2Sustain

New research from the Network for Business Sustainability confirms what I have been I have been saying for years: It’s time for executives and procurement professionals to rethink their current supply chain strategy and adopt a more proactive and responsible approach.

The study, which reviewed 25 years’ worth of academic and industry research, found that ensuring safe, supportive working conditions is the top issue for companies that buy from suppliers in other countries. Unfortunately, though, it also revealed that many of the companies trying to improve working conditions and environmental impacts in their supply chains are going about it the wrong way.
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Companies are emerging from the recession tentatively, at best, and yet intriguing new research found that most businesses remain quite committed to their sustainability goals.

In fact, the new study, conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), found that 69 percent of the more than 3,100 corporate leaders surveyed actually plan to increase their investment in and management of sustainability this year.

Just over one-quarter (26 percent) plan no change, and only 2 percent intend to cut back on their commitment.

What’s more, the second annual Sustainability & Innovation Global Executive Study also discovered that what the authors are calling a “two-speed landscape” is emerging. These days, there’s a growing gap between sustainability “embracers”—those who place sustainability high on their agenda—and nonembracers or “cautious adopters,” who have yet to focus on more than energy cost savings, material efficiency, and risk mitigation.

When comparing embracers to nonembracers, the report concludes that: (more…)

New research from global consultancy Mercer carries a stern warning.

According to the report, Climate Change Scenarios – Implications for Strategic Asset Allocation, continued delay in climate change policy action and lack of international coordination could cost institutional investors trillions of dollars over the coming decades.

Already, we have seen how climate-related natural disasters (drought in Russia, floods in Australia, etc.) can have a devastating impact on regional economies. This new study takes a broader approach and analyzes the potential financial impacts of climate change on investors’ portfolios, identified through a series of four climate change scenarios playing out over the next twenty years. For example, the research found that by 2030:

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The Aberdeen Group has released a new report that shows more and more companies these days view positive social and environmental performance as inextricably tied to their vision of long-term viability and success. In fact, “The 2009 State of the Market: Mid Year Insights Report” compiles survey results from 1,607 executives from 36 countries and identifies sustainability as one of the top five priorities in 2009. Interestingly, however, survey respondents did not equate sustainability with “green” or environmental initiatives. Instead, the top performers in the survey have used sustainability to drive tried-and-true business results, including bottom line cost reductions, enhanced brand value, optimized performance, and competitive advantage.

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