ESG

Ben & Jerry’s Removes Plastic Products from Shops

February 05, 2019

As companies respond to pressure from environmental activist groups to jettison “single-use plastic” products, PR Newswire reports that ice cream chain and self-proclaimed “aspiring social justice company” Ben & Jerry’s will no longer offer plastic straws or plastic spoons in its locations beginning in early 2019.
German Body Seeks Closure of All Coal Plants

February 04, 2019

The Los Angeles Times reports that a German government commission has issued recommendations seeking the closure of all of the country’s coal power plants by the year 2038 in favor of a move to renewable energy and $45 billion in spending for regions affected by the policy, in line with the goals of the UN’s Paris climate accord.
EC Pressures Internet Companies on Anti-Disinformation Efforts

January 31, 2019

In response to the first reports submitted by internet companies on their efforts to combat “disinformation” on their online platforms under an agreed EU code of practice, the European Commission (EC) has called for a more “systematic approach” from the companies to limit disinformation campaigns prior to the 2019 European Parliament elections.
Canadian Court Considers Treatment of Corporate Conduct Overseas

January 31, 2019

The Washington Post reports that a case pending before the Supreme Court of Canada in which Eritrean refugees are suing a Canadian mining company for forced labor could have substantial impacts on how Canadian courts treat legal claims alleging illegal conduct by Canadian corporations in foreign countries.
WEF, UN Initiative Promotes Global LGBTI Employment Standards

January 31, 2019

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have partnered with several large companies on an initiative promoting corporate implementation of UN standards on LGBTI inclusion in the workplace and the creation of “due-diligence frameworks” to ensure alignment with these standards.
NGO Initiative Pushes Corporate SDG Finance in Asia

January 31, 2019

A group of nongovernmental organizations, finance companies, and academics have formed an Asia Sustainable Finance Initiative to push companies to place their investments in projects that support “sustainable economic, social, and environmental outcomes” aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EU Body Issues Guidelines for Corporate Climate Reporting

January 31, 2019

The European Commission’s Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance has issued a report recommending standards for disclosures on climate impacts corporations should make as part of their non-financial reporting obligations under EU law.
Abu Dhabi Exchange Joins UN Initiative on Fulfilling SDGs

January 17, 2019

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has announced that it has joined the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative as part of its efforts to pressure companies to ramp up efforts to fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and engage in public reporting on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.
Australian State Creates Penalty for Failure to File Labor Reports

January 16, 2019

Komala Ramachandra of Human Rights Watch applauds the Australian state of New South Wales for creating an “independent anti-slavery commissioner” and creating financial penalties for companies that fail to comply with an Australian national law requiring companies to file annual reports on their efforts to rid their supply chains of forced labor.
Nestlé Releases Action Plan on Eliminating “Single-Use” Plastics

January 16, 2019

Food giant Nestlé has published an action plan outlining how it will comply with environmental activist demands to reduce plastic waste from its products by making all of its packaging reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable by the year 2025.