Corporate Sustainability- Advice For Fortune Readers -- Its Not a Choice but Critical to Your Business Two McKinsey managers present a commentary for Fortune readers -- corporate executives, board members, managers -– corporate sustainability is now critical to your business. Cited: a McKinsey survey of 340 executives; 90% of respondents initiated their sustainability journey based on risk management concerns. Authors Jeremy Oppenheim and Martin Stuchtey present brief examples of corporate benefits of sustainability efforts (a brewing company, water utility, China-based industrial), and examples of WalMart Stores, Nike, Unilever, DuPont sustainability initiatives. These explain the important “how” of the companies’ efforts. Sustainability, they write, is a “crucial competitive tool” for the corporation today. Managements are, after saying “yes” (let’s start our journey) and then setting priorities, deciding on targets, estimating costs and looking at incentives (including CEO compensation). But on setting targets – McKinsey looked at S&P 500 companies, and while the majority now publish sustainability reports, only 1-in-5 companies have long-term goals in place even though execs consider sustainability among their top 3 concerns. (G&A Institute looks at S&P 500 reporting each year; our most recent finding is that 75% of the companies now publish reports. The content of course is as varied as the body of companies that comprise this important and most widely-used investing benchmark.) In our close monitoring of the corporate sector, we are seeing continuing pressure on companies to embrace sustainability as a core or crucial aspect of corporate operations. Customers are surveying their supply chain partners to determine the activities -- and the progress made or not -- by their key service and product suppliers. Third party service providers are profiling supply chain partners’ sustainability efforts. Company boards and senior managements are carefully evaluating the activities of their investing and industry peers to benchmark where they are. Employees are asking, “what are we doing to be more sustainable” a question that can impact recruitment and retention and employee motivation. And more mainstream asset management houses are adopting approaches to evaluate corporate ESG performance in their portfolio management. The Fortune commentary is very useful for your internal discussions, one more helpful aid in “making the business case” to board and senior management team. We encourage your reading. Here at G&A Institute we help our clients at all stages of the Sustainability journey. Part of our pro-bono work with the Global Reporting Initiative (as their exclusive data partner in the US, UK and Ireland) involves analyzing every sustainability report published in these three countries for over 100 important data points. This underlying “big data” is one of the important resources that we utilize in creating client services and intelligence that no other U.S. sustainability consultancy offers. For example, G&A's competitive benchmarking services and materiality projects start by utilizing the underlying foundation of this big data which makes our process more efficient, accurate and complete. If you're interested in engaging with the Institute on your company's sustainability journey, please contact Louis Coppola at lcoppola@ga-institute.com to set up a complimentary consultation call. Top Story of the Week Like it or not, sustainability is now core to your business
(Friday - September 25, 2015)
Source: Fortune - What used to be considered green virtue has now morphed into a crucial competitive tool. That business has a role to play in improving the environment and dealing with climate change is certain The Global Sourcing Council Appoints Louis Coppola to Board of Directors
(Monday - September 28, 2015)
Source: Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. - New York, NY (September 28, 2015) - The Global Sourcing Council (GSC), a global non-profit organization focused on promoting sustainable, socially responsible sourcing practices through research, publications, education and...[more]
Sustainability in Focus
Why We Need A Sustainable Development Goal for Forced Human Displacement
(Friday - September 25, 2015)
Source: Huff Post - Refugees seeking safety in Europe have captured the world's attention, and appropriately so. The images of families crossing the Mediterranean on rafts are truly horrifying. Desperate people are taking desperate measures to...
5 Questions For Business Leaders Who Believe In A Sustainable Revolution
(Friday - September 25, 2015)
Source: Huff Post - "We have an obligation to make the world a better place for generations to come."
CSRwire Special Report: United Nations General Assembly - "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"
(Sunday - September 27, 2015) Associated Profiles : CSRwire
Source: CSR Wire - Special sessions during the historic 70th anniversary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly will launch the CSR "Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals". Reporting from the UN, John Paluszek, founder and...
Sustainability: Always Worthy, But Suddenly Far From Boring
(Tuesday - September 29, 2015)
Source: Forbes - The trouble with “sustainability” is that for far too long it has been seen in the U.K. by the mainstream business media as worthy, but boring.
UN chief calls for backing for new sustainability agenda
(Tuesday - September 29, 2015)
Source: CNTV - UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called for backing for a new sustainable development agenda that aims to wipe out poverty and build a sustainable future for all.
Volkswagen cut from top sustainability index
(Tuesday - September 29, 2015)
Source: CNBC - Volkswagen will be dropped from a leading sustainability index next month in the wake of an emissions scandal that has wiped billions off the automaker's value
Walmart: There's no conflict between sustainability and good business
(Tuesday - September 29, 2015)
Source: Fortune - Walmart ( WMT -0.19% ) has a long-term goal to be wholly supplied by renewable energy, but the world’s largest company by sales sees no contradiction between its sustainability objectives and its bottom line. Cities: the best place to strive for sustainability
(Wednesday - September 30, 2015)
Source: The World Bank - Cities are a puzzle for some and inspiration for others. As engines of economic growth, they are also hubs of rapid urbanization, a rising middle class, and a growing population. These three mega-trends drive global environmental... How Superstorm Sandy turned the tide on sustainability in NYC
(Thursday - October 01, 2015)
Source: Real Estate Weekly - New York City, a few years removed from being battered by the deadliest storm to ever hit the northeastern United States, is now the epicenter for addressing climate change, with green buildings continuing to rise for reasons... ‘Reinventing’ sustainability: A collaborative passion
(Thursday - October 01, 2015)
Source: Penn State - A portable, lightweight wind turbine to assist with energy demands during a natural disaster; an on-campus food bank for hungry, food-insecure students; greenhouse technology to help small share farmers in Africa grow their own... ESG Issues & Players Shell pulls the plug on Arctic exploration for now
(Monday - September 28, 2015)
Source: Reuters - Oil company Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) is pulling out of exploration in Arctic waters off Alaska for the foreseeable future and could take a hit of up to $4.1 billion after failing to find enough oil.
