DEFINITION: A concept which encourages a company to take responsibility for its impact on environmental and social wellbeing. CSR is a broad movement which encompasses a variety of issues such as human rights, corporate governance, responsible sourcing and environmental footprints.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
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Sustainability Leaders Awards 2021: Meet the Winners
This special report provides in-depth profiles of all of the winners of edie's 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards, along with exclusive comments from our judges and summaries of all 189 finalists across 24 categories.

Unilever to let shareholders vote on new climate targets
Unilever has become one of the first global companies to voluntarily commit to putting new climate targets to a shareholder vote, with the company's science-based targets currently focusing on zero emissions for its operations.

CDP: Companies worth half of global market cap are now disclosing environmental data
Non-profit CDP has revealed that a record 10,000 companies, cities, states and regions have reported environmental data during 2020, making it a record year for disclosure.

BrewDog announces B Corp certification
Scottish craft brewer BrewDog is the latest company to achieve B Corp certification, highlighting the company's dedication to becoming a force for good and focusing on carbon offsetting and reduction.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Natalie Orde, Grosvenor Europe
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Grosvenor Europe's sustainability manager Natalie Orde.

Virgin Media targets net-zero carbon operations for 2025
Virgin Media has committed to achieve net-zero operations by the end of 2025 and to transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, as part of a sweeping new sustainability strategy.

H&M Group issues €500m sustainability bond
Fashion giant H&M Group has launched a bond that will finance initiatives to reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency, priced at €500m.

Carlsberg's recycled bottles and Lidl's EV chargers: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

AB InBev announces $10.1bn sustainability-linked loan
The world's largest brewer has announced what it claims is the world's largest corporate sustainability-linked loan to date, priced at $10.1bn.

Thai Union launches its first sustainability-linked loan package, priced at $400m
The world's largest seafood firm, Thai Union, has announced a new $400m loan package with interest payments linked to climate, sustainability and due diligence targets.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Jessica Foster, Bensons for Beds Retail
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Bensons for Beds' group energy manager Jessica Foster.

Big businesses failing to protect human rights amid Covid-19, study reveals
A study of the measures taken by more than 200 large businesses to safeguard human rights during the Covid-19 pandemic has found that most are taking little to no action.

Nestlé and Mondelēz among chocolate giants facing child slavery lawsuit over supply chain practices
A human rights firm has filed a lawsuit against major chocolate companies Nestlé, Cargill, Barry Callebaut, Mars, Olam, Hershey and Mondelēz, following allegations of child slave labour in their cocoa supply chains.

Purpose-led products: Ocado launches a dedicated aisle for B-Corp brands
Online supermarket Ocado has launched a dedicated virtual 'aisle' showcasing products from B-Corp certified brands, as customers increasingly look for more sustainable groceries.

'Journey to Tomorrow': IHG outlines plans for green recovery from Covid-19
IHG Hotels & Resorts has outlined plans to reduce emissions in line with climate science, deliver zero-carbon new buildings, improve water stewardship and remove single-use packaging as the hospitality sector recovers from the financial hit of Covid-19.

Goldman Sachs issues first sustainability bond, priced at $800m
US-based finance giant Goldman Sachs has issued its inaugural sustainability bond, priced at $800m, as it strives to mobilise $750bn in green finance by 2030.

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: How can we accelerate action on nature and biodiversity in 2021?
The new edie podcast episode is streaming now, featuring exclusive biodiversity-focused conversations with Earth Security, Patagonia and the Woodland Trust.

Environmental organisations launch employment scheme for UK's BAME youth
More than 35 of the UK's major environmental organisations, including RSPB, Friends of the Earth and ZSL London Zoo, are collaborating on a new scheme to help diversify the sector.

HP unveils sustainability 'changemaker' and 'catalyst' schemes
Tech giant HP has launched a new scheme offering industry partners the resources and traning they need to accelerate sustainability progress, in the same week that Octopus Energy unveiled what it claims is the world's first energy technology research organisation.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Pavan Patel, Multiplex Construction Europe
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Multiplex's senior sustainability manager, Pavan Patel.

