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Seven Compelling Corporate Sustainability Stories For You – How Entrepreneurs Are Managing Their Sustainable Business and Meeting Society’s Needs How do we structure a more sustainable (and responsible) business – it’s a question we are regularly asked here at G&A Institute. By big firms and small companies — publicly-traded or privately-owned (and numerous planning to go public). As we get into the conversation, what often becomes clear is that the company really was founded to meet some kind(s) of societal need, and sometimes it actually created a need (think of the popularity of the Apple eco-system or the early days of the Ford Motor Company and the “horseless carriage”) that it fills, benefitting society — and in the firm’s “growing up and maturing” phase the leaders want to be recognized as a sustainable and responsible enterprise. There are well-known corporate models that can help point the way for a management team. We explain the successes of our “top performers and reporters” roster as examples of how the industry leaders (depending on sector and industry) have achieved clear, recognized leadership in sustainability. Their stories are inspirational as well as instructive. (Tip: read the companies’ GRI reports for a deep dive into corporate strategies, programs, collaborations, and achievements – our team dives into 1,500 corporate reports and more each year in our work as GRI Data Partners for the USA, UK and Republic of Ireland.) But what about smaller enterprises, not “giants” in their industry, or niche players, run by talented entrepreneurs and managers who want to do the right thing as they build their business? How do we find their stories? You know, like the early story of Ben & Jerry’s (ice cream), two young guys with borrowed money operating a small store (a renovated gas station) in downtown Burlington, Vermont; the founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, built their business as a pioneer in social responsibility. (In 1985, the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation got 7.5% of annual pre-tax profits to fund community-oriented projects and supporting dairy family farming was a priority – like the duo’s support of Farm Aid.) What we have for you today are the stories of seven perhaps less well-known firms briefly profiled by tech blogger Kayla Matthews in her guest commentary on the Born2Invest platform. The quick-read profiles explain the companies’ business models and how they try to operate as sustainable enterprises. These are: Prime Five Homes (building $1 million eco-mod homes in Los Angeles); Lacoste (marketing the well-known crocodile brand of clothing); Liberty Bottleworks (recycled water bottles); Cleancult (paving the way for more efficient detergents); Andrean Collection (marketing jewelry from the rainforest and providing Ecuadorian women with jobs ); Blockchain (technology); Wash Cycle Laundry (eco-friendly local laundry service). What is interesting is that each of the companies, the author explains, develop products and manufacturing processes that benefit employers, employees and Mother Earth by striving for and being (more) sustainable. The stories are fascinating – and very appealing in this age of anxiety for many of us. These stories remind us of the 2018 “Sense of Purpose” letter sent to public company CEO’s by Chairman and CEO Larry Fink, who heads the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock. As a fiduciary, he explains, BlackRock engages with companies to drive the sustainable, long-term growth that the firm’s clients (asset owners) need to meet their goals. And society, he explains to the CEOs receiving the letter, “is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose.” To prosper over time, Mr. Fink wrote, “…every company must not only deliver financial performance but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society…without a sense of purpose, no company can achieve its full potential.” You can read Larry Fink’s letter to corporate CEOs here – it well worth the read: https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/investor-relations/larry-fink-ceo-letter You can follow Kayla Matthews on her tech blog, Productivity Bytes, where she often connects technology and sustainability topics: https://productivitybytes.com/ And do read our top story – it’s a fascinating and brief read to learn more about these innovative companies striving for greater sustainability and societal responsibility. This Week’s Top Story How 7 Eco-Friendly Businesses Are Changing The Sustainability Game
Sustainability: Forward Momentum! Ireland needs to ‘get serious’ about sustainability in agriculture Gas needs to work for its long-term sustainability The 10 worst sustainable business practices Foodservice Finds Sustainability Reduces Costs by 30 Percent 24 Finalists Compete For The Top Sustainable Packaging Accolades How smart cities can underpin our drive to a sustainable world Can a jurisdictional approach boost sustainability? ‘Sustainability & stewardship are opportunities as well as challenges’ Conscious City: the London Fashion Week events putting sustainability in the spotlight How smart cities can underpin our drive to a sustainable world Can a jurisdictional approach boost sustainability? ‘Sustainability and stewardship are opportunities as well as challenges’ At Penn State, sustainability is more than a goal
Our Focus This Week on A Range of ESG Topics & Issues – More For You to Think About – What Will Be the Future Impact of These Developments? Natural gas will overtake oil to become North America’s ‘single largest energy source’ this year, risk management firm says Greenhouse emissions from RICE PADDIES around the world could have the same long-term impact as around 600 coal plants and are fuelling global warming There’s no way to avert the next financial crisis, warn former regulators from 2008 meltdown America is now the world’s largest oil producer Executive Perspective: Using ESG as a driver of performance Going Mainstream: The Future Of ESG Investing
From the Corporate Sector – Both Positive & Negative – Headline Scans for You Amazon Thumbs Its Nose At Sustainability, Orders 20,000 Conventional Mercedes Sprinter Vans Scaling For Good: Can McDonald’s Raise The Bar For Sustainable Food? Headlines… Citigroup to Offer Low-Risk Crypto Product for Institutional Investors: Report CBS chief Les Moonves steps down amid sexual misconduct allegations By Tyler McCarthy, Samuel Chamberlain | Fox News $10.4-billion lawsuit over diesel emissions scandal opens against Volkswagen Taco Bell named best Mexican restaurant Report: Pharma exec says he had ‘moral requirement’ to raise drug price 400% News & Opinion: Asset Managers, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pension Funds California Mandates 2 Largest Pension Funds Factor Climate Risk into Investments The Financial Sector Can Do More To Tackle Climate Change. It’s Time To Step Up Mergers help industry super funds climb global pension fund rankings Goldman: Government-directed traders bought up billions in Chinese stocks last quarter Commentary: Can We Survive the Next Financial Crisis?
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The G&A team develops timely insights and perspectives on Corporate Sustainability, Responsibility and Citizenship and we share with you on G&A’s To The Point! platform – access is complementary with your registration. Recent briefs include: ________________________________________ Governance & Accountability _________________________________________
G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ INTERNSHIP: SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS DATA ANALYST _________________________________________ Louis Coppola from G&A Institute Goes In Depth on How to Improve ESG Performance
_________________________________________ Governance & Accountability Institute Research FLASH REPORT: 85% of S&P 500 Index® Companies Publish Sustainability Reports in 2017
________________________________________ GRI’S USA, UK & IRELAND
G&A Institute is the Data Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) in the USA, UK and Republic of Ireland. We identify, receive, collect, analyze, database, and communicate about every report issued in any of the 3 countries. Over the past 6+ years, G&A analyzed 6,000-plus sustainability reports in this pro bono role and databased 100+ important data points for each report. Find out more @ G&A’s What’s A Data Partner _________________________________________
Navigating the way to sustainability… Copyrights for other providers are noted where appropriate. |
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The Sustainability Highlights eNewsletter is prepared by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. Governance & Accountability Instiute is the “Sustainability Headquarters™” for clients in the corporate, investment, public and social sectors. Based in New York, G&A is a for-profit consulting organization providing a range of value-added strategies, services and resources related to ESG & sustainability to clients in the corporate and capital markets communities. For G&A’s full range of services, click on each of the links below: For more information, contact Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. |
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7 Compelling Corporate Sustainability Stories For You – How Entrepreneurs Are Managing Their Sustainable Business & Meeting Society’s Needs
September 20, 2018
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