BMW, Google and Daimler are the world’s most reputable companies, according to the Reputation Institute’s 2015 Global RepTrak 100 survey. Rolex, LEGO, The Walt Disney Company, Canon, Apple, Sony and Intel also ranked in the top ten. The annual survey measures public perceptions of corporate reputations based on seven dimensions: innovation, leadership, governance, citizenship, workplace, performance and products and services. But even the 100 most visible and well known companies are struggling to get their message across to consumers, the report says. Across the 7 dimensions of reputation, 43 to 59 percent of consumers are uncertain of what these companies are doing. The companies that topped the RepTrak 100 also have some of the strongest corporate brands in the marketplace: they communicate more with consumers, are perceived as more consistent in their communications and are perceived as more distinctive than their competitors. (Sustainable Brands)
Policy and Research
World has no choice but to decarbonise, says UN climate chief
Responding to climate change in the next 15 years is the world’s “mega development project”, given the need to invest trillions of dollars in infrastructure, creating jobs and economic stability, the United Nations‘ top climate change official said on Tuesday. “It makes fundamental economic sense” for countries to push forward on tackling climate change because of the benefits it will bring in terms of food, water and energy, as well as employment, Christiana Figueres, the head of the UN climate change secretariat, told a carbon market conference. This, together with businesses acting on climate change and efforts to put a price on carbon, means “a decarbonised world is now irreversible, irrefutable,” she said. However, experts say the national emission reduction plans submitted ahead of this year’s Paris Climate Change Conference are unlikely to add up to the reductions needed to keep global warming to 2 degrees Celsius. (Reuters)
Report: Funding and short-termism ‘holding back public sector sustainability’
A lack of funding and a short-term approach is preventing the UK public sector from enjoying the energy efficiency gains of smart technologies, but these obstacles could easily be overcome. That’s according to new research by lighting provider, GE Lighting, and the Carbon Trust, who surveyed 164 sustainability professionals from public sector organisations including hospitals, councils, and education. Almost two thirds of respondents said that the availability of funds was the biggest barrier to the implementation of smart technologies. The second most common reason was the lack of a long-term strategic plan, chosen by 34 percent of respondents. Head of public sector at the Carbon Trust, Tim Pryce, said that public sector sustainability professionals needed more training to help them overcome these barriers. (Edie)
Responsible Investment
Seven out of 10 companies would turn their backs on unethical investments, finds PwC poll
Businesses seeking to raise money will increasingly have to prove their green credentials, according to new research by professional services provider, PwC, that shows that the vast majority of investors expect responsible investment to become more important during the next two years. PwC’s poll of 60 companies around the world shows that 70 percent would already decline to take part in a private equity fund raising round or would turn down a co-investment on environmental, social or governance (ESG) risk grounds. 97 percent of respondents said they expected responsible investment to grow in importance over the next two years, because of increasing concerns over upholding fiduciary duty, reputational risk and corporate values. Phil Case, PwC director and specialist in responsible investment said: “The expectations of regulators, policymakers, NGOs and the general public for investors and their advisers to behave responsibly and deliver more than simply financial return are much higher than before, and are here to stay.” (Business Green)
Waste
‘Road-ready’ fuels made from waste plastic
Australia’s first commercial-scale plant to convert waste plastics to “road-ready” fuel has produced its first batch. The facility will turn discarded non-recyclable household plastics into diesel, gasoline and the electricity needed to power the facility. Foyson Resources is behind the new A$4 million facility at Berkeley Vale, and Integrated Green Energy Ltd (IGE) is constructing the facility. The technology subjects shredded plastic to a high temperature heat stream in the absence of oxygen, causing the polymer to break down into smaller molecules, forming gas and liquids which resemble crude oil. The plant is scheduled to begin full production with 200 tonnes per day of waste plastics during June 2016, and IGE’s chief executive expects that production in the year ending June 2017 will reach 49 million litres of on-road diesel and 16 million litres of petrol, all meeting Australian Fuel Standards. (Eco-Business)
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