ESG reporting standard setters urged to agree ‘unified agenda’
The Global Investor Organisations Committee, whose members include Ceres, the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, Principles for Responsible Investment and UNEP Finance Initiative, has urged listed companies and ESG reporting standard setters to do more to agree an approach to the treatment and inclusion of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) information in company disclosure and reporting. “It is important to state clearly that the group believes a workable ‘solution’ can be achieved with the existing data providers and standard setters,” it said in a discussion paper published yesterday. It said it supported improving coordination of existing reporting frameworks, such as GRI and SASB, rather than creating new ones, but that it was “incumbent on the standard-setting organisations to present a coherent vision of how these standards can and should fit together”. (IPE)
Waste
US agencies sign joint agreement to address food waste
The US federal government hopes to improve coordination across federal agencies to help reduce food waste with a new joint agency formal agreement signed this week under the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative. In conjunction with the signing, two new companies – Kroger and Hilton – have joined the US Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. The group, which already includes Walmart, General Mills, Unilever and others, have committed to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. The joint agreement begins a partnership between the EPA, the FDA, and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which the agencies says will “enhance food recovery efforts and educate the public on the need for improved food waste management.” (Environmental Leader)
Ikea and HP join Dell’s NextWave Plastics coalition
The world’s largest furniture retailer, Ikea, and technology giant, HP, have announced that they are joining a coalition of companies called NextWave Plastics, founded by Dell and the non-profit Lonely Whale. The NextWave member companies aim to find uses for recycled plastics within their products, in order to increase demand for recycled materials and therefore decrease the volume of plastic waste before it enters the ocean. They are also raising awareness amongst the global manufacturing community that ocean-bound plastics carry a commercial value. “Everybody needs to step up, including business, and I see no reason why business shouldn’t be leading,” said Ellen Jackowski, global head of sustainability strategy and innovation for HP. “The key is for us as a society to see plastic as value, not as waste.” (Fast Company)
Campaign
Barbie launches ‘Dream Gap Project’ to empower and inspire
Barbie-maker Mattel has launched the Dream Gap Project, an ongoing global initiative that aims to combat gender stereotypes by funding research, highlighting positive role models, and producing inspiring content and products. Research shows that girls begin to develop “limiting self-beliefs” as early as age 5. These beliefs can snowball to affect a girl’s trajectory and future career choices. The “Dream Gap” is a new and under-researched topic, according to the brand, so it is collaborating with Andrei Cimpian, associate professor at New York University, to fund a two-year post-doctoral fellowship to study this issue. The brand has also committed to highlighting “at least 10 empowering female role models each year globally.” (Barbie)
Sustainable Development
Report: 46,000 new green jobs could be created in North of England by 2030
Around 46,000 new green economy jobs could be created in the North of England by 2030, a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has concluded. Published today (22 October), the report urges ministers to spur the creation of green jobs in the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’ area, where communities have been disproportionately affected by job losses due to the shrinking of the coal sector. Specifically, the report claims that 28,000 jobs in the coal, oil and gas industries could be lost in the region by 2030, creating a need for alternative roles in the renewables sector. “The opportunity is there for the North of England to become a powerhouse for the UK once again, provided the government takes the critical policy action needed,” IPPR research fellow Josh Emden said. (BusinessGreen, Edie)
External Event
The Good Capital Conference – Frontier Exchange
13-14 November | London
The Good Capital Conference is dedicated to partnering Sustainable and Impact Enterprises with a wide range of sustainability stakeholders, including investor counterparts. In addition to the outstanding content on offer, attendees will benefit from a highly structured networking system, enabling meetings to be pre-booked in advance.
The conference will cover 12 themes in 2 days including: new business models for a sustainable world, measuring and quantifying ESG and impact, sustainable cities and communities, impact investment, and the circular economy.
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