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In This Issue
Editor's Note
Field Notes From Central America: Responsible Labor
Over the past year, BSR has sponsored 15 projects in Central America and the Dominican Republic aimed at demonstrating the real business impacts of improving labor conditions.
Now, we're kicking off a two-part series offering insights from these projects, which are part of our DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness Project. This week, read about the many benefits of these initiatives, from increased worker productivity to reduced costs and turnover. Next week, look for our recommendations on implementing responsible labor programs.
With proxy season starting, get a preview of the As You Sow's report on priority issues for shareholder resolutions from 2009 and proposals to expect in 2010.
Finally, Linda Hwang, who just returned from the CEO Water Mandate meeting in New York, reports on the latest trends in corporate water management.
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In Depth
Why Good Labor Practices Are Good for Business: Lessons From BSR’s DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiven
By Alison Colwell, Associate Director, Advisory Services, BSR
In part one of our two-part series, learn how responsible labor practices improve access to markets, increase productivity, reduce costs, and more. Next week, we provide tools for and insights about program implementation.
Read more →
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Toolbox
2010 Proxy Preview
By Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services, BSR
As You Sow's "2010 Proxy Preview" categorizes the hundreds of proxies filed in the United States on social and governance issues, explores important issues, identifies the key investors and organizations filing them, and provides a list of companies and upcoming proxy votes.
The following highlights provide an overview of the 2009 proxy season and a look forward to 2010:
- Social, environmental, and reputational issues prevail for investors: An increasing number of social proposals received double-digit votes.
- Sexual orientation non-discrimination, climate change, and political campaign donations lead proposals: For the fourth year in a row, these topics accounted for the largest number of proposals filed on any issue.
- "Say on Pay" important in 2010: Executive compensation proposals will be the largest single-issue proxy vote this year.
- New issues show diversity of interests: New issues raised this year will include proposals on animal feed operations, childhood obesity, derivatives trading, Gulf Coast wetlands restoration, coal ash disposal, health care and pay disparity, internet behavioral advertising, and rainforest impacts, among others.
On the Record
Business Considers Broader Impacts of Sustainable Water Management
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At the fifth working conference of the CEO Water Mandate last week, representatives from business, NGOs, the investment community, and water research organizations discussed emerging corporate water accounting methods and tools, and identified those that would benefit from more company field testing. While the accounting tools—such as the Water Footprint Network's Decision Support System—are still in early development stages, it is clear that many companies now have a broader understanding of their role in sustainable water management.
As one expert noted at the event, business has moved beyond simply addressing the efficiency of their operations:
"There's a notable shift in companies at a high level from internal operations to considering the external factors—the social, political, and environmental conditions of the watershed in which they’re operating."
—Freshwater expert speaking at the CEO Water Mandate (April 14, 2010)
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