Social

Sustainable development and Australia in the Asian Century

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
The recently published Australia in the Asian Century white paper is a roadmap detailing how Australia should navigate the opportunities and challenges of the rising wealth and development of the Asian region. Sustainable development is an implicit and ...

OECD criticises low enforcement of foreign bribery law

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
The Australian government is making foreign bribery offences a priority, but enforcement of its foreign bribery laws has been "extremely low", according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Responsible investment in The Asian Century

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
The recently published Australia in the Asian Century white paper is focused on structural changes to the Australian economy and society that will put the country on the path to respond to the opportunities and reduce risks of some of the challenges.

Wesfarmers publishes 2012 sustainability report

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 26 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
Wesfarmers reported decreases in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and a fall in lost time injury frequency rate, as well as increases in water consumption and declines in community contributions in its 2012 sustainability report.

SEFA: developing sustainable loan portfolio

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 12 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA), an AU$20m fund lending to social enterprises, is working to build a sustainable loan portfolio while also working to contribute to the development of the social financing sector in Australia, fund officials ...

New Forests issues second sustainability report

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 12 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
Forestry and environmental markets fund manager New Forests reported a successful capital raising of a fund focusing on plantation assets in the Asia Pacific Region and progress on UN PRI commitments in its second sustainability report.

AfricaSIF to survey ESG integration into African investment

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 3 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
The Africa Sustainable Investment Forum (AfricaSIF.org), a pan-African network promoting investment in sustainable development, has launched a research project to gauge how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are integrated into investment ...

Foresters finances Eating Disorders Victoria service

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 26 SEP 2012  |  NEWS
Foresters Community Finance has financed an expanded counseling service for Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV) through its Social Enterprise Solutions program.

Retail supply chain policies pose sustainability challenges

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 24 AUG 2012  |  NEWS
Australian retailers need to maintain cost control, including targeting supply chain efficiencies, but those efficiency gains must not come at the expense of the sustainability of the supply chain, according to a report by AMP Capital.

Industry leaders establish Banking and Finance Oath

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 17 AUG 2012  |  NEWS
A group of professionals from the banking and finance industry have established the Banking and Finance Oath (BFO), an organisation that seeks to restore trust and encourage ethical behaviour in the financial services industry.