How can businesses deliver a more inclusive economy on the road to net-zero?
In 2020, many businesses vowed to 'build back better' from Covid-19, coupling financial recovery planning with new commitments around climate change and social justice. But how can they ensure that these focuses remain - and move from ambition to action?

How can sustainability professionals champion intersectionality in 2021?
The events of 2020 both highlighted and widened existing social inequalities. While the appetite for climate action in the process of 'building back better' is palpable, many sustainability professionals want to see the same level of commitment to social justice.

Fast fashion: Polyester production has doubled since 2000, with huge climate implications
The production of fossil-based synthetic textiles has doubled globally within 20 years, as fast fashion production and consumption has increased. According to a new report, this will have sizeable implications for climate change.

Green pensions: Scottish Widows charts pathway to net-zero financed emissions
Pensions and insurance giant Scottish Widows, which manages funds totalling £170bn, has committed to halving financed emissions by 2030 on the pathway to net-zero.

Amazon's new 'green' HQ and Denmark's wind energy island: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

Jump: Sustainability engagement schemes prevent 4,200 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2020
One of the UK's biggest sustainability engagement schemes captured three million positive changes from employees and students during 2020, which collectively mitigated 4,200 tonnes of CO2e emissions.

Firmenich targets 'carbon-positive' operations by 2030
The world's largest perfume and taste company, Firmenich, has committed to reducing, sequestering and offsetting more carbon than it emits by 2030, as part of a sweeping new ESG strategy.

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Making 2021 the super year for climate action at the Sustainability Leaders Forum
The new edie podcast episode is brought to you live from our virtual Sustainability Leaders Forum, a three-day conference designed to unite international corporate leaders, sustainability experts, government representatives, investors and NGOs on the shared mission to accelerate climate action.

Business giants' climate disclosure 'clearly inadequate', lawyers warn
Lawyers have warned that the majority of FTSE 100 and the largest companies on the FTSE 250 are failing to disclose adequate climate-related data as part of annual corporate reporting frameworks, with some potentially breaching UK law.

Whitbread issues green bonds totalling £550m
Hospitality giant Whitbread, which owns brands including Premier Inn, has priced two major green bonds at £300m and £250m respectively.

How can businesses become climate advocates? Here are 8 top tips
Since the UK set its 2050 net-zero target in law, many major businesses have outlined plans for getting there faster. But leadership on climate involves taking a stand and engaging others, as well as going further and faster in-house.

UK's Net-Zero Business Champion: We must spark conversations outside our usual circles
The UK's Net-Zero Business Champion, Andrew Griffith MP, used his platform at edie's Sustainability Leaders Forum to urge professionals to engage with their supply chains, competitors and communities to maximise positive outcomes ahead of COP26.

WATCH: Dame Polly Courtice's inspiring Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech
Dame Polly Courtice delivered a galvanising call to action for future business leaders as part of her Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech at edie's Sustainability Leaders Awards 2021 Wednesday afternoon (3 February), claiming "this is the generation that still has time to change everything for the better".

Beyond net-zero targets: What role can businesses play in solving the climate emergency?
Recent months have seen the numbers of businesses committed to net-zero climate targets expanding exponentially. But beyond these long-term, high-level ambitions, how can firms of all sizes and sectors deliver change on the ground?

BAFTA assembles UK's biggest news broadcasters for climate coalition
The BBC, Sky News and ITV News are among the first members of a new initiative designed to help the UK's news broadcasting sector minimise its environmental impact and engage viewers on topics like climate change.

What makes a sustainability leader? Meet Business of the Year, Barry Callebaut
With the 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards taking place on Wednesday (3 February), this feature series showcases the achievements of the 2020 winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: The winners of the Business of the Year award, Barry Callebaut.

Kering's fund for nature and a new green hydrogen plant: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

Packaging giant Mondi targets 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable products by 2025
As part of a new sustainability strategy which it claims is aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of the world's biggest packaging and paper companies has pledged to phase-out products that can't be recycled, reused or composted.

Greenwash: 40% of websites 'misleading' consumers on environmental credentials
An annual sweep of corporate websites has found that four in ten are providing information on environmental criteria that could be considered misleading and potentially breaking consumer laws.

