Doing the Right Things in Business -- Making the Business Case - Making the Financial Case -- Also Incorporating the Moral Case? It's an age-old topic of discussion: Where in American business do the issues of morality, ethical behaviors, and "fair and equitable" fit in? Andrew Winston, author of the best-selling "Green to Gold," explores the topic ("morality") in an essay on Sustainable Brands' "New Metrics" web platform. Morality: moralizing; degree of conforming to moral principles. So -- in exploring the subject of morality in business, Andrew Winston thinks managers should crank the "moral" arguments into making-the-business case-for-corporate-sustainability discussions. Making-the-financial-case ("investors want to know...") is occurring more frequently now with many more mainstream investors focused on the firm's ESG performance and the sustainability journey of especially large-cap enterprises. "This is the right thing to do..." may be the persuasive argument in making the business case to decision-makers. The moral positions of companies and their leaders are facing greater scrutiny now, says Winston. Will companies defend LGBT rights -- or protect immigrant employees? Will they publicly argue for greater attention and action on climate change issues? (It's the right thing to do, many of you, dear readers, will agree.) In our Top Story, author Andrew Winston sets out four "buckets" of arguments as to how the initiatives companies pursue create value -- and three "mainstream" arguments (have some element of making-the-business-case, such as "short-term financial wins”). The fourth argument -- improve the shared commons -- and is it time to broaden how we talk about sustainability and bring in a moral dimension. The traditional business case is still critical - but broadening the arguments in making the sustainability business case has Winston wondering if a combined logic or "good for business" and "good for the soul" will work. He welcomes your thoughts after reading the essay. Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. is now in the 10th year of operations. When we founded G&A back in 2007, we adopted the tagline: Helping our clients do the right things for the right reasons. That's guided us to 2017 and benefitted many of our corporate clients and our partners-in-progress. Top Story Source: Sustainable Brands - Every manager (or consultant) who has pitched an initiative under the banner of “sustainability” has faced the same question nearly every time: What’s the business case? Sustainability in Focus Sustainable practices and balancing the books are no longer conflicting goals
(Monday - February 06, 2017)
Source: The National - Gone are the days when organisations could rest on their financial laurels alone. Companies today operate in complicated ecosystems of stakeholders and communities, accountable for far greater impacts that extend well beyond the... Expanding the bottom line with sustainability
(Monday - February 06, 2017)
Source: Daily Iowan - Business leaders and M.B.A. students gathered for the annual Sustainability Summit 2017 to discuss how companies are integrating sustainable strategies. College recognized for sustainability initiatives
(Monday - February 06, 2017)
Source: The Dartmouth - Last week, SaveOnEnergy.com, a Texas-based energy consulting firm, ranked Dartmouth 10th in its Green Universities Report. The report listed 25 universities and colleges in the U.S. that “actively prioritize sustainability and... The blockchain's emerging role in sustainability
(Tuesday - February 07, 2017)
Source: GreenBiz - Picture, if you will, a tracking system that discreetly verifies the provenance of products as they move across a supply chain — sending proactive alerts about unexpected detours that could signal potential tampering or... Why companies should continue emphasising sustainability
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: CGMA - Sustainability initiatives can lead to cost savings for organisations, but employees sometimes fail to see the business imperative because they are given few incentives to act sustainably or are not held accountable for...
Sustainable Procurement Increases Revenue Growth, Study Says
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Environmental Leader - Fifty percent of sustainable procurement leaders increased their revenue from sustainability initiatives, a 33 percent increase over non-leaders, according to the results of the latest EcoVadis/HEC Sustainable Procurement... Online sales, sustainability bring changes to consumer packaging
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Plastic News - Tampa, Fla. — Today’s packaging just won’t cut it in the future, an official at a well-known spice and food company believes...
Source: Sustainable Brands - The traditional focus of CSR and sustainability has been upon continual improvement. An emphasis upon reduction rather than reinvention...
