Environmental

Woolworths' employment, supply chain policies in 2011 report

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 30 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
Woolworths launched a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to advance opportunities of Indigenous Australians and reported a 30% decrease in its lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR), against a backdrop of a 5.1% increase in net profit to AU$2.124bn for ...

Pacific Hydro reduces carbon footprint 37%

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 30 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
Pacific Hydro, a renewable energy company owned by Industry Funds Management's Australian Infrastructure Fund, reported a reduction in its carbon footprint of 37%, primarily due to a decrease in construction activities, while also reporting net sales ...

Chartered Accountants: sustainability core business strategy

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 25 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
For companies to report and manage sustainability exposures for long-term value creation, they need develop strategies to improve environmental, social and governance performance.

Carbon credits to be regulated as financial products

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 25 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
Companies that sell tradeable carbon credits generated under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) will have to register for an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license as part of draft legislation from the federal government.

Climate Bond Standard to screen green bonds

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 25 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
The Climate Bond Initiative has released its prototype Climate Bond Standard, a screening tool that certifies bonds as contributing to the delivery of a low carbon economy.

Company directors must improve shareholder communication

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 23 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
With more institutional investors becoming more active in voting their proxy votes, company directors must improve their communication throughout the year, said David Crawford, chairman of Foster's Group and Lend Lease Group.

ANZ's employee engagement, net profit increases

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 23 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
ANZ has reported an increase in employee engagement and has integrated its human rights standard into its training program, but disclosed a slight decrease in the percentage of women in management, against a backdrop of group net profit after tax of ...

Green bonds form basis of new institutional investment funds

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 18 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
With the increasing demand for sustainable fixed income investments on the rise, fund managers are creating funds that invest in so-called "green bonds" - bonds with investments in projects such as renewable energy developments. While it is possible ...

Westpac reports sustainability progress, net profit

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 18 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
Westpac Group has recorded increases in employee engagement and the percentage of women in leadership and decreases in its lost time injury frequency rate (LITFR) and greenhouse gas emissions, against a backdrop of a net profit of AU$6.99bn, an increase ...

Mirvac identifies 22 material sustainability issues

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 18 NOV 2011  |  NEWS
Mirvac Group, the property development, investment, and management company, has identified 22 sustainability related issues that are material to the group and its stakeholders. The issue, which range from business conduct to supply chain, was the basis ...