Investors to Washington: You’re confusing us
(Monday - September 28, 2015)
Source: CNN - Investors like clarity, and Washington hasn't been serving up a lot of it. The Federal Reserve has kept everyone guessing when it will start raising interest rates. It wasn't September, as many expected? Maybe in October? Maybe... Corporate Social Responsibility has become a racket - and a dangerous one
(Wednesday - September 30, 2015)
Source: The Telegraph - The Volkswagen scandal has shown us that CSR allows companies to parade their virtue, and look good, while internal standards are allowed to slip Chinese Products Harm Environment More Than Anyone Else's: Study Co-Authored by UCI
(Wednesday - September 30, 2015)
Source: OC Weekly - Products made in China are associated with significantly higher carbon dioxide emissions than the same products made elsewhere, according to a study by scientists at three universities, including UC Irvine. Asset Managers, US Pension Funds,
Sovereign Wealth Funds Qatar plans $35 billion of US investments with New York office
(Monday - September 28, 2015) Associated Profiles : Qatar Investment Authority
Source: The National - The Qatar Investment Authority, which helps to manage the country's energy-generated wealth, opened an office in New York to better access new and existing investment partners, the sovereign fund said in a... NYC mayor urges pension funds to sell coal stocks
(Wednesday - September 30, 2015) Associated Profiles : New York City Comptroller’s Office: Bureau of Asset Management
Source: Benefits Canada - The mayor's office will bring this proposal to all five New York City pension boards over the coming months to examine the specific impact and optimal reallocation of these assets. The...
10 Americans who are not only wealthy but charitable
(Thursday - October 01, 2015)
Source: CSM - Forbes released their 2015 Forbes 400 list Tuesday, ranking America's wealthiest individuals. The Monitor decided to take a look at which of these individuals donated the most to charity, based on the 2014 Philanthropy 50. So... Watching the Watchers  EUROSIF – European Social Investment Forum
Headquarters: Paris, France
Established: 2001
KEY PARTNERS
Vigeo/Avanzi and Morningstar Europe have collaborated with Eurosif on the “SRI Funds Service.”
OVERVIEW / MISSION
Eurosif writes that its mission is: "Develop Sustainability through European Financial Markets." “Eurosif, European Social Investment Forum, was created in 2001 to serve as an umbrella association to cover socially responsible investment issues at the European level.” Forum members are pension funds, financial service providers, academic and research institutions, and NGOs. Members’ collective assets total more than 1 trillion Euros. Eurosif assists members through four types of activities: • European Union lobbying;
• Research related to socially responsible investment (SRI);
• Pan-European networking and initiatives; and
• Events.
BACKGROUND
Eurosif is a non-profit organization founded by the respective social investment forums (SIFs) of countries -- France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Later included: Belgium, Sweden, and Spain. Eurosif works closely with the European Union’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities. The Directorate General’s task is “contributing to the development of a modern, innovative and sustainable European Social Model with more and better jobs in an inclusive society based on equal opportunities.” Publications are a big part of Eurosif’s work, including reports, articles, and other pieces available for download on the Eurosif Web site. News Sweeps
Coca Cola Enterprises : Joins Dow Jones Sustainability Index Listing
(Tuesday - September 15, 2015) Associated Profiles : EU Social Investment Forum
- 4 Traders - As a reflection of its own commitment to advocating sustainable investment practices, RobecoSAM is a signatory of the UNPRI and a member of Eurosif, ASrIA and Ceres. Approximately 130 professionals...
Madison raises $825m for liquidity fund
(Saturday - September 12, 2015) Associated Profiles : EU Social Investment Forum
- Investment Pensions Europe - Madison International Realty has closed its liquidity funds with $825m of equity. US public pension funds, Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies and family.. The value of doing good: Can ethics help brands make money'
(Tuesday - September 08, 2015) Associated Profiles : EU Social Investment Forum
- The Drum - Eurosif is the leading non-for-profit pan-European sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) membership organization, whose mission is to promote sustainability through European financial markets.... | Check It Out...
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It is always helpful to know what peers and competitors are doing in certain practices -- what are the best practices of investment and industry peers in terms of transparency, disclosure and structured reporting on their sustainability performance? What story do peers tell of their sustainability journey -- the strategies adopted, internal organization for success, implemented programs and initiatives, the third party recognitions they earned? What is the story being told through their disclosures and reporting of the success of the sustainability journey? Learn more About G&A's Competitive Benchmarking Analysis _______________________________
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