#SustyTalk: The WBA's Dan Neale on delivering social transformation
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive talk with the World Benchmarking Alliance's (WBA) social transformation lead Dan Neale.

Sustainable fashion: Depop targets climate neutrality by the end of the year
Marketplace app Depop, best known for second-hand and custom fashion, has pledged to compensate for its entire climate footprint by the end of 2021 and to do more to prevent waste.

What makes a sustainability leader? Meet reporting & communications champions SIG
With less than two weeks until the 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards, this feature series showcases the achievements of the 2020 winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: The winners of the Sustainability Reporting & Communications award, SIG.

Report: 2 in 3 banks have no commitments to stop financing deforestation
Some 95 of the world's largest 150 banks and investment firms have not published policies to prevent the companies they finance from destroying forests, with laggards including BlackRock and Wells Fargo.

#SustyTalk: Anglian Water's Andy Brown on collaboration for a just transition to net-zero
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive talk with Anglian Water's head of sustainability Andy Brown.

Ikea's forest protection and Dove's refillable deodorant: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

Kate Wylie to step down as Mars' global sustainability lead for new role at Chanel
Kate Wylie has confirmed plans to step down as Mars' global vice-president for sustainability after more than 10 years at the food and beverage giant. She has been named as luxury fashion house Chanel's next global chief sustainability officer.

What makes a sustainability leader? Meet CBRE Global Investors
With less than two weeks until the 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards, this feature series showcases the achievements of the 2020 winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: The winners of the Investor of the Year Award, CBRE Global Investors.

The 2021 Sustainable Business Leadership Survey (8 minutes)
From Covid-19 to COP26, this flagship annual survey asks sustainability, CSR and energy leaders about the biggest drivers, challenges and opportunities facing green business in 2021.

Sustainability Skills Seminars: edie introduces educational final day to Sustainability Leaders Forum
edie's award-winning events team has organised dedicated "Skills Seminars" to run on the third and final day of the Sustainability Leaders Forum (2-4 February), educating and empowering sustainability and CSR professionals to lead on climate action in 2021.

IEA: Oil and gas sector must 'lock in' methane emissions reductions seen amid Covid-19 lockdowns
Methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry fell 10% year-on-year in 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed. But the body believes this is mostly because of lockdown restrictions, rather than heightened environmental ambitions.

Aldi's plastic-free packaging and Portugal's coal phase-out: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

edie launches new handbook on ESG excellence and best practice
edie has published a new handbook outlining the key considerations and best practice advice to collecting and compiling Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data that investors are increasingly looking for, in order to spur the green recovery.

The ESG Handbook 2020: Spurring the green recovery
Green finance and ESG investing were reaching a tipping point, then the coronavirus pandemic swept across the world. The virus hasn’t so much as tipped the scales towards ESG investing but rather poured most of the world’s financial system towards it.

#SustyTalk: Suntory Beverage & Food's Michelle Norman on net-zero, plastics and the green recovery
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I's Michelle Norman revisiting the company's key climate and plastics milestones from 2020 and looking ahead to what this year will hold for corporate sustainability.

LEON debuts 'carbon-neutral' burgers and fries
Fast-food chain LEON has measured the carbon footprint of some of its most popular menu items and is offsetting the equivalent emissions by investing in forests.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Marta Perricone, Unilever
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Unilever's global supply chain manager Marta Perricone.

Apple links executive pay to performance against ESG targets
Apple has confirmed plans to modify the bonuses its executives receive depending on how much progress the business makes towards key environmental and social targets.

Prince Charles launches 'earth charter' for businesses tackling nature and climate crises
The Prince of Wales is hoping to get major businesses to commit to "accelerating and mainstreaming sustainability", by signing a new charter on the green recovery.

Geothermal electricity from Cornwall and TerraCycle tackles medicine packaging: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

#SustyTalk: Coca-Cola's Therese Noorlander talks supply chain engagement on climate and plastics
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive interview with the Coca-Cola Company's sustainability director for Europe, Therese Noorlander.

