Social

ESG analysis now part of mainstream investment management

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 21 SEP 2011  |  NEWS
Environmental, social and governance risk considerations have evolved from a fringe area of investment management to become mainstream calculations. But asset owners and managers are seeking further integration into fixed income and cash asset allocations ...

Integrated reporting discussion paper released

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 21 SEP 2011  |  NEWS
Business reporting must evolve to account for the changed realities brought about by globalisation and its resulting interdependencies, and increased population growth and increasing global consumption, according to a discussion paper by the International ...

Investors integrating ESG into decisions have "an edge"

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 14 SEP 2011  |  NEWS
Because financial markets don't price environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk in an efficient manner, investors that do integrate ESG into their analysis and decision making have an advantage, according to Jane Goodland, a senior investment consultant ...

Fuji Xerox Australia reports waste reduction, increase in injury rates

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 7 SEP 2011  |  NEWS
Fuji Xerox Australia reported a 41% reduction in waste to landfill and announced that it would move its Eco Manufacturing Centre to a five-star Green star rated facility in Sydney in its sustainability report for the 2010/2011financial year. However ...

PRI signatories develop farmland principles

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 7 SEP 2011  |  NEWS
A group of institutional investors have developed and launched the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in Farmland, which seek to improve the sustainability, transparency and accountability of investments in farmland. The five principles provide ...

Australian property funds top GRESB list

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 SEP 2011  |  NEWS
A Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) survey of environmental and social performance at 340 of the world's largest property companies has found that the companies on average have reduced their energy consumption in 2010 by almost 3% and ...

Skilled labour shortage potentially increases corporate risk

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 31 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
A shortage in skilled labour in a number of Australian industry sectors means that companies' human capital management (HCM) programmes are an important component in risk management, according to a report by Regnan Governance Research.

Disclosing sustainability risks, engaging stakeholders vital to corporate interests

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 26 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
Although the growing acceptance of reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is spurring strategic thinking about disclosing and managing sustainability risks, companies and other organizations need to do more, including setting ...

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.

Social risk: the impact on the Australian cattle industry

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 22 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
The Australian cattle industry has been whiplashed by the effects of a five-week-long suspension of live export of cattle to Indonesia. The suspension was prompted by the public outcry after broadcaster ABC showed instances of animal cruelty at Indonesian ...