When do good firms go bad?

SUSTAINABLE FIRMS. Green businesses. Socially responsible corporations. A growing number of magazines, activist groups and websites publish such lists, suggesting that one can distinguish the good companies from the bad. The claim that such distinctions are possible is likewise central to ethical mutual funds, indexes and stock rating services that recommend “responsible” investing – with some even asserting that “better” firms have superior financial performance. ... lees meer

Innovest Identifies the 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the World

On Wednesday, January 24, 2007, Innovest Strategic Value Advisors will officially launch the third Global 100 list of the most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The G100, initiated by Corporate Knights Inc. with Innovest as the exclusive research provider, includes companies from 16 countries in sectors ranging from Oil and Gas to Wireless Telecommunication Services that were evaluated according to how effectively they manage environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities, relative to their industry peers. ... lees meer

Special theme of Forbes.Com about CSR

Doing well and doing good is a pretty popular notion these days, especially among the world’s largest corporations. That’s a good thing. After all, who else has the financial resources and the influence to tackle pressing problems like the AIDS epidemic in Africa, cancer and global warming? Here’s our special report on the businesses trying to transform themselves into corporate citizens. ... lees meer

Global Compact and ISO Sign Memorandum of Understanding

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Global Compact Office. The purpose of this Memorandum is to encourage cooperation and mutual support between ISO and the Global Compact Office. Specifically, both parties agreed to collaborate extensively on the development, promotion and support of the new ISO International Standard on Social Responsibility, which will be consistent with the Global Compact’s ten principles. “This collaboration marks a major step forward for coherence in the field of social responsibility and lays a key foundation for the development and future success of the SR standard itself,” said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the Global Compact Office. ... lees meer

UK sees first bill to require CSR reporting

Up until early November, UK companies were not required to file CSR reports. With the passing of the Companies Act; the largest bill to pass through Commons, directors will have to report on what they are doing and therefore, having to consider how it affects the community and environment. The Companies Act makes it mandatory for business to report anything concerning the welfare of the employees, community, environment and the company itself. It will allow shareholders and the general public to judge companies’ performances. ... lees meer

SustainAbility’s published fourth international benchmark of corporate sustainability reporting

Tomorrow’s Value, SustainAbility’s fourth international benchmark of corporate sustainability reporting, has once again been developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Standard & Poor’s. This year we introduce a revised methodology, developed in close consultation with experts and leading corporate reporters, and – in line with our sense that the focus also needs to shift beyond disclosure and reporting to communication – we have adopted a portfolio approach. Tomorrow’s Value is the flagship document in a suite of publications exploring wider aspects of reporting, including communication with financial analysts and the wider innovation agenda. ... lees meer