would rear Rocky. Garrad said it's sometimes hard to send the little ones off to an uncertain fate, but the best thing for wildlife is to return to the wild.
Brendan Borrell is based in Brooklyn.
Ripe fruit plunks to the ground and rolls to the road at my left. That instant, the cassowary bursts from a tangle of ferns outside Clump Mountain National Park near Mission Beach, Australia. The bird's sharp beak is pointed roughly at my neck. Her eyes bulge. She probably weighs about 140 pounds, and as she thumps past me her red wattles swing to and fro and her black feathers give off an almost menacing shimmer. Local residents call her Barbara, but somehow the name doesn't fit the creature in front of me. She looks like a giant, prehistoric turkey—a turkey, however, that could disembowel me with a swipe of its nearly five-inch claws. Luckily, she just wants the mango, which she scoops up whole and mashes with her beak.
Although many of Australia's mammals are, to North Americans anyway, infamous oddballs—from the duck-billed platypus to the eucalyptus-munching koala—the cassowary is gaudy proof that its birds can be just as strange. The southern cassowary is related to the emu and native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northern Australia. (Two other smaller cassowary species live in New Guinea.) Fewer than 1,500 southern cassowaries live in Australia, where they are endangered; much of their Queensland rain-forest habitat has been cleared for sugar cane and banana plantations.
While programs to protect koalas, which are not an endangered species, draw in millions of dollars in donations, cassowary conservation just squeaks by in the arid continent's last tropical outpost. But the ruggedly independent folk of Queensland feel a bond with their local emblem of biodiversity—everything from stuffed toys to cassowary-themed wind chimes can be purchased along the Cassowary Coast—perhaps out of respect for a flightless creature that's able to eke out an existence despite suffocating heat and devastating storms. And like the cassowaries, Queenslanders have long felt underappreciated; indeed, some urbanites in Sydney and Melbourne refer to them as "banana-benders," as if they have nothing better to do than put the crook in tropical fruit.
But the ornery cassowary is not an easy creature to love. In fact, it ranks as the world's most dangerous bird, at least according to Guinness World Records. A cassowary can charge up to 30 miles an hour and leap more than 3 feet in the air. On each foot are three claws—one slightly curved like a scimitar, the other two straight as daggers—that are so sharp New Guinea tribesmen slide them over spear points. The last person known to have been killed by a cassowary was 16-year-old Phillip McLean, whose throat was punctured on his Queensland ranch in 1926. There have been plenty of close calls since: people have had ribs broken, legs cracked and flesh gashed.
In Mission Beach (pop. 992), two hours south of Cairns, cassowaries have lately come out of the forest, cruising the streets and looking, it seems, for trouble. They peck at bedroom windows, chase cars and tangle with pet terriers.
Townspeople are divided over what to do about the invasion. Many want the birds back in the forest. But others enjoy feeding them, even though that's against the law. They claim that the birds need the handouts: a 15-year drought, a building boom and Cyclone Larry in 2006 wiped out many of the area's native fruit trees, which were prime cassowary food. One woman told me she spends $20 per week on bananas and watermelons for a pair of local birds named Romeo and Mario. "I feed them," she said. "I always have and I always will."
Biologists say she's not doing the birds a favor. "A fed bird is a dead bird," the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service insists on posters and brochures, underscoring the idea that luring the birds into town endangers them. Since the cyclone, some 20 cassowaries, out of a local population of perhaps 100, have died after being hit by cars or attacked by dogs. Wildlife wardens—clad in chain-saw chaps and groin protectors and wielding giant nets—regularly transport problem cassowaries to more suitable habitat.
To see how life in the cul-de-sacs of Mission Beach has affected the largest native land animal in northern Australia, I visited the Garners Beach cassowary rehabilitation facility five miles north of town. Steve Garrad, a conservation officer for the Australian Rainforest Foundation, was wearing a dirt-streaked khaki outfit and a pair of gaiters to ward off the region's infernal leeches. We entered a pen where a knee-high cassowary chick was zipping along like a teenager on a skateboard. Rocky had been plucked from a dog's mouth in South Mission Beach a few months earlier. Cassowary chicks are striped for camouflage, and Rocky seemed to vanish in the shady enclosure. We finally cornered him near an artificial pond. "It'll lose those stripes in three months' time," Garrad said, "and become a pretty ugly-looking mousy brown." In about a year, Rocky will burst into his adult colors and develop wattles and the species' most remarkable feature: the casque atop its head.
It's an odd structure, neither horn nor bone; it has a hard covering but is spongy inside and somewhat flexible overall. Some researchers have speculated that cassowaries use the strange protuberance as a crash helmet to deflect thick foliage while running through the jungle, or perhaps as a weapon for settling territorial disputes. Ornithologists in New Guinea have proposed another function: amplifier. They reported seeing cassowaries inflate their necks, vibrate their bodies and emit a pulsing boom that drops below the threshold of human hearing. "An unsettling sensation," is how one author described standing in front of a thrumming bird.
Cassowary males and females look pretty much the same when they're young, but females eventually grow about a foot taller, reaching some six feet. They start breeding at age 4 or 5 and can live 40 years or more. The birds are solitary aside from brief encounters during the breeding season. Females abandon their one-pound eggs soon after laying them, and males build a rudimentary nest on the forest floor and incubate up to five eggs for almost two months. After chicks hatch, they follow the male for six to nine months as he protects them from predators such as wild pigs and dogs, and guides them to fruit trees within a home range several hundred acres in size. Scientists studying cassowary scat have identified the seeds of 300 plant species, making the bird a key player in spreading rain-forest plants over great distances.
At the rehab center, Rocky retreated back into the shadows. He has made a full recovery after his encounter with the dog. Adult male cassowaries will adopt orphaned chicks, and Garrad hoped to find a surrogate dad in the wild that would rear Rocky. Garrad said it's sometimes hard to send the little ones off to an uncertain fate, but the best thing for wildlife is to return to the wild.
Brendan Borrell is based in Brooklyn.
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Francorp Works to Save
Francorp works hard to be eco-friendly. Francorp has been in business for over 32 years helping business owners grow through franchising. The company is the leading franchise consulting and development firm in the world.
What most people don't know is that Francorp works very diligently to be "eco-friendly". Most of Francorp's 300 person global team is extremely conscientious of natural and global issues. This includes conserving endangered species. Continuing to help awareness of key global issues that might affect nature and eco issues.
Francorp is based out of Chicago, IL but has twenty offices around the globe. Francorp really is a global company. As a result there are always issues and things involving our wonderful world that could use greater awareness and help.
It's the only world we are going to have, Francorp beleives we should take care of it.
What most people don't know is that Francorp works very diligently to be "eco-friendly". Most of Francorp's 300 person global team is extremely conscientious of natural and global issues. This includes conserving endangered species. Continuing to help awareness of key global issues that might affect nature and eco issues.
Francorp is based out of Chicago, IL but has twenty offices around the globe. Francorp really is a global company. As a result there are always issues and things involving our wonderful world that could use greater awareness and help.
It's the only world we are going to have, Francorp beleives we should take care of it.
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