Sustainability: Growing pains
(Thursday - February 09, 2017)
Source: Nature - Jeffrey Sachs agrees with the disgruntled US electorate that significant changes are needed in the US economy. For decades, policies have helped a small percentage of Americans and left the vast majority without hope. In Building... Source: New Europe - The European Commission joined forces with European Committee of the Regions on February 7 to help build a coalition of smart cities and regions across the Union to boost investment and build a more sustainable Europe. Let's make sustainability an attitude, not just a function
(Friday - February 10, 2017)
Source: Business Standard - It is true that sustainability reporting has become increasingly prevalent among Indian companies. While the top 100 listed companies, as per market cap, are mandated to, under section 32(2)(f), to include a business... UPS to install solar panels in 8 facilities as part of sustainability drive
(Friday - February 10, 2017)
Source: Supply Chain Dive - From its original four, UPS intends to add solar power to eight more of its 2,580 facilities by the close of 2017, according to a company press release. UPS will spend roughly $18 million to increase its solar power to five times... More news for you on the critical issues in Agriculture and Food: Pork Industry Competitiveness and Sustainability Top Research Priorities
(Tuesday - February 07, 2017)
Source: The Oig Site - The Chair of Swine Innovation Porc says improving the global competitiveness of the Canadian pork industry while ensuring continued environmental sustainability is a top priority of Canada's Swine Cluster Research Program, writes... Scheme leads to improved agri-food sustainability
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: RTE - new report from Bord Bia shows significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions have been achieved by manufacturing companies participating in the national Origin Green sustainability programme. Sustainability: ‘Organic farming should embrace blight–resistant genetically engineered potato’
(Tuesday - February 07, 2017)
Source: Genetic Literacy Project - The EU regulation on organic farming does not allow the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs... The Good Food 100 Aims to Raise the Sustainability Bar in Restaurants
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Westword - Let's say you're a sustainability-minded food consumer, and you vote with your dollar by buying from farmers' markets and local producers, by purchasing organically grown produce or cage-free eggs... Texoma Cattlemen’s Conference highlights sustainability
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Wisconsin - The U.S. beef cattle industry continues to improve efficiencies and enhance production, which results in a more sustainable product for consumers. New Zealand Winegrowers releases 1st Sustainability Report
(Friday - February 10, 2017)
Source: Scoop News - New Zealand Winegrowers has released the first ever report on the wine sector’s achievements in sustainability. The Report presents data collected from vineyard and winery members of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand – one of...
ESG Issues & Players
The environmental impact of coal and oil
(Tuesday - February 07, 2017)
Source: The Guardian - Last week a Scottish Power executive called for coal to be excluded from the UK’s capacity market scheme (Report, 31 January). Five days later UK coal plants were awarded taxpayer-funded subsidies worth up to £72.8m... Despite Whistleblower's Concerns, Climate Change Study Called Sound
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Live Science - Climate change doubters have seized upon a new accusation suggesting that scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration manipulated temperature data in a 2015 study on climate change to reach a desired... Fracking, Lower Gasoline Prices Returned $1,000 To Household Budgets Last Year
(Monday - February 06, 2017)
Source: Forbes - Lower gasoline prices saved Americans more than $115 billion in 2016 compared to 2014, the American Automobile Association (AAA) reports. The findings illustrate how fracking has blessed us with low energy prices that improve... Debating Whether Dodd-Frank Is Worth Saving
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Bloomberg - President Donald Trump wants to dismantle much of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, which was designed to prevent another financial crisis. The law barred banks from many profitable but risky businesses, forced them to add... Sponsored Message |  | |
Asset Managers, US Pension Funds, Sovereign Wealth Funds Associated Profiles : New Mexico State Investment Council - Permanent Trust Funds (United States)
Source: TPM - Three weeks ago we told you about accusations that the New Mexico State Investment Council had been under political pressure to invest teachers' retirement funds in risky investments like a $90 million "toxic waste" CDO backed by... Five Charts That Say All Is Not Well in Markets
(Tuesday - February 07, 2017)
Source: Bloomberg - A former TV star as U.S. president doesn’t seem to have injected markets with much of a ‘‘fear factor.’’ But digging beneath the surface of an eight-year bull run exposes subtle signs that hint at an uneasy optimism. CalPERS's sees 5.8 percent return with new allocation; below 7 percent goal
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017) Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
Source: CNBC - California Public Employees' Retirement System expects a 5.8 percent annual investment return under its new portfolio asset allocation, significantly lower than the fund's assumed rate of return of 7 percent by 2020. The reduced... Qatar committed to Volkswagen says Qatari representative
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017) Associated Profiles : Qatar Investment Authority
Source: ET Auto.com - Qatar Holding, a subsidiary of sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority, owns over 11 percent of Volkswagen and is the company's top shareholder, according to Thomson Reuters data. The Trump Team -- And Potential Impacts on Sustainability Americans Oppose President Trump's Environmental Deregulation, Poll Says
(Friday - February 10, 2017)
Source: Time - The majority of Americans oppose President Donald Trump's plan to eliminate environmental regulations that combat climate change, according to a new poll, underscoring skepticism about an oft-repeated promise the campaign trail. 9 Executive Orders That Changed American History
(Tuesday - February 07, 2017)
Source: Time - In just a few weeks in office, President Trump has made striking use of his power to issue Executive Orders, using them to pave the way for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, change the rules about federal regulations, and... The New Era of Bread and Circuses
(Wednesday - February 08, 2017)
Source: Larry Checco, featured commentator - Emperor Augustus knew well that the best way to keep Rome’s struggling working class—then referred to as plebs or plebeians—from rioting in the streets was to keep them nominally well fed...and distracted. | | | _________________________________________ From Our Friends at
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 Global Sourcing Council (GSC) is conducting a study, “Taking the Pulse of how Business Embraces Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals, ” to track the level of adoption of sustainability dimensions in global functions such as supply chains, procurement, sourcing, outsourcing, risk management and others, by industry sectors. The study, with responses from business professionals, also intends to measure the level of awareness of the recent UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in business. As a Business Professional , please participate in this 15 min survey. Please also forward the link to your colleagues. _________________________________________ 
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