Corporate Strategy

Forthcoming GRESB report to benchmark RE environmental, social performance

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 5 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
In September, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) will release its second survey assessing the environmental and social performance of public and private real estate investments. GRESB will be used by institutional investors to engage ...

FSC, ACSI release ESG reporting guide for ASX companies

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 5 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
The Financial Services Council (FSC) and the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) have launched their ESG Reporting Guide for Australian Companies, a framework for assisting companies in identifying and reporting their ESG risks.

Chartered Secretaries advise EU to use comply or explain codes

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
Chartered Secretaries of Australia (CSA) have advised the European Commission (EC) to adopt a "comply or explain" principles-based approach to corporate governance. CSA is responding to a green paper on corporate governance codes published by the commission ...

Majority of ASX100 report on ESG issues

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 3 JUN 2011  |  NEWS
A majority of ASX100 companies now report on ESG issues, with an increased focus on material issues and increased acceptance of sustainability risks such as human capital management, according to an analyst at Macquarie Bank.

OECD guidelines to promote more responsible business conduct

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 27 MAY 2011  |  NEWS
Ministers from countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and developing economies have agreed to a new set of guidelines to promote more responsible business conduct by multinational enterprises (MNEs).

Companies investing in sustainable operations showing returns

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2011  |  NEWS
A study of five Australian organisations, including Blackmores and Woolworths, has shown that companies that invest in sustainable business operations and incorporate ESG factors into their financial reporting are seeing returns on investment much sooner ...

ANZ publishes interim corporate responsibility report

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2011  |  NEWS
ANZ has released an interim corporate responsibility report for the financial year, highlighting progress in training staff for screening clients based on sensitive sector policies and reviewing investment portfolios against UNPRI guidelines, but also ...

Rio Tinto annual report: fewer injuries, increase in GHG emission

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  THURSDAY, 21 APR 2011  |  NEWS
Rio Tinto reported falling injury frequency rates, a year-on-year uptick in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity and a 40 per cent increase in community contributions against a backdrop of record US$14bn in underlying earnings and falling debt in ...

Westpac targets 40 percent women in senior management by 2014

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 15 APR 2011  |  NEWS
The Westpac Group has committed to increasing the number of women in senior leadership roles to 40 percent by 2014.

GRI releases new standards for sustainability reporting

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 8 APR 2011  |  NEWS
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has updated its sustainability guidance to enhance reporting of operations impacting on human rights, gender and community. The new version, 3.1, is touted as improvements that strengthen expansiveness of reporting guidelines ...