EU must not bin waste and air quality rules, industry warns
EU plans to scrap recycling and clean air regulations that are predicted to create 280,000 new jobs and save billions of pounds by 2030 has been criticised by a host of organisations from across the green economy. A coalition of seven trade bodies, NGOs, and professional associations have already highlighted their “dismay” at the proposals to drop the ambitious circular economy package in a joint letter to UK Environment Secretary Liz Truss. “There is a very broad consensus amongst industry groups and associations, major companies, NGOs and municipalities that the Circular Economy package offers huge potential for green job creation, resource security, environmental protection and economic growth,” the letter reads. The EU is looking to withdraw the ambitious package of measures because it does not expect to agree targets with member states that have poor recycling records. (Business Green)
Supply Chain
Sedex and Transparency International highlight global corruption risks
Sedex Global, provider of the world’s largest collaborative responsible supply chain platform, has partnered with anti-corruption NGO, Transparency InternationalUK, and training, consulting and research NGO, Verité, to publish a new briefing which explores the impact of corruption risks on global supply chains. The briefing identifies opportunities for businesses, and their investors, to improve performance on business ethics and to tackle corruption risk in global supply chains. Report author and Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Sedex in North America, Marianne Voss, said “Corruption is a complex, risky business and we hope this guidance and support will help more companies tackle the issue. Good practice examples and case studies do exist and we encourage more companies to follow these.” (Sedex)
Responsible Investment
Technology giants invest $25 million in petitions website
A host of technology billionaires have come together in a unique venture to invest $25 million in the petitions website Change.org. Two dozen investors, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, eBay co-founder Pierre M. Omidyar, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson, have contributed up to several million dollars each. Change.org’s chief executive, Ben Rattray, said that instead of simply raising funds from a traditional venture capital firm, the company had involved a group of people who are passionate about the website’s mission and can provide advice when needed. The new funding will be partly used to expand a tool that allows the businesses and politicians who are the targets of petitions to engage with users. The company’s vision is to build a world where elected representatives are able to effectively connect with their constituents at scale. (Justmeans)
Report: ethical investors should avoid tar sands
According to a report by the Fossil Free Indexes research group, which provides data to support ethical investing, the top 20 companies that have invested in the Canadian tar sands have increased their potential carbon dioxide emissions by more than five times in the past ten years. The companies with the five highest embedded carbon emissions, based on their total tar sands reserves are: ExxonMobil, Suncor Energy, Imperial Oil, Canadian Natural and Shell. At a time when more investors are interested in companies with a strong record of corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship and ethics to include in their portfolios, FFI makes the case that its index of companies, which scrubs out large carbon emitters from the S&P 500, reveals an overall financial performance virtually indistinguishable from that of the overall S&P 500. (Triple Pundit)
Strategy
Corporate responsibility professional body extends membership for UK organisations
The Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) is widening its focus to include groups of individuals who are leading change within UK organisations. The Institute, which was previously solely focused on supporting individuals, will be welcoming organisational members from January 2015. While membership was previously restricted to corporations, the ICRS will be open to all organisations that satisfy the Institute’s criteria. Organisational members will be able to participate in a programme of monthly events, including events designed specifically for senior leaders. “Our vision is of a world where all organisations operate responsibly and sustainably, but that vision cannot be achieved unless access to the learning, networking and collaboration opportunities offered by organisations like the ICRS is open to everybody,” said ICRS chair Claudine Blamey. (Edie)
COMMENTS