Green beauty: Garnier to launch digital sustainability labelling
L'Oreal-owned brand Garnier is set to launch a digital tool enabling UK customers to track the environmental and social impact of its haircare products.

Sustainability Leaders Awards 2021: Meet the Finalists
After a record-breaking year of entries, the judges have convened, decisions have been made and edie is proud to unveil the well- deserved finalists for the 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards. This report outlines the who's who of sustainability excellence.

Sustainability Leaders Awards 2021: Meet the finalists in our new report
It's been another record-breaking year of entries, our expert judges have had their say and it's now time to reveal the shortlist for edie's Sustainability Leaders Awards 2021! You can see the finalists here.

Banks 'have provided $1.7trn of unconditional support to plastic polluters since 2015'
Global banks have been accused of collectively providing more than $1.7trn to businesses across the plastics value chain between 2015 and 2019, largely without attaching environmental conditions to support packages.

#SustyTalk: PMI's Huub Savelkouls on ESG in the new normal
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with Philip Morris International's (PMI) chief sustainability officer Huub Savelkouls, who discusses net-zero, integrated reporting and ESG.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Amy Oroko, Matthew Algie
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Matthew Algie's sustainability manager Amy Oroko.

21 New Year's resolutions for sustainability professionals in 2021 and beyond
At last, 2020 has drawn to a close and while the first parts of a new year might not create a respite from a global pandemic and an economic crash, it does create the ideal opportunity to look at the climate crisis with a reinvigorated approach.

edie's big fat sustainabiliy quiz of the year: 2020 edition
Take edie's 2020 quiz of the year to test your knowledge on some of the biggest moments in the global sustainability space over the past 12 months.

Net-zero targets, virtual climate events and green recovery debates: The sustainability stories of 2020
With less than a week until Christmas, edie recaps what has been a busy year for sustainability stories, from the growing green recovery movement to the election of Joe Biden.

Five top tips for making 2021 your organisation's 'super year' for sustainability
With less than a decade to meet the Global Goals and put the global economy onto a clear trajectory to deliver a just net-zero transition, edie is rounding up some best-practice advice for ramping up environmental and social ambitions and actions in the New Year.

Plastic-free festive food and re-planted trees: How are businesses working to make Christmas more sustainable?
Retailers and delivery firms have faced challenge after challenge in 2020, having to re-adjust ways of working to get essential goods to those in need amid lockdown restrictions. Yet many have also managed to ensure that Christmas won't be the most wasteful - or emissions-intense - time of the year.

Lloyds of London finally agrees to divest from coal
Insurance giant Lloyds of London has promised to end investment in coal, oil sands and fossil fuel exploration in the Arctic, following years a pressure from climate campaigners.

Sustainable Business Covered podcast: The Christmas 2020 special episode
Episode 95 of edie's Sustainable Business Covered podcast is now streaming, providing exclusive festive interviews about sustainability storytelling, conscious consumerinsm and the green recovery movement.

#SustyTalk: BELU Water's Natalie Campbell on purpose-led business
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive interview with Natalie Campbell, who became co-CEO of BELU Water earlier this year.

Survey: Three-quarters of UK businesses turning to sustainability to bounce back from Covid-19
A survey of 1,000 UK businesses has found that more than three-quarters are planning to increase their sustainability focus in 2021, as part of their plans to financially recover from Covid-19.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Oliver Knowles, M&S Property
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: M&S Property's R&D manager, Oliver Knowles.

Science-based targets and renewable energy investments: Credit Suisse and Nest unveil first steps towards net-zero
Swiss investment bank Credit Suisse has unveiled a string of new climate measures, in the same week that the UK's largest pension scheme, Nest, outlined steps to help it meet its net-zero goal.

M&S to relaunch Plan A sustainability strategy
M&S is planning to relaunch its industry-leading Plan A sustainability programme in 2021 to reflect on the changing environmental and social needs globally, with a new ESG Board Sub-Committee to be set up to scrutinise the strategy.

#SustyTalk: Epson's Daniel Quelch on employee engagement and climate expectations
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive interview with Epson Europe's sustainability manager Daniel Quelch, who discusses how climate expectations and employee engagement have changed during 2020.

