Month of July, 2011

Systematic review of 179 studies spanning 15 years of applied and academic research on embedding sustainability in organizational culture.

As pressure mounts to lead sustainable lifestyles, policymakers and companies alike are mulling new ways of encouraging shoppers to buy green. But consumer groups warned against confronting shoppers with too much information and warned that companies' green claims are often not independently verified.

Research tells us that sustainability and financial performance are positively related. The Network for Business Sustainability commissioned a study to identify the metrics that will best help managers make the business case for sustainability. Dr. John Peloza and Ron Yachnin analyzed 159 studies, published from 1972 onwards, and found three categories of metrics. This report summarizes their findings and recommendations.

Designed for executives and senior supply chain, purchasing and sustainability managers, this systematic review synthesizes 194 studies spanning 25 years of research on sustainable supply chains and presents frameworks for developing competitive and sustainable global supply chains.

NBS conducted a systematic review of 180 studies and 20 tools in the area of measuring environmental impact. The resulting report is designed to help senior executives and decision-makers new to sustainability navigate the strategic decision-making process for managing their firm’s environmental impacts.

Called “Measuring and Valuing Environmental Impacts,” the report is specifically designed to help senior executives and decision-makers new to sustainability choose the right tools to measure their company’s environmental impact. The report is a condensed version of NBS’s systematic review of the entire body of research on measuring and valuing environmental impacts.

The Partnering with Governments Navigator – Building effective collaboration with the public sector in Africa’ is aimed at assisting donors, NGOs and practitioners from the private sector in navigating the challenges and seizing the opportunities of partnership with governments.

In the article Michel Doucin explains how different parties involved in CSR promotion could be identified, particularly in emerging countries, which all have slightly different interpretations of CSR.

This FOCUS Publication effectively presents a structured and practical case for stakeholder engagement as a means to business success and societal trust.

This extensively compiled sourcebook highlights some truly innovative examples of inclusive business initiatives across sectors in Asia, to encourage reflection and inspire action from other companies.

IBLF's The Partnering Initiative conducted a survey of 20 companies focusing on the trend of collaborations moving beyond basic philanthropy and towards ‘win-win’ partnerships that generate strong benefits.

Boccalandro recommends a bold new conception of strategic employee volunteering that is distinct and separate from the concept of true volunteering, which fully leverage the business context to generate the greatest amount of societal benefit.

Flagship report from the new UN agency shows there is a way to go before improvements in the legal position of women are translated into equality and justice for all

Companies will make little progress towards embedding corporate sustainability without top management ‘buyin’ and leadership ‘tone from the top’. The key to deep embedding is the enthusiastic engagement of employees at all levels of the company.

This report examines the current state of business engagement on climate change adaptation and indentifies key barriers to greater private sector involvement. It aims to initiate a discussion on the business case for adapting to long-term climate change impacts and the need to improve incentives for action.

This paper is one of six in the Beyond Kyoto series examining core challenges in mobilizing an effective international response to global climate change.

The Social Protection Committee (SPC) has issued a report on the Social dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy that examines actions to promote inclusion and reduce poverty, in line with the strategy's headline targets.

Sustainable seafood product finder makes it easy for shoppers who want to support sustainable fishing to find certified sustainable seafood in stores.

A special report by Financial Times on responsible business.

Many companies are simultaneously trying to shake off the recession, keep costs low, retain valued employees and recruit talented new ones. Perks, if designed well, can help achieve these goals.

Over the last year Intellecap has been working with the Rockefeller Foundation and the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) on exploring opportunities for the private sector to build the resilience of the urban poor to the impacts of climate change. The report from this project provides potential business responses.

Global Report on greenhouse gas measurement, management, and adaptation to climate change in the world’s largest cities.

A paper by Climate Disclosure Project outlining the opportunity to forge more sustainable economic growth.

With more industry leaders beginning to ask whether sustainability reporting should be required, two BSR consultants debate what form it might take, whether mandatory reporting would impact innovation, and what would need to happen in order for such a system to work.

This paper gives an introduction to the role of corporate boards in overseeing corporate sustainability and implementing the Global Compact principles.