The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released the latest version of its sustainability reporting guidelines, G4, and says it will place more emphasis on materiality. GRI said encouraging companies to provide only disclosures and indicators that are relevant to their business will allow reporting organisations and report users to concentrate on the economic, environmental and social impacts that really matter, resulting in more credible reports. The sustainability reporting guidelines’ revisions will also help businesses generate material sustainability information for inclusion in integrated reports, GRI says. (Environmental Leader)
Corporate Reputation
Greenpeace-Coke spat spills into cyberspace
Earlier this month, Coca-Cola was attacked for lobbying against recycling legislation in Australia. The NGO Greenpeace responded with an anti-Coca-Cola, pro-recycling advertisement. The conflict between the two organisations has now taken to cyberspace, with the drinks giant buying the top advertising slot for searches including words such as ‘Greenpeace’ and ‘cash for containers’. The US Company denied its online advertising was aimed at gagging discussion about recycling. The battle for internet attention follows claims by Greenpeace that television channels in Australia had declined to broadcast the group's anti-Coca-Cola, pro-recycling advertisement. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Policy & Research
Asia-Pacific countries weak in natural resource governance
A good deal of secrecy is still prevalent in how natural resources are managed by countries in the Asia Pacific (Apac) region, according to the Resource Governance Index released by the Revenue Watch Institute. The Index measures transparency and accountability in the oil, gas and mining industries worldwide. None of the Apac countries made it into the top “Satisfactory” segment, however India and Indonesia made it into the top three in the “Partial” segment. The Philippines and Mongolia were a little further back, but nonetheless showing progress toward a well-governed and accountable resource sector. The rest, however, were ranked as either “Weak” or, in the case of Afghanistan, Cambodia and Myanmar, “Failing”. (Clean Biz Asia)
Energy
Statkraft pushes into corporate clean power market
Renewable energy giant Statkraft has continued its push into the UK's corporate clean power market, after revealing plans to offer green energy contracts to large industrial and commercial businesses. Statkraft this week confirmed it wanted to become the first pure renewable energy utility providing energy to heavy electricity users, such as supermarkets, hospitals and factories. While a number of independent utilities such as Ecotricity and Good Energy already provide the option to switch to pure renewable energy contracts, they have mainly focused on domestic customers. Statkraft believes there remains a gap in the market for business customers and is targeting the UK as part of a drive into Northern Europe. (Business Green)
COMMENTS