GreenBiz.com

Fiduciary Responsibility: Legal and Practical Aspects of Integrating ESG Issues into Institutional Investment

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:55:00 -0700

A powerful group of asset managers, representing around USD 2 trillion in assets under management, argues in this report that integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions is no longer just a luxury, but a legal responsibility.

Legally Binding Disclosure of Environmental Risks Moves Closer to Reality

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0700

A new United Nations report published this week suggests advisors to institutional investors may end up in court if they ignore environmental and social concerns. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission may reportedly consider whether to force public companies to tell their investors about the financial and physical risks they face from climate change.

Walmart Unveils Phase One of Sustainability Index

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:05:00 -0700

The first phase of a three-phase project to establish a green rating system for all of the products on its shelves, Walmart executives today released its 15 question survey that will be mailed to all of the company's 100,000-plus suppliers.

The Pitfalls and Opportunities of Eco Labeling

Suzanne Shelton — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:54:00 -0700

There have been two big announcements recently regarding eco labeling and certification -- one that's causing quite a stir and one that’s happened relatively quietly. Both represent a big opportunity for the organizations involved and one represents potential danger.

Despite Record Growth, Only a Tiny Fraction of Firms Report on Sustainability

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:39:00 -0700

More companies than ever before filed corporate sustainability reports that meet the Global Reporting Initiative's guidelines in 2008, but those firms are a tiny minority of the world's corporations.

Walmart's Sustainability Index: The Hype and the Reality

Joel Makower — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:08:00 -0700

Now that Walmart has finally unveiled its audacious Sustainability Index, it's time to take a more sober assessment of what's really going on here. In short, there is both more and less going on here than meets the eye.

Inside Wal-Mart's Sustainability Index

Marc Gunther — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:36:00 -0700

The mega-retailer is about to unveil its guidelines for what it considers a sustainable company. But with so many definitions of how a business can be considered green, who's to say with any certainty what sustainable means?

Green Marketing: A Two-Fold Lesson in Perception and Reality

Suzanne Shelton — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Trying to be green is complicated and confusing for most consumers. It's sometimes not very clear even for those of us immersed in the industry. So most people have wrapped their brains around the issue by creating simple truths they can believe in. And those "truths" are based on perceptions, which often can defy reality.

CSR Reports: Absolutely Radical or Relatively Transparent?

Melissa Schweisguth — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Joel Makower's commentary on "radical transparency" and Marc Gunther's post on Wal-Mart's growing greenhouse gas emissions lead to a common question: How should corporations frame sustainability goals and achievements in reporting and communications?

EcoLogo to Develop Environmental Standard for Toys

GreenerDesign Staff — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:49:00 -0700

The EcoLogo Program, which has so far created more than 120 standards covering a wide array of products, has started working on an environmental standard for toys.

Four Steps to Becoming a Sustainable 21st Century Organization

Stephen Linaweaver — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Companies want to ensure the greatest environmental and economic return on each dollar (and hour) spent on sustainability. So which individuals or groups can you influence to support your sustainability efforts? Which individuals or groups pose the greatest business risk with respect to your environmental performance? Where do you start? And what do you do?

Carting Away the Oceans: June 2009

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:22:00 -0700

This report from Greenpeace ranks and rates 20 supermarket chains, including 17 national chains, on their sustainability practices for purchasing seafood and communicating about sustainable seafood to shoppers.

More Greenpeace Rankings: Who's the Greenest Seafood Retailer?

Matthew Wheeland — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:15:00 -0700

The third update of Greenpeace's Sustainable Seafood scorecard finds Wegman's Ahold USA and Whole Foods leading the pack for supporting sustainable seafood; Trader Joe's remains the lowest-ranked national retailer on the list.

Following the Thread of Radical Tranparency

Gregory A Norris — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 -0700

The first and central thread in this dialog on radical transparency is the question: "Will it be enough to yield/drive radical transformation for sustainability?" Here are a few thoughts and observations on the subject.

Creating a Company Culture that Engages Social Intrapreneurs

Josh Cleveland — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:15:00 -0700

Social intrapreneurs or corporate changemakers, who initiate social and environmental projects to bring their ideals to work and create value for their companies, can exist in nearly every organization. Yet it takes a conducive corporate culture to fully unlock their potential.