Starbucks outlines next steps on renewable energy and regenerative agriculture
Starbucks has outlined the first steps it will take to meet the 2030 sustainability targets it launched earlier this year, headlined by commitments to halve emissions, water use and waste sent to landfill.

New report details how businesses can help achieve SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption
edie has launched its latest SDG Spotlight report, looking at how businesses can transform to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) post-lockdown, with the latest focusing on Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption.

Gap targets 100% sustainably sourced cotton by 2025
Fashion giant Gap Inc has pledged to only source cotton which is certified as sustainable within five years, through the US Cotton Trust Protocol.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Nasrin Khanom, University of West London
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: the University of West London's environment & sustainability manager Nasrin Khanom.

#SustyTalk: PepsiCo's Jim Andrew on green bonds and inclusive business
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive interview with PepsiCo's chief sustainability officer Jim Andrew, who stepped into the role earlier this year.

The Vatican convenes business giants in bid to promote purpose-led capitalism
The Vatican has convened representatives from more than a dozen of the world's biggest businesses, including EY and Kering, for a new alliance to champion more inclusive and sustainable financial systems.

Whitbread's food waste fight and offshore wind boosts: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Kate Neale, Cadogan
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Cadogan's sustainability manager Kate Neale.

Survey: Just 1 in 10 businesses have backed up net-zero ambitions with science-based targets
While the number of businesses setting net-zero commitments has grown rapidly in recent months, just 10% of firms have set interim science-based emissions targets to ensure they're aligning with climate science.

What does the green recovery mean for Black Friday?
After a month of lockdown restrictions, many UK retailers are looking forward to Black Friday to boost profits. But with consumers increasingly prioritising purpose and sustainability, and with the green recovery movement gaining traction, what will the sales event look like in 2020 and beyond?

CDP: Food giants are greenwashing, not addressing their climate impact
While many major food brands are launching "green" or plant-based products, less than two in ten are measuring and disclosing emissions from their supply chains - which are likely to be the most-emitting parts of their business.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Julie Dang, Canary Wharf Group
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Canary Wharf Group's CSR programme coodinator Julie Dang.

BEIS, Lego Group and Anglian Water confirmed among latest wave of speakers for Sustainability Leaders Forum
The chief executive of Anglian Water, Peter Simpson, and Minister for Business Energy and Clean Growth Kwasi Kwarteng are among the latest headline speakers that will feature at edie's biggest event of the year - the Sustainability Leaders Forum - which takes place as a global, virtual event on 2-4 February 2021.

Dame Polly Courtice to step down as CISL director after three decades
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has announced that its chair, Dame Polly Courtice, will step down in April 2021, and has chosen Clare Shine as her successor.

Report: Carmakers including Tesla and Honda 'driving in the slow lane' towards climate goals
Two-thirds of the world's largest carmakers have not set electric vehicle (EV) and emissions targets in line with the Paris Agreement's less ambitious trajectory - and the auto sector is failing to deliver on human rights commitments, as well.

Diageo targets net-zero operations by 2030
Brewing giant Diageo has committed to achieving net-zero operational emissions within a decade and to halving its indirect (Scope 3) emissions within the same timeframe, as part of a new ten-year strategy.

Jaguar's 'smart city' tests and Arsenal's climate commitment: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.

E.ON: 7 in 10 Brits want air pollution information in daily weather forecasts
A survey of more than 4,000 adults in the UK has found that almost three-quarters want information on air pollution in their local area to be included in daily weather forecasts.

Report: Just 3 in 10 European businesses are properly disclosing their climate impact
Only 30% of Europe's largest companies publicly publish detailed information on their climate policies, emissions footprint and climate risk, an analysis of 300 major businesses has found.

Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Amali Bunter, Lidl GB
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Lidl GB's senior responsible sourcing manager Amali Bunter.

What makes a sustainability leader? Meet employee engagement champions Barry Callebaut
With the 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards approaching, this new feature series showcases the achievements of the 2020 winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: The winner of our employee engagement initiative of the year, Barry Callebaut.