Blog Archives: September 2010
September 30, 2010
Is There a Business Case for ESG Investing?
Xin Zhuo, Former Manager, Advisory Services
I have been working on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) related issues with financial institutions in the Asia-Pacific region for a year and a half now. Recent news and events have indicated that ESG issues are becoming increasingly mainstream. On September 17, China took a major step in promoting sustainable investing by launching its second ESG criteria-based index—the CSI ECPI China ESG 40. Interestingly, stock exchanges in emerging markets have taken the lead on endorsing standardized, transparent ESG disclosures. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, for example, became the first exchange in the world to require that listed companies move toward integrated reporting. Read more
September 29, 2010
Streamlining the Millennium Development Goals for More Impact
Aron Cramer , President and CEO
In New York last week, government, civil society, and business leaders converged to assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and raise additional funds at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in order to meet them. Despite a still sluggish economy, CGI managed to generate an impressive US$2.5 billion in pledges from its participants. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon added to this with a pledge of US$40 billion over the next five years to catapult progress toward the 2015 finish line, particularly targeting aid for women and girls. Great work, Bill! Read more
September 27, 2010
ISO 26000 Approved for Publication. Now What?
Angie Farrag , Associate Director, Transport and Logistics
Following five years of a consensus-based iteration process, ISO 26000 guidance on implementing social responsibility was recently approved for publication as an ISO International Standard, due for release on November 1. There’s been a lot of buzz in the CSR field around this standard, but what does reaching this milestone actually mean? Read more
September 23, 2010
Mapping Sustainability Trends for Apparel, Mills & Sundries
Joyce Wong, Former Associate, Advisory Services
Julia Nelson, Former Manager, Advisory Services
At the recent Apparel, Mills and Sundries Working Group meeting in Shenzhen, China, the 65 attendees from global brands and their strategic suppliers took turns mapping labor, environmental, and economic trends that are impacting their ability to achieve socially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and profitable textile and sundries production. Read more
September 23, 2010
Improving Women’s Health in the Developing World Begs More Than Money
Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen , Vice President, Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Racheal Meiers (née Yeager) , Director, HERproject
At the close of this week’s UN Summit on progress toward achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced a US$40 billion investment in women and children’s health. This announcement came less than a week after Johnson & Johnson announced a commitment of US$200 million and CARE International pledged $1.8 billion to address the same issue. Read more
September 23, 2010
‘Creationism’ Comes to WEF? Innovation Dominates the Discussion in Tianjin
Aron Cramer , President and CEO
At last week’s “Summer Davos,” the annual World Economic Forum meeting in China, talk about innovation was everywhere. Read more
September 21, 2010
Untying the Sustainable Consumption Knot
Cody Sisco, Former Manager, Advisory Services
It’s Fashion Week in London, where the latest designs are showcased and pushed out to the world. BSR members companies gathered just a few blocks from the fashion festivities to discuss sustainable consumption and how to push out to mainstream business ideas and actions that maximize consumer value while minimizing environmental and social impacts. Read more
September 20, 2010
Business-NGO Partnerships: The Challenges of Inequality and Time Management
Adam Lane , Manager, Advisory Services
As part of BSR’s new CiYuan initiative, I have been working to build partnerships among companies and NGOs that will enhance the value of social investment in China. While sitting in on several company/NGO partnership meetings, it has become clear to me that BSR will need to address two recurring challenges. Read more
September 17, 2010
The Great CSR Debate 2010
Aron Cramer , President and CEO
I just finished participating in a debate over CSR, prompted by the (in)famous Wall Street Journal piece by University of Michigan business school professor Aneel Karnani, “The Case Against Corporate Social Responsibility.” Read more
September 17, 2010
Gearing Up by Slowing Down
Raj Sapru, Former Director, Advisory Services
The international container shipping industry is gearing up to take on a new business environment in which social and environmental performance will play a key role. In our latest industry report, which is based on interviews with more than 30 global customers and key stakeholders, the message is clear: The container shipping industry must reduce its environmental footprint. Read more
September 8, 2010
What Are You Reading?
Linda Hwang, Former Manager, Research
For those of us in the fast-paced, ever-evolving field of CSR and sustainability, there’s a lot of information to keep up with. Here’s a sample of what I’m reading right now: Read more
September 7, 2010
Low-Carbon Development at the Shanghai Expo
Wei Dong Zhou, Former General Manager, Tanoto Foundation
BSR’s China Director Wei Dong Zhou sent in this picture from the Shanghai Expo where he attended the China-UK Climate Change Forum with 20 senior officials from China's Development Reform Committee (at both the national and province level). Read more
September 3, 2010
BSR Kicks Off New Energy Management Collaboration…and Just in Time
Ryan Schuchard , Manager, Climate and Energy
I’ve just returned from China, where I attended the launch of BSR’s Energy Efficiency Partnership (EEP), a group of 11 member companies working with 80 of their suppliers on energy management. Read more
